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Pet safety

Is Grass-Leaved Ginger toxic to cats?

Zingiber gramineum

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists grass-leaved ginger 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. Zingiber gramineum is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The closely related Zingiber zerumbet (shampoo ginger) is listed as non-toxic, and ginger root is widely considered low-risk, but in the absence of a direct ASPCA listing for this species, a mildly-toxic precautionary classification is applied. Large ingestion may cause gastrointestinal upset in cats or dogs.

What to do if your cat ate grass-leaved ginger

  1. Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth and move grass-leaved ginger 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 grass-leaved ginger to the appointment so it can be treated correctly.

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

Is grass-leaved ginger toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is grass-leaved ginger toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists grass-leaved ginger 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. Zingiber gramineum is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The closely related Zingiber zerumbet (shampoo ginger) is listed as non-toxic, and ginger root is widely considered low-risk, but in the absence of a direct ASPCA listing for this species, a mildly-toxic precautionary classification is applied. Large ingestion may cause gastrointestinal upset in cats or dogs.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats grass-leaved ginger?

Zingiber gramineum is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The closely related Zingiber zerumbet (shampoo ginger) is listed as non-toxic, and ginger root is widely considered low-risk, but in the absence of a direct ASPCA listing for this species, a mildly-toxic precautionary classification is applied. Large ingestion may cause gastrointestinal upset in cats or dogs. 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 grass-leaved ginger.

What should I do if my cat ate grass-leaved ginger?

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 grass-leaved ginger toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Grass-Leaved Ginger is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full grass-leaved ginger pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to grass-leaved ginger?

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 grass-leaved ginger pet-safety