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Is African Wormwood toxic to cats?

Artemisia afra

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists african wormwood as mildly toxic to cats — a chewing cat typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. This classification follows the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. Artemisia afra is not individually listed by the ASPCA. Acute toxicity studies in rodents confirm the aqueous extract has measurable biological activity; the genus broadly contains volatile oils (camphor, thujone derivatives) that are mildly toxic to pets. ASPCA classifies tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Treat A. afra as mildly toxic by genus association. Traditional human medicinal use is well-documented but dosage and route matter — garden exposure is low-risk but contact and ingestion should be avoided in pets.

What to do if your cat ate african wormwood

  1. Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth and move african wormwood out of reach.
  2. Note how much was eaten and when, and watch for drooling, vomiting, or lethargy.
  3. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet or poison-control specialist instructs you to.
  4. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice.
  5. Bring a leaf or photo of african wormwood to the appointment so it can be treated correctly.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. If you think your cat has eaten african wormwood, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 — do not wait for symptoms to worsen.

Is african wormwood toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is african wormwood toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists african wormwood as mildly toxic to cats — a chewing cat typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. Artemisia afra is not individually listed by the ASPCA. Acute toxicity studies in rodents confirm the aqueous extract has measurable biological activity; the genus broadly contains volatile oils (camphor, thujone derivatives) that are mildly toxic to pets. ASPCA classifies tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Treat A. afra as mildly toxic by genus association. Traditional human medicinal use is well-documented but dosage and route matter — garden exposure is low-risk but contact and ingestion should be avoided in pets.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats african wormwood?

Artemisia afra is not individually listed by the ASPCA. Acute toxicity studies in rodents confirm the aqueous extract has measurable biological activity; the genus broadly contains volatile oils (camphor, thujone derivatives) that are mildly toxic to pets. ASPCA classifies tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Treat A. afra as mildly toxic by genus association. Traditional human medicinal use is well-documented but dosage and route matter — garden exposure is low-risk but contact and ingestion should be avoided in pets. Signs usually appear soon after chewing rather than hours later — watch for drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy after your cat has had access to african wormwood.

What should I do if my cat ate african wormwood?

Stay calm. Remove any plant from your cat's mouth and take the plant away. Note how much was eaten and when, and do not induce vomiting unless told to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice; a leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.

Is african wormwood toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: African Wormwood is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full african wormwood pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to african wormwood?

For a similar look without the risk, see the best cats-safe plants list — every plant there is ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Full african wormwood pet-safety