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Pet safety

Is Blue Vervain toxic to cats?

Verbena hastata

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists blue vervain 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. Verbena hastata is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The related Verbena genus contains iridoid glycosides that may cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in dogs and cats if ingested. As a precaution, treat as mildly toxic and prevent pets from consuming large quantities.

What to do if your cat ate blue vervain

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

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

Is blue vervain toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is blue vervain toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists blue vervain 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. Verbena hastata is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The related Verbena genus contains iridoid glycosides that may cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in dogs and cats if ingested. As a precaution, treat as mildly toxic and prevent pets from consuming large quantities.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats blue vervain?

Verbena hastata is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The related Verbena genus contains iridoid glycosides that may cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in dogs and cats if ingested. As a precaution, treat as mildly toxic and prevent pets from consuming large quantities. 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 vervain.

What should I do if my cat ate blue vervain?

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 blue vervain toxic to dogs too?

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

What is a cat-safe alternative to blue vervain?

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 blue vervain pet-safety