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Pet safety

Is Bog Sage toxic to cats?

Salvia uliginosa

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists bog sage 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. Not individually listed by ASPCA. As a member of the Salvia genus, which includes species (such as S. officinalis) listed by ASPCA as toxic to dogs and cats due to volatile oils and ketones, Salvia uliginosa is treated as mildly toxic. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, or lethargy in pets. Consult a vet if significant ingestion occurs.

What to do if your cat ate bog sage

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

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

Is bog sage toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is bog sage toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists bog sage 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. Not individually listed by ASPCA. As a member of the Salvia genus, which includes species (such as S. officinalis) listed by ASPCA as toxic to dogs and cats due to volatile oils and ketones, Salvia uliginosa is treated as mildly toxic. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, or lethargy in pets. Consult a vet if significant ingestion occurs.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats bog sage?

Not individually listed by ASPCA. As a member of the Salvia genus, which includes species (such as S. officinalis) listed by ASPCA as toxic to dogs and cats due to volatile oils and ketones, Salvia uliginosa is treated as mildly toxic. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, or lethargy in pets. Consult a vet if significant ingestion occurs. 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 bog sage.

What should I do if my cat ate bog sage?

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 bog sage toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Bog Sage is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full bog sage pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to bog sage?

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 bog sage pet-safety