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Pet safety

Is Sweet Woodruff toxic to cats?

Galium odoratum

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists sweet woodruff 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. Contains coumarin, a natural anticoagulant compound. Large ingested quantities can be hepatotoxic and cause anticoagulant effects in dogs and cats. Not listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA; exercise caution and prevent pets from grazing on the plant.

What to do if your cat ate sweet woodruff

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

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

Is sweet woodruff toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is sweet woodruff toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists sweet woodruff 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. Contains coumarin, a natural anticoagulant compound. Large ingested quantities can be hepatotoxic and cause anticoagulant effects in dogs and cats. Not listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA; exercise caution and prevent pets from grazing on the plant.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats sweet woodruff?

Contains coumarin, a natural anticoagulant compound. Large ingested quantities can be hepatotoxic and cause anticoagulant effects in dogs and cats. Not listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA; exercise caution and prevent pets from grazing on the plant. 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 sweet woodruff.

What should I do if my cat ate sweet woodruff?

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 sweet woodruff toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Sweet Woodruff is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full sweet woodruff pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to sweet woodruff?

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 sweet woodruff pet-safety