Is Pitomba toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists pitomba 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. Eugenia luschnathiana is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so its status is uncertain; treat with caution and verify with a vet. The ripe fruit is eaten by people, but other Eugenia parts (seeds, leaves) can contain cyanogenic compounds and the genus is not ASPCA-cleared, so it should not be labelled pet-safe; ingestion of plant material may cause mild GI upset.

Eugenia luschnathiana is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so its status is uncertain; treat with caution and verify with a vet. The ripe fruit is eaten by people, but other Eugenia parts (seeds, leaves) can contain cyanogenic compounds and the genus is not ASPCA-cleared, so it should not be labelled pet-safe; ingestion of plant material may cause mild GI upset. 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 pitomba.

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: Pitomba is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full pitomba 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.