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Is Forest Elephant's Foot toxic to cats?

Dioscorea sylvatica

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists forest elephant's foot 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. Dioscorea sylvatica is not individually listed by ASPCA. The genus Dioscorea contains saponins and diosgenin; raw plant material, including the caudex, can cause gastrointestinal upset in pets and humans if ingested. Treat with caution and keep away from pets and children.

What to do if your cat ate forest elephant's foot

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

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

Is forest elephant's foot toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is forest elephant's foot toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists forest elephant's foot 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. Dioscorea sylvatica is not individually listed by ASPCA. The genus Dioscorea contains saponins and diosgenin; raw plant material, including the caudex, can cause gastrointestinal upset in pets and humans if ingested. Treat with caution and keep away from pets and children.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats forest elephant's foot?

Dioscorea sylvatica is not individually listed by ASPCA. The genus Dioscorea contains saponins and diosgenin; raw plant material, including the caudex, can cause gastrointestinal upset in pets and humans if ingested. Treat with caution and keep away from pets and children. 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 forest elephant's foot.

What should I do if my cat ate forest elephant's foot?

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 forest elephant's foot toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Forest Elephant's Foot is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full forest elephant's foot pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to forest elephant's foot?

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 forest elephant's foot pet-safety