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Is Tansy toxic to cats?

Tanacetum vulgare

Toxic to cats

Yes — tansy is toxic to cats according to the ASPCA. Keep it well away from any cat that chews plants; reactions can be significant. This classification follows the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. Tansy is not individually catalogued by the ASPCA, but it is well established in veterinary and toxicology literature as poisonous: the foliage and flowers contain thujone and other volatile oils. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, convulsions and, with the concentrated oil, liver and kidney damage. Keep away from cats, dogs and livestock; the essential oil is especially hazardous.

What to do if your cat ate tansy

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

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

Is tansy toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is tansy toxic to cats?

Yes — tansy is toxic to cats according to the ASPCA. Keep it well away from any cat that chews plants; reactions can be significant. Tansy is not individually catalogued by the ASPCA, but it is well established in veterinary and toxicology literature as poisonous: the foliage and flowers contain thujone and other volatile oils. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, convulsions and, with the concentrated oil, liver and kidney damage. Keep away from cats, dogs and livestock; the essential oil is especially hazardous.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats tansy?

Tansy is not individually catalogued by the ASPCA, but it is well established in veterinary and toxicology literature as poisonous: the foliage and flowers contain thujone and other volatile oils. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, convulsions and, with the concentrated oil, liver and kidney damage. Keep away from cats, dogs and livestock; the essential oil is especially hazardous. 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 tansy.

What should I do if my cat ate tansy?

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 tansy toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Tansy is toxic to dogs as well. See the full tansy pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to tansy?

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 tansy pet-safety