Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Black Nightshade - what should I do?
Solanum nigrum
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, lethargy, dilated pupils, and in severe cases, tremors or cardiac arrhythmias.
Escalation note
Ingestion of any part of the plant can be dangerous due to solanine content. Please contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately if ingestion is suspected.
First aid at home
Take any remaining plant material away from your cat and remove leaves or berries from their mouth if you can do so safely. Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or your veterinarian. Do not induce vomiting at home unless poison control or your vet directs you to.
What to watch for
Most common in cats are heavy drooling, loss of appetite, severe gastrointestinal upset, and diarrhea. Less common but more serious: drowsiness or CNS depression, confusion or behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, and a slow heart rate. Severity tracks dose, with green berries the worst offender.
Time window
The cited ASPCA listing doesn't give a specific onset window for cats; clinical signs from solanine-bearing Solanum species typically appear within several hours, but exact timing is not well documented for cats specifically.
When to call the vet
Call as soon as you suspect ingestion — don't wait for symptoms. Call immediately if your cat is showing any neurological signs (confusion, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate) or persistent drooling and vomiting. Reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or your veterinarian.
What this means for your cat
Cats are unlikely to eat much black nightshade voluntarily, but the unripe green berries and leaves contain solanine plus atropine-like alkaloids — enough that even a curious nibble can cause real GI and neurological signs. The ASPCA lists every part of the plant as toxic to cats, with the green fruit considered the most dangerous.
Sources: ASPCA.
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.