Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Caladium - what should I do?
Caladium hortulanum
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 presence of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals causes 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
Wipe any plant fragments out of the mouth with a damp cloth and offer cold water to drink. A small amount of milk or plain yogurt may help bind the oxalate crystals and ease the burning. Do not induce vomiting unless your vet specifically tells you to.
What to watch for
Sudden, frantic pawing at the mouth and heavy drooling within minutes of a chew. Lips, tongue, and gums may look red or swollen. Vomiting and refusal to eat are common. Less commonly, swelling can extend to the upper airway — voice change, stridor, or labored breathing is rare but a true emergency.
Time window
Pain and drooling typically start within minutes of biting the plant. Most cases settle in a few hours to 24 hours with supportive care; airway swelling, when it occurs, can develop unpredictably.
When to call the vet
Call your vet, or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, any time drooling lasts more than an hour, swelling is visible, your cat won't eat or drink, or vomiting persists. Any sign of difficulty breathing or swallowing is an emergency — go immediately and don't wait.
What this means for your cat
Cats that bite a leaf get hit with microscopic calcium-oxalate needles, and the burning is immediate — most cats stop chewing on their own after one taste. Toxicity is local rather than systemic, but the pain is real, and persistent drooling or pawing at the mouth warrants a vet call.
Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.