Are Chrysanthemums Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum spp. (Chrysanthemum × morifolium)) are mildly toxic to both cats and dogs.

Why

The ASPCA lists chrysanthemums (mums) as toxic to cats and dogs. The plant contains sesquiterpene lactones, pyrethrins and other irritants. The signs it lists are vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, incoordination and dermatitis.

Pyrethrins are the same natural insecticides once extracted from chrysanthemum flowers for flea products, but Pet Poison Helpline notes that eating the plant itself typically causes only stomach upset. Wobbliness is possible, so call a vet if it appears.

How to recognize it

Chrysanthemums are bushy plants with dark green, deeply lobed, strongly scented leaves and many flower heads in yellow, white, red, orange, pink or purple. Blooms range from flat daisy-like flowers to tight pompons and large, spidery heads. They are sold as autumn garden mums, potted gift plants and cut flowers.

Signs to watch for

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Drooling
• Wobbly walking or incoordination
• Red, itchy skin (dermatitis)

What to do

• Remove any flowers or leaves from your pet's mouth and offer water.
• Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea continues, or right away if your pet seems wobbly.
• Wash the fur if your pet rolled in or brushed against the plant and the skin looks red.

Is chrysanthemum tea safe to share with a pet?

Chrysanthemum tea, brewed from dried chrysanthemum flowers, is a common drink in Chinese-speaking households. The ASPCA rates the whole Chrysanthemum genus as toxic to cats and dogs, and there is no veterinary guidance saying the dried flowers are safe for pets, so do not offer the tea or let a pet eat the flowers from the jar.

Many ready-made chrysanthemum drinks also contain sugar, and some herbal blends are mixed with other ingredients. If a pet laps a little from your cup, it usually needs nothing more than watching. If it chewed through a bag of dried flowers, call your vet and keep the packaging.

What about chrysanthemums for funerals and Tomb-Sweeping Day?

White and yellow chrysanthemums are traditional flowers for funerals, memorials and grave offerings in Chinese culture, including during the Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping) Festival. Bouquets brought home afterward, or offerings placed on a home altar, often sit at floor or table height for days.

Dogs that come along to a grave site may also sniff and chew at flowers left there. Keep home displays out of reach, dispose of wilted arrangements in a closed bin, and check whether the bouquet also contains lilies, which are far more dangerous for cats.

Are chrysanthemums the same as the pyrethrin flea products?

No. Pyrethrins were originally extracted from a few chrysanthemum species, and synthetic relatives called pyrethroids, such as permethrin, are used in many dog flea and tick products. Those products are far more concentrated than a garden plant.

This is worth knowing in a home with cats. Pet Poison Helpline notes that cats cannot break these chemicals down as well as dogs, and a concentrated dog product applied to a cat can cause tremors, seizures and collapse. A cat that chews a potted mum faces mainly stomach upset; a cat that gets a dog's flea treatment needs a vet urgently.

Pet-safe alternatives

Looking for something similar without the risk? These plants are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

• Non-toxicRoses
• Non-toxicSunflowers
• Non-toxicAfrican violet

Common questions

Are chrysanthemums poisonous to pets?

Cats: Mildly toxic. Dogs: Mildly toxic. Chrysanthemums are mildly toxic to cats and dogs. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and skin irritation, but serious poisoning is uncommon.

Is it safe to keep chrysanthemums in a home with cats and dogs?

Yes, as long as your pets cannot reach them. Wash the fur if your pet rolled in or brushed against the plant and the skin looks red.

What should I do if my pet chews chrysanthemums?

Remove any flowers or leaves from your pet's mouth and offer water. Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea continues, or right away if your pet seems wobbly.

Which pet-safe plants can I grow instead of chrysanthemums?

Roses, sunflowers and African violet are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

← All plants

Sources

• Pet Poison Helpline. Chrysanthemum.
• Pet Poison Helpline. Pyrethrins & Pyrethroids.
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (dogs, cats).
• Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicology section.

If your pet has eaten a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away and bring a photo or piece of the plant. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).