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Is Pau's Germander toxic to cats?

Teucrium carolipaui

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists pau's germander 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. As a Teucrium species, T. carolipaui is expected to contain neoclerodane diterpenes with hepatotoxic potential, in line with the documented chemistry of the genus (teucrin A and related compounds). It is not listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA. Ingestion by pets or people should be avoided.

What to do if your cat ate pau's germander

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

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

Is pau's germander toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is pau's germander toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists pau's germander 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. As a Teucrium species, T. carolipaui is expected to contain neoclerodane diterpenes with hepatotoxic potential, in line with the documented chemistry of the genus (teucrin A and related compounds). It is not listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA. Ingestion by pets or people should be avoided.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats pau's germander?

As a Teucrium species, T. carolipaui is expected to contain neoclerodane diterpenes with hepatotoxic potential, in line with the documented chemistry of the genus (teucrin A and related compounds). It is not listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA. Ingestion by pets or people should be avoided. 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 pau's germander.

What should I do if my cat ate pau's germander?

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 pau's germander toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Pau's Germander is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full pau's germander pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to pau's germander?

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 pau's germander pet-safety