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Is Common Poppy toxic to cats?

Papaver rhoeas

Toxic to cats

Yes — common poppy is toxic to cats according to the ASPCA. Keep it well away from any cat that chews plants; reactions can be significant. This classification follows the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. Papaver rhoeas is listed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. It contains isoquinoline alkaloids including rhoeadine, coptisine, and allotropine, which act as CNS depressants and produce opioid-like toxicity. Ingestion can cause sedation, ataxia, pinpoint pupils (dogs) or dilated pupils (cats), drooling, vomiting, respiratory depression, and in severe cases coma. All parts of the plant — including the green stems, leaves, sap, and unripe seed heads — are considered toxic; the milky sap is the most potent. Contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) if ingestion is suspected.

What to do if your cat ate common poppy

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

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

Is common poppy toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is common poppy toxic to cats?

Yes — common poppy is toxic to cats according to the ASPCA. Keep it well away from any cat that chews plants; reactions can be significant. Papaver rhoeas is listed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. It contains isoquinoline alkaloids including rhoeadine, coptisine, and allotropine, which act as CNS depressants and produce opioid-like toxicity. Ingestion can cause sedation, ataxia, pinpoint pupils (dogs) or dilated pupils (cats), drooling, vomiting, respiratory depression, and in severe cases coma. All parts of the plant — including the green stems, leaves, sap, and unripe seed heads — are considered toxic; the milky sap is the most potent. Contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) if ingestion is suspected.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats common poppy?

Papaver rhoeas is listed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. It contains isoquinoline alkaloids including rhoeadine, coptisine, and allotropine, which act as CNS depressants and produce opioid-like toxicity. Ingestion can cause sedation, ataxia, pinpoint pupils (dogs) or dilated pupils (cats), drooling, vomiting, respiratory depression, and in severe cases coma. All parts of the plant — including the green stems, leaves, sap, and unripe seed heads — are considered toxic; the milky sap is the most potent. Contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) if ingestion is suspected. 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 common poppy.

What should I do if my cat ate common poppy?

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 common poppy toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Common Poppy is toxic to dogs as well. See the full common poppy pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to common poppy?

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 common poppy pet-safety