Is Lucky Bamboo Toxic to Cats and Dogs? Mildly Toxic

Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana (syn. Dracaena braunii)) is mildly toxic to both cats and dogs.

Is lucky bamboo toxic to cats?

Cats · Mildly toxic

Mildly. Lucky bamboo is mildly toxic to cats. Signs to watch for: vomiting, occasionally with a little blood; drooling; loss of appetite; low energy or depression; dilated pupils (cats).

Is lucky bamboo toxic to dogs?

Dogs · Mildly toxic

Mildly. Lucky bamboo is mildly toxic to dogs. Dogs show the same signs as cats. It belongs to the genus Dracaena, which the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs because the leaves and stems contain saponins that irritate the digestive tract.

Why

Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is not related to bamboo. It belongs to the genus Dracaena, which the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs because the leaves and stems contain saponins that irritate the digestive tract.

Most pets that nibble it only vomit or drool for a short time. Cats can also have dilated pupils, a sign Pet Poison Helpline and the ASPCA both mention specifically for cats.

How to recognize it

Lucky bamboo has straight or spiral green canes with ring-like joints, topped by tufts of narrow, pointed leaves. It is usually sold as cut stalks standing in water and pebbles, tied with gold or red ribbon, or trained into tiers and spirals. True bamboo has hollow woody canes and grows in soil; heavenly bamboo (Nandina) is a garden shrub with red berries and is also toxic.

Signs to watch for

Vomiting, occasionally with a little blood
Drooling
Loss of appetite
Low energy or depression
Dilated pupils (cats)

What to do

Remove any plant pieces from your pet's mouth and offer water.
Call your vet if vomiting continues, if you see blood, or if your cat's pupils stay dilated.
Put the vase where pets cannot tip it over, chew the leaves or drink the water.

If it is not bamboo, what is lucky bamboo?

Lucky bamboo is Dracaena sanderiana, a tropical plant from Central Africa. The canes look like bamboo because of the rings along the stem, but the plant is a close relative of the corn plant, dragon tree and snake plant, all of which the ASPCA lists as toxic for the same reason: saponins.

This matters because real bamboo and lucky bamboo get very different answers. The ASPCA lists golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) as non-toxic to cats and dogs, while every Dracaena on its list is marked toxic. Pet Poison Helpline names lucky bamboo directly on its Dracaena page.

Lucky bamboo, Dracaena sanderiana: mildly toxic (saponins).
Golden bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea: listed as non-toxic.
Heavenly or sacred bamboo, Nandina domestica: listed as toxic, with cyanogenic glycosides; the ASPCA notes that serious poisoning is rare in pets.

Is a lucky bamboo gift safe in a home with a cat?

Lucky bamboo is one of the most common gift plants in Chinese-speaking communities, given for Lunar New Year, housewarmings and new businesses because the name suggests good fortune. It often arrives in a low dish on a desk or a coffee table, exactly where a cat can reach it.

Cats tend to chew the soft leaf tips, and the arching leaves invite batting and nibbling. The amount a cat eats is usually small, so serious illness is not expected, but repeated vomiting is unpleasant and avoidable. If you receive one, a high shelf in a room the cat does not use is the simplest answer. A cat-safe gift plant, such as a money tree (Pachira) or a spider plant, is a good choice if you are the one giving.

Is the water in the vase a problem?

Lucky bamboo usually grows in a vase of water and pebbles rather than soil, and pets, especially cats, like to drink from unusual places. There is no evidence that the vase water itself is dangerous, but it can hold liquid plant food, algae and stagnant water, none of which is meant for drinking.

Pebbles and glass beads can also be swallowed by a puppy. Choose a vase with a narrow opening, change the water regularly, and keep fresh drinking water available elsewhere so the vase is less tempting.

Pet-safe alternatives

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

Common questions

Is lucky bamboo poisonous to pets?

Cats: Mildly toxic. Dogs: Mildly toxic. Lucky bamboo is mildly toxic to cats and dogs. It is a Dracaena, not a real bamboo, and chewing it can cause vomiting and drooling.

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

Yes, as long as your pets cannot reach it. Put the vase where pets cannot tip it over, chew the leaves or drink the water.

What should I do if my pet chews lucky bamboo?

Remove any plant pieces from your pet's mouth and offer water. Call your vet if vomiting continues, if you see blood, or if your cat's pupils stay dilated.

Which pet-safe plants can I grow instead of lucky bamboo?

Spider plant and money tree are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

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Sources

Pet Poison Helpline. Dracaena.
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).