Is aloe vera toxic to cats?
Aloe vera
Yes. Aloe vera is toxic to cats, graded low severity by NC State Extension. The agent is saponins, anthraquinones. Call your vet if a cat has eaten any.
- Take any remaining plant material out of their mouth and rinse the mouth with water.
- Call someone. Your own vet first. Otherwise ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 — both charge a fee.
- Take a photo of the plant, and note roughly how much was eaten and when. It is the first thing you will be asked.
- Do not make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
What it does, and why
The agent is saponins, anthraquinones.
Two things at once: saponins irritate the gut, and anthraquinones in the yellow latex just under the leaf skin act as a stimulant laxative.
Vomiting and marked diarrhoea. The anthraquinones can tint urine reddish, which alarms owners and is not itself the injury.
Worth watching for. Fluid loss, especially in cats and small dogs.
Reported signs
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- lethargy
- change in urine colour
Signs as listed by the ASPCA under Aloe vera. Not every animal shows all of them.
What each authority says
- ASPCA
- Toxic to cats and dogs · saponins, anthraquinones
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Low · Anthraquinone glycoside · Poisonous through ingestion or dermatitis. Symptoms may include: Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, red urine; skin irritation from latex.
What to keep instead
Species in this database listed non-toxic to cats and dogs, chosen for a similar look or similar care rather than at random.
| Plant | Family | Water | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zebra haworthiaHaworthiopsis attenuata | Asphodelaceae | 14–24d | 1/5 |
| Christmas cactusSchlumbergera truncata | Cactaceae | 7–14d | 2/5 |
Swapping the plant is the only measure that reliably works. Height and hanging baskets buy less time than people expect with a determined cat.
The other animal
Looking for dogs? See is aloe vera toxic to dogs. Full care details are on the aloe vera species entry.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Aloe vera Checked 2026-09-11.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Aloe vera Checked 2026-09-11.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Aloe vera Accepted name and family. Checked 2026-09-11.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435 — emergency line, fee applies
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-11
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a veterinarian.
Severity is reproduced from the authority that published it and is never
originated here. How this is sourced.
This page is a reference, not a diagnosis. In an emergency, call rather than read.