Is Prairie Dropseed toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists prairie dropseed 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. Not individually listed by the ASPCA on either its toxic or non-toxic plant lists, so a definitive pet-safe label cannot be given; treat with caution and verify with a vet. As a true native grass it carries no known systemic toxin, but ripe seed awns can lodge in fur, ears or paws and cause mechanical injury if a pet chews the seed heads.

Not individually listed by the ASPCA on either its toxic or non-toxic plant lists, so a definitive pet-safe label cannot be given; treat with caution and verify with a vet. As a true native grass it carries no known systemic toxin, but ripe seed awns can lodge in fur, ears or paws and cause mechanical injury if a pet chews the seed heads. 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 prairie dropseed.

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: Prairie Dropseed is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full prairie dropseed 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.