Is Salvinia natans toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists salvinia natans 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. Salvinia natans is not individually listed on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database, so a pet-safe label cannot be confirmed; treat with caution and verify with a vet. As a water floater it can carry algae and contaminants from its growing water, which pose the more realistic ingestion risk to pets.

Salvinia natans is not individually listed on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database, so a pet-safe label cannot be confirmed; treat with caution and verify with a vet. As a water floater it can carry algae and contaminants from its growing water, which pose the more realistic ingestion risk to pets. 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 salvinia natans.

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: Salvinia natans is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full salvinia natans 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.