Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Wahoo - what should I do?
Euonymus occidentalis
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
Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and potential cardiac irregularities.
Escalation note
Ingestion can lead to significant gastrointestinal distress and systemic effects. Please contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately if ingestion is suspected.
What to watch for
ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weakness; with larger doses, heart-rhythm abnormalities can occur. Watch for lethargy, reluctance to move, and any pale-gum or rapid/irregular pulse changes that suggest cardiac involvement.
Time window
Exact onset and duration are not well documented in the ASPCA listing.
When to call the vet
Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) on suspicion — earlier is better with cardenolide-containing plants. Treat weakness, an unusual heart rate, or repeated vomiting as urgent.
What this means for your cat
Cats — toxic. ASPCA lists wahoo (Euonymus) as toxic to cats; the plant contains alkaloids and cardenolides — cardenolides being the same family of compounds in foxglove that disrupt heart rhythm. Outdoor cats roaming gardens or yards with euonymus shrubs are the most likely to encounter it, and ingestion is worth taking seriously even before symptoms appear.
Sources: ASPCA (no first-aid guidance).
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.