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Pet safety

Is White Bleeding Heart toxic to cats?

Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'

Toxic to cats

Yes — white bleeding heart 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. All parts contain isoquinoline alkaloids (including protopine and cularine) that are toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. Ingestion causes trembling, vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions, and laboured breathing. Contact with sap can cause mild skin and ocular irritation. Keep away from pets and children. Contact ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) if ingestion is suspected.

What to do if your cat ate white bleeding heart

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

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

Is white bleeding heart toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is white bleeding heart toxic to cats?

Yes — white bleeding heart is toxic to cats according to the ASPCA. Keep it well away from any cat that chews plants; reactions can be significant. All parts contain isoquinoline alkaloids (including protopine and cularine) that are toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. Ingestion causes trembling, vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions, and laboured breathing. Contact with sap can cause mild skin and ocular irritation. Keep away from pets and children. Contact ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) if ingestion is suspected.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats white bleeding heart?

All parts contain isoquinoline alkaloids (including protopine and cularine) that are toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. Ingestion causes trembling, vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions, and laboured breathing. Contact with sap can cause mild skin and ocular irritation. Keep away from pets and children. Contact ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) if ingestion is suspected. 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 white bleeding heart.

What should I do if my cat ate white bleeding heart?

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 white bleeding heart toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: White Bleeding Heart is toxic to dogs as well. See the full white bleeding heart pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to white bleeding heart?

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 white bleeding heart pet-safety