Is Surinam Cherry toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists surinam cherry 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 uniflora is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so its status is uncertain; treat with caution and verify with a vet. The ripe flesh is eaten by people, but the seeds are resinous and considered inedible, and the genus is not ASPCA-cleared, so it should not be asserted as pet-safe; pets eating seeds or large amounts of foliage may show GI upset.

Eugenia uniflora is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so its status is uncertain; treat with caution and verify with a vet. The ripe flesh is eaten by people, but the seeds are resinous and considered inedible, and the genus is not ASPCA-cleared, so it should not be asserted as pet-safe; pets eating seeds or large amounts of foliage may show 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 surinam cherry.

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: Surinam Cherry is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full surinam cherry 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.