Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Lantana - what should I do?
Lantana camara
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, weakness, and potential liver damage.
Escalation note
Ingestion can lead to serious systemic illness. Please contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately if you suspect your cat has consumed any part of this plant.
First aid at home
Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or your veterinarian as soon as possible. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian instructs you to.
What to watch for
Most-common: vomiting and diarrhea, often with lethargy and weakness. Labored breathing has been reported. Liver injury is rare in cats and would generally require either a large or repeated ingestion.
Time window
Onset and duration are not well documented for cats. ASPCA notes liver failure is rare and typically tied to long-term or large-volume ingestion rather than a single nibble.
When to call the vet
Call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) for any vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, or labored breathing after exposure. If your cat has been browsing lantana repeatedly over time, mention that — repeated exposure is the scenario where liver injury becomes a concern.
What this means for your cat
Cats should not chew lantana — its pentacyclic triterpenoids cause GI upset and, in theory, can affect the liver. ASPCA notes liver failure is far more common in livestock than in cats; for a household cat the practical risk is vomiting, diarrhea and weakness.
Sources: ASPCA.
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.