Pothos plants (sometimes called Devil’s Ivy) are popular because they’re very easy to care for and thrive in low light. You basically have to TRY to kill these things, so if you have a green thumb, they seem like a good idea.

The ASPCA does list the plant as toxic to both cats and dogs because they contain raphides (tiny, toxic, crystal-shaped structures of calcium oxalate that act as the plant’s defense mechanism).

If your pet chews on the plant, you might notice irritation of the mouth, vomiting, or difficulty swallowing, which can be fatal if they eat a lot or are already in poor health.

This plant can be mildly toxic to humans as well – but we’re generally smart enough not to eat it (but keep those climbing vines out of the reach of little ones!).

It goes by many names but this plant – scientific name Crassula arborescens – is a popular succulent available in greenhouses and home goods stores.

It can, however, cause nausea and retching in both cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA, but it’s rarely fatal in healthy animals.

While lilies (Lilium species) are non-toxic to dogs, they are highly dangerous to cats. In fact, eating one can cause kidney failure and death.

The flowers are so toxic that even sniffing the pollen can cause a reaction in felines.

There are many types of lilies, however, and it can be hard to keep track of which ones can cause renal failure, so it might be better to keep the whole lily family out of the house.

A common houseplant, the Sansevieria trifasciata is toxic to both cats and dogs, but not nearly as much as other greenery.

When eaten, these are likely to cause gastrointestinal distress and lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

The newest Instagram-famous plant Monstera deliciosa is toxic to both cats and dogs.

If ingested in large quantities, your pet is in for an uncomfortable time, potentially suffering from intense burning of the mouth, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

This is one to keep up high and out of reach or remove from your home if your pet really likes to chow down on the greens.

Tulips are members of the Liliaceae family and therefore toxic to both cats and dogs.

Signs of tulip poisoning include excessive drooling, diarrhea, vomiting, rapid heart rate, labored breathing, seizures, and appetite loss, but it’s the bulb that’s the most dangerous.

It’s worth putting some netting over the bulb or put it out of the reach of animals that like to chew your colorful flowers if you plan to grow them indoors.

Aloe vera has medicinal properties and its gel is generally ok to ingest. But if cats or dogs swallow other parts of the plant, they may experience vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea.

However, pets have to ingest a pretty good amount of the white “latex” portion of the plant to feel the pain and many of those symptoms will pass.

Still, if you have a baby, elderly, or otherwise sick animal, it’s good to keep them out of reach since diarrhea can cause dehydration that can be life-threatening.

There are two types of crocus – ones that bloom in spring (which may cause some stomach upset if eaten) and those that bloom in fall (and are much more dangerous).

Colchicum autumnale is highly toxic to both cats and dogs so you’ll want to keep those grow-your-own kits out of the house.

According to the ASPCA, ingestion can cause bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, and bone marrow suppression. Pets have died from swallowing the autumn crocus.

The Dianthus caryophyllus is toxic in large quantities to both cats and dogs and will cause gastrointestinal distress regardless of whether they eat the stems, leaves, or petals.

Just keep an eye on flower-loving pets around carnations unless you like cleaning up a mess.

The principle toxin in these common garden plants is grayanotoxin, which can cause vomiting, weakness, and cardiac failure in both cats and dogs.

It’s best to keep these plants outdoors and keep curious dogs from getting a mouthful, though they tend not to want to eat them anyway.

Not all palms are toxic to pets, but the cardboard palm (Zamia spp.) can cause some serious issues in both cats and dogs, even in small amounts.

There are multiple toxins in the plant, including cycasin, which can cause vomiting, bruising, liver failure, and even death.

While many plants and flowers do nothing but cause stomach upset, there are some that should simply be avoided because the results of swallowing a berry or leaf far outweigh any beauty they may bring to your home.

Yew (Taxus spp.) is one of them, though it’s rarely grown indoors.

Commonly grown in the South, all parts of the Ricinus communis are highly toxic to cats and dogs, but the seeds are by far the worst.

The seeds contain a substance called ricin which can cause burning of mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, convulsions, and death.

Early signs of exposure include loss of appetite, excessive thirst, weakness, trembling, sweating, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, and fever within 12-48 hours after ingestion.

Some people like to propagate baby plants indoors, but it’s something to avoid if you have pets.

While this bamboo is anything but heavenly when ingested by cats and dogs, the Nandina domestica is unlikely to kill a pet unless the berries are ingested in large quantities.

Those bright red berries contain cyanogenic glycosides that can cause weakness, lack of coordination, seizures, coma, and respiratory distress.

While it’s rare for these to be houseplants, they are occasionally used to decorate for the holidays.

While these beautiful flowers grow outdoors, cuttings brought into the home may pose a threat to house pets.

If you have a cat or dog, you might want to leave the Digitalis purpurea outdoors since they contain cardiac glycosides that can cause cardiac arrhythmias, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, or even death.

Another beautiful flower that is toxic to pets, Nerium oleander contains the same cardiac glycosides as foxglove and they’re present in all parts of the plant.

