Is China Girl dogwood toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists china girl dogwood 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. Cornus kousa fruits are consumed by wildlife and used in some human recipes, but Cornus species are not individually confirmed as pet-safe by ASPCA. The genus has no widely documented severe toxicity, but ingestion of fruit or foliage by pets may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. Use caution.

Cornus kousa fruits are consumed by wildlife and used in some human recipes, but Cornus species are not individually confirmed as pet-safe by ASPCA. The genus has no widely documented severe toxicity, but ingestion of fruit or foliage by pets may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. Use caution. 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 china girl dogwood.

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.

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: China Girl dogwood is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full china girl dogwood pet-safety guide for both species.

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.