Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Black Calla - what should I do?
Arum palestinum
Potentially toxic
Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control resource now, especially if any amount was chewed or swallowed.
Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.
Signs to watch for
Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Escalation note
The insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause immediate mechanical irritation. If your cat has ingested any part of this plant, please contact your veterinarian or a pet poison control center immediately.
First aid at home
Per Pet Poison Helpline, do not induce vomiting at home and do not give hydrogen peroxide without first speaking to a poison control specialist or veterinarian. Wipe loose plant material from the mouth if you can do so safely, and bring a piece of the plant with you to the clinic for identification.
What to watch for
Most common: heavy drooling, pawing at the mouth, lip-smacking or licking, head-shaking, and vomiting. Less common but more serious: visible swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, refusal to eat or drink, and any change in breathing or voice.
Time window
Oral burning typically begins within minutes of chewing because the injury is mechanical (crystals piercing tissue) rather than absorbed toxin. Mild cases generally settle within 12–24 hours of supportive care; oral swelling can take 1–2 days to resolve.
When to call the vet
Call your vet or the ASPCA APCC (888-426-4435) right away if you see persistent drooling, repeated vomiting, swelling of the mouth or tongue, refusal of food or water, or any change in breathing. Don't wait it out — airway swelling, while uncommon, is a true emergency.
What this means for your cat
Cats — toxic. Black Calla contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, and a single chew of any part of the plant releases needle-like crystals that immediately burn a cat's mouth and throat. Most exposures are painful rather than life-threatening, but the rare cases of upper-airway swelling are a true emergency.
Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.