Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate St. John's Wort - what should I do?
Hypericum perforatum
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
Photosensitivity, skin irritation, drooling, vomiting, and potential neurological changes.
Escalation note
Ingestion can lead to severe skin reactions when exposed to sunlight. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your cat has consumed any part of this plant.
What to watch for
ASPCA reports photosensitization presenting as ulcerative and exudative dermatitis — open, oozing sores especially on the nose, ear margins, and eyelids of cats with light or thin fur.
Time window
Specific onset and recovery durations are not documented in the ASPCA listing.
When to call the vet
Call any time you see ulceration, weeping skin lesions, or rapidly worsening irritation following suspected exposure. Open sores require veterinary attention to prevent secondary infection.
What this means for your cat
Cats: skin and sun matter more than the stomach here. ASPCA identifies hypericin as the toxic principle, and the characteristic injury is photosensitization — sun-exposed skin can develop ulcerative, weeping dermatitis after ingestion or contact.
Sources: ASPCA (no first-aid guidance).
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.