Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Begonia - what should I do?
Begonia spp.
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
Excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and oral irritation.
Escalation note
The tubers are the most toxic part of the plant. If your cat has ingested any part of a begonia, please contact your veterinarian or a pet poison control center immediately.
What to watch for
Most cats show salivation/drooling and vomiting within minutes to a few hours of chewing leaves or stems. Look for pawing at the mouth, head shaking, or refusing food — signs of oral irritation from the calcium oxalate crystals. Tuber ingestion can produce more pronounced GI upset.
Time window
Onset of oral irritation is typically immediate to within a few hours of chewing, since calcium oxalate crystals act on contact. ASPCA does not publish a recovery window for cats; uncomplicated cases generally settle within 24 hours but exact timing is not well documented.
When to call the vet
Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) any time you see persistent drooling, repeated vomiting, swelling around the mouth, or refusal to eat — and call right away if you know the cat dug up and chewed a tuber.
What this means for your cat
Cats — toxic. ASPCA classifies begonia as toxic to cats; the toxic principle is soluble calcium oxalates, concentrated most heavily in the underground tubers. A curious cat that bites a leaf usually walks away with mouth pain and drool, but a cat that digs and chews into the tuber can develop more serious oral and GI signs.
Sources: ASPCA (no first-aid guidance).
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.