Is Wild Star Apple toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists wild star apple 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. Pouteria obovata is not individually listed by ASPCA. The genus Pouteria (Sapotaceae) contains saponins in bark and unripe fruit; ripe berries are consumed by wildlife and people without reported serious toxicity. Exercise caution — keep pets and children away from unripe fruit and bark until more species-specific data is available.

Pouteria obovata is not individually listed by ASPCA. The genus Pouteria (Sapotaceae) contains saponins in bark and unripe fruit; ripe berries are consumed by wildlife and people without reported serious toxicity. Exercise caution — keep pets and children away from unripe fruit and bark until more species-specific data is available. 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 wild star apple.

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: Wild Star Apple is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full wild star apple 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.