Is Passiflora coccinea toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists passiflora coccinea 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. Passiflora is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so a definitive pet-safe label cannot be given; foliage and unripe fruit contain cyanogenic glycosides that can release small amounts of cyanide and irritate the digestive tract. Treat with caution, discourage chewing, and verify with a vet if ingestion is suspected.

Passiflora is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so a definitive pet-safe label cannot be given; foliage and unripe fruit contain cyanogenic glycosides that can release small amounts of cyanide and irritate the digestive tract. Treat with caution, discourage chewing, and verify with a vet if ingestion is suspected. 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 passiflora coccinea.

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.

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

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.