Are Snapdragons Poisonous to Cats? Vet-Reviewed Safety Facts

By Kerry-Ann Kerr · Reviewed & fact-checked by Dr. Lorna WhittemoreVet Approved

Reviewed & Fact-Checked byDr. Lorna WhittemoreVeterinarianLorna is a Scottish vet who has lived, studied, and worked on three continents and has a love of travel. With 20 years of experience in small animal medicine andsurgery, both in the charity and private sector. Gaining a further qualification in feline medicine has given her a continued sense of amazement at the fabulous animals. Currently living in Cape Town, South Africa, with her family and expanding number of pets allows her to spend time in and around nature where she is at her happiest. With a love for learning, Lorna is enjoying researching, editing, and fact-checking for Hepper veterinary editorial team and truly feels that she has the best job in the world!View authorThe information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Read about our vetsUpdated on March 14, 2025

In this article

Keep Your Cat Safe Indoors It Isn’t Just About the Plants Keep Your Cat Safe Outdoors Signs Your Cat Has Been Poisoned

When keeping your cat safe from poisonous plants, you’ll want to know what is harmful and how likely they’ll eat it if they stumble across it. Thankfully, snapdragons are an example of a plant that is completely harmless.

Poisoning from ingesting poisonous plants is rare for cats because they tend not to snack on anything unusual. If it does happen, you may find it's because they brushed against something harmful, and it’s settled on their paws and fur, which they later ingest when grooming.

To keep your cat safe, it’s a good idea to figure out what plants and flowers are safe and which you should avoid.

Keep Your Cat Safe Indoors

Keeping your cat safe indoors can be tricky because a bored cat is curious, and you don't want a bored cat nibbling on a flower or plant that could hurt him. It is, however, easy to control because you decide what plants you keep inside your home.

Here is a brief list of flowers that are safe around your cat:

Alstroemeria
Asters
Freesia
Gerbera daisies
Liatris
Lisianthus
Orchid
Roses
Statice
Madagascar jasmine

To ensure your home is a safe environment for your cat, it’s also important to familiarize yourself with the plants that would be unsafe for him to eat.

cat smelling roses — Photo By: Kadres, Pixabay

It Isn’t Just About the Plants

You might be wondering about flower food. These contain things like sugar and citric acid, with a small amount of bleach which reduces bacterial growth. These can cause gastrointestinal upset in cats, so you will want to avoid them.

There is also the issue of the vase itself, which is heavy and can cause injury if they fall or are knocked over. If you feel like you can’t keep a vase and its contents out of a curious cat’s way, it is best you avoid keeping vases and pots in your house.

Keep Your Cat Safe Outdoors

It’s difficult to keep your cat safe in the wider world, but you can take steps to ensure he’s safe in his own home, and that includes his garden.

Flowers

Just like with your indoor flowers, familiarize yourself with plants and flowers that are safe, and make sure these are the ones you use in your garden if you have a green thumb.

Examples of plants that are safe and will brighten up your garden are:

Cat grass (oat grass and wheatgrass are the most popular)
Blue mist shrub
Sunflowers
Cosmos
Maiden grass

cat eat young wheatgrass — Photo By: QueenNuna, Shutterstock

Vegetables

If you enjoy growing vegetables in your garden, you also have to be careful. For example, mint and rhubarb and the foliage from potatoes and tomatoes are not safe. But don't worry, you can still grow a wide variety of veggies in your garden that are so safe you could even feed them to your cat as raw snacks or add them to their food when cooked.

Examples of vegetables you can feed your cat are:

Basil
Carrots
Celery
Cucumber
Green beans
Peas
Pumpkins
Squash
Sweet potatoes
Zucchini

cat-eating-cucumber — Photo Credit: IRINA ORLOVA, Shutterstock

Signs Your Cat Has Been Poisoned

As careful as you can be, accidents can happen, and your cat may come into contact with something harmful. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Salivation/drooling
Coughing
Diarrhea and vomiting
Twitching or seizure
Breathing difficulties (rapid or labored)
Coma
Skin inflammation or swelling
Abdominal pain
Shock or collapse
Unsteady gait
Depression or lethargy
Excessive drinking, urinating
Jaundice
Irregular heartbeat
Overall weakness
Fever
Loss of appetite

If you believe your cat has been poisoned, do not wait for these signs to appear. If you’re worried, always contact your vet. The above signs are not specific to poisoning and so your veterinarian will need to check your cat out thoroughly to check for other problems.

Cat not eating food — Image Credit: Elena Kutepova, Shutterstock

Conclusion

You can't always control what he encounters, which is why it’s a good idea to know what the signs look like when a cat has been poisoned. But you can make safe, informed decisions about what you have in your home.

Keeping your pet safe doesn't have to feel like you’re sacrificing a love of flowers, plants, or vegetables for your cat. You can still enjoy them by choosing pet-safe flowers like snapdragons, or safe plants like a blue mist shrub that will brighten up your garden.

If you’re thinking of adding to your garden and you don't see a specific flower or plant here, consult with your vet or check out ASPCA’s Toxic Plants List if you're unsure whether it will be toxic to your pet.

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