Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Chinaberry - what should I do?
Melia azedarach
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, excessive salivation, lethargy, and in severe cases, neurological signs such as tremors or seizures.
Escalation note
Ingestion of the berries or bark can lead to significant gastrointestinal and systemic distress. Please contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately if ingestion is suspected.
What to watch for
Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, weakness, and lethargy. With larger ingestions, ASPCA also lists depression and seizures. Watch for tremors, unsteadiness, or any change in mental state.
Time window
ASPCA does not publish a specific onset window. Veterinary case reports describe GI signs developing within a few hours of ingestion, with neurological signs possible afterward; recovery time depends on dose and severity.
When to call the vet
Call immediately if your cat may have eaten any part of the plant. Don't wait for severe signs — contact your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) right away, especially if berries were involved.
What this means for your cat
Chinaberry is toxic to cats according to ASPCA, with meliatoxins concentrated in the ripe berries but also present in bark, leaves, and flowers. Cats are less commonly exposed than dogs because they don't tend to eat fruit, but any ingestion is a call-the-vet event because the toxins can affect both the gut and the nervous system.
Sources: ASPCA (no first-aid guidance).
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.