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Pet safety

Is Blue Ash toxic to cats?

Fraxinus quadrangulata

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists blue ash 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. Fraxinus species are not prominently listed by ASPCA as toxic to companion animals. However, ash seeds (samaras) and bark have been associated with mild gastrointestinal upset in horses and livestock when ingested in quantity. As with many landscape trees, restrict access by horses to avoid accidental ingestion of large leaf or seed quantities. Not considered significantly toxic to dogs or cats based on current ASPCA data.

What to do if your cat ate blue ash

  1. Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth and move blue ash 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 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK and follow their advice.
  5. Bring a leaf or photo of blue ash to the appointment so it can be treated correctly.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. If you think your cat has eaten blue ash, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK — do not wait for symptoms to worsen.

Is blue ash toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is blue ash toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists blue ash 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. Fraxinus species are not prominently listed by ASPCA as toxic to companion animals. However, ash seeds (samaras) and bark have been associated with mild gastrointestinal upset in horses and livestock when ingested in quantity. As with many landscape trees, restrict access by horses to avoid accidental ingestion of large leaf or seed quantities. Not considered significantly toxic to dogs or cats based on current ASPCA data.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats blue ash?

Fraxinus species are not prominently listed by ASPCA as toxic to companion animals. However, ash seeds (samaras) and bark have been associated with mild gastrointestinal upset in horses and livestock when ingested in quantity. As with many landscape trees, restrict access by horses to avoid accidental ingestion of large leaf or seed quantities. Not considered significantly toxic to dogs or cats based on current ASPCA data. 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 blue ash.

What should I do if my cat ate blue ash?

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 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK and follow their advice; a leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.

Is blue ash toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Blue Ash is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full blue ash pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to blue ash?

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.

Type any plant to see what the ASPCA says about it and your cat.

Full blue ash pet-safety

Writing about plant safety? Embed our free pet-toxicity checker on your site — ASPCA-grounded verdicts for 11,000+ plants, no sign-up.