Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Autumn Crocus - what should I do?
Colchicum autumnale
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
Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, shock, organ damage, and bone marrow suppression.
Escalation note
This plant is extremely toxic. Ingestion of any part can lead to severe systemic illness. Please contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal poison control center immediately if ingestion is suspected.
What to watch for
Early on: heavy drooling, vomiting (sometimes bloody), and diarrhea. Hours to days later, cats can develop shock, multi-organ failure, and bone-marrow suppression that may show up as bruising or pale gums. The seeds and bulbs carry the highest concentrations of colchicine.
Time window
Signs can appear within hours of ingestion but may also be delayed for days, which is part of what makes colchicine so dangerous.
When to call the vet
Call immediately. ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435. Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Don't wait for symptoms — get your cat seen even if she looks fine right now.
What this means for your cat
Autumn Crocus is one of the most dangerous garden plants for cats — every part contains colchicine, a potent alkaloid that targets the gut, liver, kidneys, and bone marrow. Even a small nibble of leaf, flower, or bulb is a poison-control emergency, not a watch-and-wait situation.
Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline (no home first-aid; emergency veterinary care required).
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.