Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Geranium Aralia - what should I do?
Polyscias guilfoylei
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
Oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Escalation note
Ingestion typically results in mild to moderate gastrointestinal upset. Please contact your veterinarian if your cat has consumed any part of this plant.
What to watch for
Most common: vomiting, loss of appetite, and depression (quiet, withdrawn behavior). Skin contact can cause dermatitis — redness or irritation where sap touched the cat's mouth, paws, or coat. Drooling and pawing at the mouth often signal oral irritation from chewing the leaves.
Time window
Saponin-related GI signs in cats typically begin within a few hours of ingestion and resolve in 24–48 hours; ASPCA does not give a specific time window for this plant.
When to call the vet
Call if vomiting is repeated, if your cat refuses food or water for more than 12 hours, if drooling is profuse, or if you see swelling around the mouth or face. ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) is a good first call when you're not sure how much the cat ingested.
What this means for your cat
Cats: geranium aralia (also sold as coffee tree) is toxic. ASPCA names saponin as the toxic principle and notes contact dermatitis as well as GI signs. The plant is a common houseplant in the Aralia family, and a curious cat that chews a leaf typically ends up with a sore mouth and an unhappy stomach rather than systemic illness.
Sources: ASPCA (no specific first-aid guidance).
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.