Keep pets away and keep cuttings outside or out of reach.

Also called branching ivy, glacier ivy, needlepoint ivy, sweetheart ivy, and California ivy, the Hedera helix contains triterpenoid saponins that can cause in vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea.

It’s best to use this in a hanging basket and make sure it doesn’t grow long enough for pets to reach.

Cannabis sativa leaves can cause oral irritation in any creature that eats it off the stem, humans included – and there are no psychoactive effects from doing so (in other words, no one is getting high that way).

But eating the raw leaves (especially if you spray them down with something) can cause stomach upset and vomiting in any pet.

Now, eating the processed leaves (designed for smoking) CAN poison a cat or dog and cause depression, vomiting, incoordination, sleepiness, apathy or excitation, hypersalivation, dilated pupils, low blood pressure, low body temperature, seizure, and even coma.

It’s not funny to try to get your pet high – it’s dangerous and cases of poisoning have gone up over 400% now that it’s become legal in many states and countries.

Click here for more info on your pet injesting pot in its recreational forms.

‘Tis the season to be very careful if you like your mistletoe growing closer to the ground rather than hanging up high.

There are many types of mistletoe, including Phoradendron serotinum (American mistletoe) and Viscum album (European mistletoe). The American mistletoe is less toxic but the berries of these plants can cause gastrointestinal irritation (such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain) in cats and dogs.

If they ingest a lot (say, if you have a big plant growing), it can cause an abnormal heart rate, collapse, low blood pressure, and seizures.

If you have a fresh eucalyptus plant in your house, keep it out of chewing range of both cats and dogs.

It’s actually that essential oil inside (eucalyptol) that we humans value so much that causes problems for pets.

Your cat or dog simply can’t digest it so it accumulates in their bodies and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness. If larger quantities build up (say, if you don’t notice they’re eating it and it keeps happening), it can be fatal.

Those black walnuts (Juglans nigra) that you find all over the ground can actually be harmful to your dog, so keep them out of your pup’s mouth.

While the specific toxin hasn’t been identified, we do know that moisture on the ground can cause them to become moldy and eating them can cause tremors and seizures.

Also called the “bread and butter plant,” Coleus ampoinicus is another bit of greenery in which the essential oils inside are the most toxic to pets.

If cats ingest this low-growing foliage, it may result in vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody urine.

It’s even worse for dogs – especially those with weak immune systems – and causes irritation of the mouth and intestines, vomiting, weakness, and muscle tremors.

Often gifted as bulbs to grow in the house around both Christmas and Easter, Amaryllis’ contain lycorine and other toxins that can cause not only vomiting and diarrhea in both cats and dogs, but abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, and tremors.

Keep these beauties out of reach.

Growing garlic indoors? Keep all the pets away from Allium sativum.

Certain breeds (especially of dog) are more sensitive but even if your pet has eaten some garlic (any part of the plant) before and been fine, that shouldn’t be an indication that they can do it again.

There are two plants referred to as Bird of Paradise and while both are toxic, Caesalpinia and Poinciana gilliesii are more dangerous than Strelitzia reginae – that’s why it’s always important to check the tag on what you buy.

Most commonly bought as gifts, both of these plants can cause vomiting in pets. Poinciana gilliesii leaves also contain hydrocyanic acid which can cause oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of coordination.

You’re probably not growing Malus sylvestrus in your home, but if you’re using them for baking, keep the cores away from pets so they don’t ingest the seeds.

Those contain cyanogenic glycosides (capable of generating cyanide) which can cause difficulty breathing, panting, and shock in cats and dogs.

The cyclamen species should never be readily available to cats or dogs.

The flowers contain terpenoid saponins that can cause vomiting and diarrhea and – in larger quantities or the ingestion of tubers – heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, and even death.

This pretty houseplant is mildly toxic to cats and dogs because of the insoluble calcium oxalates it contains.

This can cause oral irritation such as intense burning of the mouth and tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting, and even difficulty swallowing.

For such a pretty flower the Lathyrus latifolius sure can cause a lot of pain for cats and dogs.

It’s mostly a problem if your pet grazes on them long term, but the aminoproprionitrite they contain can eventually cause neurological and musculoskeletal problems including weakness, lethargy, tremors, and seizures.

Pretty but toxic to both cats and dogs, the Anthurium scherzeranum‘s insoluble calcium oxalate crystals are its self-defense mechanism.

Ingestion is especially bad for dogs, though once they nibble they’re likely to be turned off by the taste. However, if they keep chewing, you’ll need to get them to a vet immediately before airway obstruction or the inability to swallow occur.

Another springtime flower whose bulbs are especially toxic to cats and dogs, hyacinths should be kept out of reach, especially if you’re growing one using an indoor kit and setting it somewhere pets can get to it.

Hyacinthus orientalis can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), depression, and tremors.

If your pet digs up a bulb and tries to eat it, the toxic calcium oxalate crystals will likely pierce the skin and deter the animal. But if swallowed, asphyxiation or severe intestinal damage can occur.

