What should I do if my cat ate Black Calla?

Per Pet Poison Helpline, do not induce vomiting at home and do not give hydrogen peroxide without first speaking to a poison control specialist or veterinarian. Wipe loose plant material from the mouth if you can do so safely, and bring a piece of the plant with you to the clinic for identification. Call your vet or the ASPCA APCC (888-426-4435) right away if you see persistent drooling, repeated vomiting, swelling of the mouth or tongue, refusal of food or water, or any change in breathing. Don't wait it out — airway swelling, while uncommon, is a true emergency.

Black Calla — (c) sjajuga, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by sjajuga — Photo by (c) sjajuga, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by sjajugaiNaturalistCC BY

Photo by (c) sjajuga, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by sjajugaiNaturalistCC BY

cat safety reference

Is Black Calla safe for cats?

Q: Is Black Calla safe for cats?

Black Calla is potentially toxic to cats. The insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause immediate mechanical irritation. If your cat has ingested any part of this plant, please contact your veterinarian or a pet poison control center immediately.

Arum palestinum

Arum palestinum is a tuberous perennial known for its striking, dark purple-black spathe. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause irritation upon contact with mucous membranes.

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Arum palaestinumArum palestinumBlack CallaSolomon's Lily

Light: Bright indirect light
Habit: Tuberous perennial
Care: Moderate

Safety status

Cats

Potentially toxic

Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Sources

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

What this means for your cat

Cats — toxic. Black Calla contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, and a single chew of any part of the plant releases needle-like crystals that immediately burn a cat's mouth and throat. Most exposures are painful rather than life-threatening, but the rare cases of upper-airway swelling are a true emergency.

What to watch for

Most common: heavy drooling, pawing at the mouth, lip-smacking or licking, head-shaking, and vomiting. Less common but more serious: visible swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, refusal to eat or drink, and any change in breathing or voice.

Time window

Oral burning typically begins within minutes of chewing because the injury is mechanical (crystals piercing tissue) rather than absorbed toxin. Mild cases generally settle within 12–24 hours of supportive care; oral swelling can take 1–2 days to resolve.

When to call the vet

Call your vet or the ASPCA APCC (888-426-4435) right away if you see persistent drooling, repeated vomiting, swelling of the mouth or tongue, refusal of food or water, or any change in breathing. Don't wait it out — airway swelling, while uncommon, is a true emergency.

First aid at home

Per Pet Poison Helpline, do not induce vomiting at home and do not give hydrogen peroxide without first speaking to a poison control specialist or veterinarian. Wipe loose plant material from the mouth if you can do so safely, and bring a piece of the plant with you to the clinic for identification.

Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Cats — concern notes

Common signs

Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

Escalation note

The insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause immediate mechanical irritation. If your cat has ingested any part of this plant, please contact your veterinarian or a pet poison control center immediately.

Safer alternatives

No hand-picked alternatives for this plant yet. You can still pick your own using the Compare button on any other plant.

Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

Arum lily contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation and gastrointestinal distress in pets.

Kew Plants of the World Online

botanical · 95% reliability

Open source

Accepted scientific name and distribution data for Arum palestinum Boiss.

Cats & dogs page dogs page My cat ate Black Calla

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