Got a cat and a dracaena under the same roof? You’re not alone. Dracaenas are some of the most popular houseplants around, and cats love to nibble on grass, leaves and anything green that moves when they bat at it.
So, are dracaenas toxic to cats? Yes. Dracaena species are toxic to cats and dogs. The good news: the poison severity is low. Here’s what that means for your cat, what to watch for, and how to keep both your plant and your pet happy.
Is Dracaena Toxic to Cats?
The simple answer is yes. The ASPCA’s plant list rates Dracaena species as toxic to dogs and cats. Its listings for the corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) and the Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) add horses to the list.
How bad is it? NC State Extension rates dracaenas as low-severity poisonous plants. That doesn’t mean harmless. A cat that chews the leaves can still end up vomiting, drooling and feeling miserable, so it’s worth keeping the two apart.
What Are Dracaena Plants?
Dracaena is a big genus. It holds 198 species, native to the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Australia, Central and South America and Southeast Asia. Indoors, most stay between 2 and 10 feet tall, though they can grow much larger outdoors in their native habitats. Not all of them come from Madagascar: the Madagascar dragon tree is native to Madagascar and nearby islands in the Indian Ocean, the corn plant is native to tropical Africa and lucky bamboo comes from West Africa.
People love these plants because they are attractive, adaptable and low-maintenance, and the leaves come solid, variegated or striped in shades of green, red, yellow or white.
Common dracaenas you might have at home (see more Dracaena varieties):
- Janet Craig (Dracaena fragrans ‘Janet Craig’)
- Corn plant or mass cane (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’, formerly Dracaena massangeana)
- Dracaena marginata (Madagascar dragon tree, now listed as Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia)
- Dracaena Warneckii (Dracaena fragrans ‘Warneckii’, formerly D. deremensis)
- Dracaena sanderiana (lucky bamboo, ribbon plant)
- Song of India and Song of Jamaica (Dracaena reflexa cultivars, per UF/IFAS Extension)
- Snake plants (formerly Sansevieria, now in Dracaena)
That last one surprises a lot of people. Molecular research showed the species formerly in Sansevieria belong in Dracaena, and they have been reclassified. The snake plant is toxic to dogs and cats too.
One naming trap: “ribbon plant” is a common name for some dracaenas on the toxic list, but ribbon plant is also another name for the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), which is rated non-toxic to cats and dogs. Check the botanical name on the tag, not just the common name.
You may also have read that dracaenas purify the air. In NASA’s 1989 study, Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement (the September 1989 final report), plants were tested in sealed chambers. Iowa State University Extension says that in reality houseplants have little effect on air quality in the home or office, because homes have a constant turnover of air. Grow a dracaena for its looks, not as an air filter.
What Parts of the Plant Are Toxic?
Saponins are the toxic principle in dracaena. The corn plant’s flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap and stems are all listed as poisonous parts, so it isn’t only the leaves. Saponins are common plant compounds. A review in Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology says steroidal saponins are typically found in several plant families, including the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) that dracaenas belong to, and that legumes such as soybeans, beans and peas are a rich source of other saponins.
What Are the Symptoms of Poisoning?
These are the clinical signs listed for dracaena:
- Vomiting (occasionally with blood)
- Depression
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Drooling (hypersalivation)
- Dilated pupils (cats)
There are a few more. For pets that eat dracaena, other listed signs include weakness, stomach irritation, diarrhea and incoordination (ataxia). For the Madagascar dragon tree, they include abdominal pain and increased heart rate in cats.
Related: Wondering what house plants are safe for cats?
What To Do If Your Cat Eats Dracaena
Don’t wait to see what happens. If you suspect your pet ate a potentially toxic substance, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or your local veterinarian as soon as possible. The line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and a consultation fee may apply.
One important don’t: Cornell Feline Health Center says not to try to make your cat vomit unless you are specifically told to do so.
Before you call, take a quick look at the plant so you can say which dracaena it is and roughly how much is missing. A photo of the plant tag helps.
Is Dracaena Toxic to Dogs, Horses and People?
Dogs: yes. Dracaena is toxic to dogs, with the same signs as in cats (apart from dilated pupils, which are noted for cats). Lucky bamboo is listed as toxic to cats and dogs as well.
Horses: the corn plant and the Madagascar dragon tree are listed as toxic to horses.
People: some types of dracaena can be toxic to humans too. If eaten, they can cause mouth and throat irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and handling some species can irritate the skin. The sap of the corn plant may cause skin irritation. Use caution when these plants are around pets or small children. Wearing gloves when you prune or repot, and washing your hands afterward, is a simple habit that helps.
Tips For Owning a Dracaena and a Cat
Does this mean you must get rid of your plant? Not necessarily. Not every cat chews houseplants, but you can’t predict which one will, so plan for the curious one.
Cats that chew on houseplants are usually indoor cats with little access to grass or other greens. They may chew as part of normal investigation and play, or because they crave vegetable matter. Curbing houseplant chewing comes down to a few steps:
- Block access. This is the only way to guarantee protection for both your houseplants and your cat. Think a room the cat can’t enter, or a spot the cat can’t reach.
- Offer safer greens. Try oat grass, catnip and catmint, though a cat may still snack on houseplants.
- Add fiber. Add lettuce or parsley to the food bowl or switching to a higher-fiber cat food.
- Make the plant less attractive. Spray the leaves with a commercial pet repellent.
- Try a startle. Set a “tower of cups” around the pot that topples and startles your cat when it starts to chew.
Keep fallen leaves picked up, too. A dropped leaf on the floor is easier to chew than one on the plant.
Other Common Houseplants That Are Toxic to Cats
Dracaena isn’t the only one. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is toxic to cats. So are dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) and sago palm, and the rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is flagged as a problem for cats. Lilies are especially toxic to cats and can cause life-threatening kidney failure even in tiny amounts. See our list of 20 toxic and poisonous plants for cats.
Want greenery without the worry? The spider plant, Boston fern and parlor palm are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Keep Your Furry Friend Safe
Dracaenas are toxic to cats, but the poison severity is low, and you don’t have to give up your plant. Put it where your cat can’t reach it, give your cat something safe to chew, and know the signs. If your cat does take a bite, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away.
Do you share your home with a cat and a dracaena? Tell us how you keep them apart!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dracaena plants poisonous to cats?
Yes. Dracaena species are toxic to cats and dogs, with saponins as the toxic principle. Signs include vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, loss of appetite, drooling and dilated pupils in cats. The poison severity is rated low, but it’s still best to keep dracaenas where your cat can’t chew them and to call your vet if it does.
Are dragon trees (Dracaena marginata) toxic to cats?
Yes. The Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata), now listed as Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia, is toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of saponins. Cats may also show dilated pupils, abdominal pain, increased heart rate and drooling. Keep it out of reach, and call your vet if your cat chews it.
Are corn plants and mass cane toxic to cats?
Yes. The corn plant, also sold as mass cane (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’), is listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Its leaves, stems, roots, sap, flowers and fruit are listed as poisonous parts, and the poison severity is rated low. Learn more about growing the corn plant safely.
Are dracaena plants toxic to dogs?
Yes. Dracaena is toxic to dogs as well as cats, with signs such as vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, loss of appetite and drooling. Lucky bamboo, also a dracaena, is listed as toxic to cats and dogs. If your dog eats part of a dracaena, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
What should I do if my cat ate dracaena?
Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 as soon as possible; a consultation fee may apply. Don’t try to make your cat vomit unless you are specifically told to do so. The line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.