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Pet safety

Is Baboon Flower toxic to cats?

Babiana stricta

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists baboon flower 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. Babiana stricta is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database, and no specific toxicity reports for cats or dogs were located in veterinary literature. As an Iridaceae family member related to genera such as Freesia and Tritonia (which have limited toxicity data), and given the absence of an explicit ASPCA non-toxic listing, a mildly-toxic precautionary rating is applied. If a pet ingests corms or foliage, consult a veterinarian.

What to do if your cat ate baboon flower

  1. Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth and move baboon flower 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 baboon flower to the appointment so it can be treated correctly.

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

Is baboon flower toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is baboon flower toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists baboon flower 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. Babiana stricta is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database, and no specific toxicity reports for cats or dogs were located in veterinary literature. As an Iridaceae family member related to genera such as Freesia and Tritonia (which have limited toxicity data), and given the absence of an explicit ASPCA non-toxic listing, a mildly-toxic precautionary rating is applied. If a pet ingests corms or foliage, consult a veterinarian.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats baboon flower?

Babiana stricta is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database, and no specific toxicity reports for cats or dogs were located in veterinary literature. As an Iridaceae family member related to genera such as Freesia and Tritonia (which have limited toxicity data), and given the absence of an explicit ASPCA non-toxic listing, a mildly-toxic precautionary rating is applied. If a pet ingests corms or foliage, consult a veterinarian. 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 baboon flower.

What should I do if my cat ate baboon flower?

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 baboon flower toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Baboon Flower is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full baboon flower pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to baboon flower?

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 baboon flower pet-safety