Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Mayapple - what should I do?
Podophyllum peltatum
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, abdominal pain, and potential lethargy.
Escalation note
Ingestion can lead to significant gastrointestinal distress. Please contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately if you suspect ingestion.
First aid at home
Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth and rinse the lips and gums with cool water. If sap touched the skin or fur, gently wash with mild pet shampoo to prevent further absorption. Then call your vet or ASPCA APCC.
What to watch for
Drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea typically come first, often paired with abdominal pain, lethargy, and panting. Direct skin contact with the plant's sap can also cause redness or skin ulcers. Severe ingestions (rare in cats) can progress to coma — watch the energy level closely.
Time window
Specific onset timing isn't well documented for cats, but GI signs typically appear within hours of ingestion. Most cats recover within 1 to 24 hours of supportive care; serious cases may require longer.
When to call the vet
Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (1-888-426-4435) or your vet for any confirmed ingestion. Bring your cat in immediately if you see persistent vomiting, severe lethargy or collapse, breathing changes, or skin ulcers.
What this means for your cat
Mayapple is toxic to cats. Every part of the plant — leaves, roots, unripe fruit — contains podophyllin, a resin that's irritating to skin and damaging if absorbed in quantity. Cats rarely chew enough to be in serious danger, but the GI signs alone can leave a cat miserable for a day.
Sources: ASPCA, NC State Extension.
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.