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Pet safety

Is Fairy Bells toxic to cats?

Melasphaerula ramosa

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists fairy bells 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. Melasphaerula ramosa is not individually assessed by the ASPCA. As a member of the family Iridaceae — which includes genera (Iris, Gladiolus, Freesia) known to cause GI irritation, salivation, vomiting, and diarrhoea in cats and dogs — and bearing corms (the most concentrated plant part), a mildly-toxic classification is applied as a precaution. Keep away from pets until individual species data is available.

What to do if your cat ate fairy bells

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

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

Is fairy bells toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is fairy bells toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists fairy bells 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. Melasphaerula ramosa is not individually assessed by the ASPCA. As a member of the family Iridaceae — which includes genera (Iris, Gladiolus, Freesia) known to cause GI irritation, salivation, vomiting, and diarrhoea in cats and dogs — and bearing corms (the most concentrated plant part), a mildly-toxic classification is applied as a precaution. Keep away from pets until individual species data is available.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats fairy bells?

Melasphaerula ramosa is not individually assessed by the ASPCA. As a member of the family Iridaceae — which includes genera (Iris, Gladiolus, Freesia) known to cause GI irritation, salivation, vomiting, and diarrhoea in cats and dogs — and bearing corms (the most concentrated plant part), a mildly-toxic classification is applied as a precaution. Keep away from pets until individual species data is available. 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 fairy bells.

What should I do if my cat ate fairy bells?

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 fairy bells toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Fairy Bells is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full fairy bells pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to fairy bells?

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 fairy bells pet-safety