Beauty and danger often go together and the effects of ingesting the lovely Dracaena surculosa are no exception.

Both cats and dogs can experience abdominal pain, vomiting, depression, increased heart rate, loss of coordination, and weakness if they ingest the leaves. However, it’s worse for cats which also may experience drooling, loss of coordination, dilated pupils, and GI upset.

This plant can be kept in the home as long as your pet can behave around it. The toxic effects are generally mild and no deaths have been reported.

All parts of this garden beauty are toxic to cats and dogs, though dogs seem to suffer more. However, it tastes terrible and they’re unlikely to ingest enough to cause serious damage.

Helleborus niger contains a number of toxins that can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea as well as depression.

These pretty little garden “bells” bring a world of pain to your pets.

Even though it’s not a true lily, Convallaria majalis contains toxins that cause vomiting, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation, seizures, and even coma in cats and dogs.

Many people get their tomato plants started indoors at the beginning of the season, which is why we know just how toxic they can be to cats and dogs.

While the ripe fruit is non-toxic, the plants contain solanine, which can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, depression, weakness, and slow heart rate.

Luckily, in small doses, your pet will likely be fine. Just don’t let them chow down.

Another newly popular house plant that contains saponins, Yucca spp. are likely to cause vomiting in cats and dogs.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to ban it from your house. Just keep animals from chronically eating it.

Cordyline australis can grow as a tree or an ornamental grass and contains the saponin toxins that make it bad to eat but also relatively unpalatable to pets.

If they do ingest it, it can cause vomiting (occasionally bloody), depression, and anorexia in both cats and dogs.

Even though they are not a true lily, they might as well be when it comes to keeping them away from cats.

Hemerocallis spp. can cause vomiting, lethargy, kidney failure, and even death in your formerly feisty feline.

If you suspect your cat has swallowed part of a lily, get them to a vet immediately.

While ingesting Origanum majorana isn’t going to be fatal to your pet, it shouldn’t be ingested by cats or dogs – unless you want to clean up vomit and diarrhea.

Some dogs appear to be extra-sensitive to the herb, so if you notice any changes in behavior or appetite after ingestion, speak to your vet.

While we’re still not sure what makes the Gladiolus species toxic to cats and dogs, ingestion of the flowers can cause salivation, vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea.

These effects can be worse (and more dangerous) if they ingest the bulbs.

Narcissus jonquilla contains lycorine and other alkaloids that can cause damage to your pet’s intestines, leading to vomiting and diarrhea.

See a vet if your cat or dog has eaten the bulb as that may cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias.

The luck of the Irish doesn’t extend to cats and dogs eating shamrocks.

The calcium oxalates present in all parts of the Oxalis spp. might make it taste too bad to eat much of, but if your cat or dog can’t be deterred, they’ll need to see a vet.

While it’s rare, a cat or dog that ingests enough of this green spring plant can experience tremors and kidney failure.

style="display: none;">Philodendron bipennifolium is another new favorite of the plant-loving Instagrammers.

Unfortunately, insoluble calcium oxalates can cause oral irritation including intense burning as well as vomiting and difficulty swallowing in both cats and dogs.

Paeonis officinalis cuttings might look beautiful in a vase, but the paeonol that’s concentrated in the bark makes the stems mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

Hosta plataginea contais saponins that cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs.

If your pet is a chewer when ourdoors (which is where most people grow this plant), you might want to to consider installing some fencing around them.

Syngonium podophyllum contains those pesky calcium oxalate crystals that cause oral irritation in cats and dogs that chew the plant.

If your pet is not deterred after a first nibble, the intense burning of the mouth, throat, lips, and tongue, as well as difficulty swallowing, could last up to two weeks.

A cat or dog would have to ingest a massive amount of the plant to be poisoned, but if they do, they could experience convulsions, renal failure, coma, and even death.

Eating Colocasia esculenta means ingesting the toxin calcium oxalate, that chemical compound with sharp crystals that can cause serious serious gastrointestinal distress and even in death if consumed in large amounts by cats or dogs.

The leaves and stems are the most toxic part and can even cause skin irritation if touched (in children as well).

Portulaca oleracea is a common weed containing soluble calcium oxalates that can lead to metabolic imbalance and kidney failure in dogs and renal tubular necrosis in cats if ingested in large amounts.

While humans can and do eat it, even a bit will cause gastrointestinal distress in your pets.

Dracaena deremensis can be grown as a small indoor ornamental plant or a larger tree.

When kept indoors, cats and dogs may be drawn to it and the saponins it contains can cause dilated pupils, abdominal pain, increased heart rate, and drooling in cats as well as vomiting, depression, lack of coordination, and weakness in both cats and dogs.

Ilex aquifolium is a pretty way to welcome the holidays, the plant should be kept out of reach of your cats and dogs.

While it does contain toxins, the bigger risk is the spiny leaves that can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, lip-smacking, drooling, and excessive head shaking as your pet tries to cope with the pain of having swallowed them.