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Pet safety

Is Garden verbena toxic to cats?

Verbena × hybrida

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists garden verbena 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. Verbena × hybrida is not individually listed by ASPCA as toxic, but various Verbena species have been associated with mild gastrointestinal irritation in dogs and cats if ingested in quantity. The genus is not considered severely toxic; exercise caution and keep away from pets prone to chewing plants.

What to do if your cat ate garden verbena

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

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

Is garden verbena toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is garden verbena toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists garden verbena 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. Verbena × hybrida is not individually listed by ASPCA as toxic, but various Verbena species have been associated with mild gastrointestinal irritation in dogs and cats if ingested in quantity. The genus is not considered severely toxic; exercise caution and keep away from pets prone to chewing plants.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats garden verbena?

Verbena × hybrida is not individually listed by ASPCA as toxic, but various Verbena species have been associated with mild gastrointestinal irritation in dogs and cats if ingested in quantity. The genus is not considered severely toxic; exercise caution and keep away from pets prone to chewing plants. 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 garden verbena.

What should I do if my cat ate garden verbena?

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 garden verbena toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Garden verbena is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full garden verbena pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to garden verbena?

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 garden verbena pet-safety