Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Apricot - what should I do?
Prunus armeniaca
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, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, and in severe cases, shock or collapse.
Escalation note
Ingestion of plant parts containing cyanogenic glycosides can lead to cyanide poisoning. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your cat has ingested any part of this plant.
First aid at home
Per ASPCA: contact your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435). Do not induce vomiting unless directed. Remove any remaining apricot plant material so re-ingestion isn't possible.
What to watch for
ASPCA-listed signs are brick-red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, and shock. Drooling and vomiting may show up first. Cats that just licked or nibbled foliage may show only mild oral irritation; full cyanide signs imply meaningful ingestion of pit, kernel, or wilting plant parts.
Time window
ASPCA does not publish cat-specific onset times for apricot. Cyanide is fast-acting once released from the glycoside, so symptomatic cases tend to develop within minutes to a couple of hours; specific feline timing is not well documented.
When to call the vet
Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) immediately for any breathing change, red or bluish gums, weakness, or known pit/kernel ingestion. Even without symptoms, call right away if your cat chewed wilting apricot leaves or bark.
What this means for your cat
Apricot is on the ASPCA's toxic-to-cats list for the same reason as cherry, peach, and plum: the stems, leaves, and pits hold cyanogenic glycosides that release cyanide when chewed. Cats rarely chew through pits, so the more realistic feline exposure is nibbled wilting leaves or chewed bark — small amounts may cause only mild GI upset, but treat any pit ingestion as urgent.
Sources: ASPCA.
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.