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Pet safety

Is Queen Lily toxic to cats?

Curcuma petiolata

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists queen lily 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. Curcuma petiolata is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The Curcuma genus contains compounds including curcuminoids and essential oils; while culinary turmeric (C. longa) is generally regarded as safe in food amounts, ornamental species have not been fully evaluated. Treat as mildly toxic and keep away from pets as a precaution.

What to do if your cat ate queen lily

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

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

Is queen lily toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is queen lily toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists queen lily 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. Curcuma petiolata is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The Curcuma genus contains compounds including curcuminoids and essential oils; while culinary turmeric (C. longa) is generally regarded as safe in food amounts, ornamental species have not been fully evaluated. Treat as mildly toxic and keep away from pets as a precaution.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats queen lily?

Curcuma petiolata is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The Curcuma genus contains compounds including curcuminoids and essential oils; while culinary turmeric (C. longa) is generally regarded as safe in food amounts, ornamental species have not been fully evaluated. Treat as mildly toxic and keep away from pets as a precaution. 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 queen lily.

What should I do if my cat ate queen lily?

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 queen lily toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Queen Lily is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full queen lily pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to queen lily?

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 queen lily pet-safety