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Pet safety

Is tea plant toxic to cats?

Camellia sinensis

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists tea plant 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. Camellia sinensis is not individually listed by ASPCA in their toxic/non-toxic plant database. The leaves and seeds contain caffeine, theobromine, and tannins. While dried and prepared tea is consumed in huge quantities by humans, concentrated ingestion of raw leaves by pets — especially cats and small dogs — could cause caffeine toxicity (restlessness, rapid heart rate, vomiting). Keep pets from consuming large quantities of fresh foliage.

What to do if your cat ate tea plant

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

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

Is tea plant toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is tea plant toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists tea plant 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. Camellia sinensis is not individually listed by ASPCA in their toxic/non-toxic plant database. The leaves and seeds contain caffeine, theobromine, and tannins. While dried and prepared tea is consumed in huge quantities by humans, concentrated ingestion of raw leaves by pets — especially cats and small dogs — could cause caffeine toxicity (restlessness, rapid heart rate, vomiting). Keep pets from consuming large quantities of fresh foliage.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats tea plant?

Camellia sinensis is not individually listed by ASPCA in their toxic/non-toxic plant database. The leaves and seeds contain caffeine, theobromine, and tannins. While dried and prepared tea is consumed in huge quantities by humans, concentrated ingestion of raw leaves by pets — especially cats and small dogs — could cause caffeine toxicity (restlessness, rapid heart rate, vomiting). Keep pets from consuming large quantities of fresh foliage. 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 tea plant.

What should I do if my cat ate tea plant?

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 tea plant toxic to dogs too?

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

What is a cat-safe alternative to tea plant?

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 tea plant pet-safety