Hoary Alyssum — (c) Anders Hastings, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Anders Hastings
Photo by (c) Anders Hastings, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Anders HastingsiNaturalistCC BY
cat safety reference

Is Hoary Alyssum safe for cats?

Berteroa incana

Hoary Alyssum is a hardy, herbaceous plant often found in fields and roadsides, known for its small white flowers. It is generally considered safe for pets, though ingestion of large amounts of fibrous material may cause minor digestive discomfort.

Berteroa incanaFalse AlyssumHoary Alyssum
Light
Full sun
Habit
Upright herbaceous
Care
Low

Safety status

Cats

Uncertain

Identity or evidence quality is not strong enough for a firm answer.

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

What this means for your cat

Cats are not affected by hoary alyssum the way horses are. The ASPCA lists Berteroa incana as non-toxic to cats — its serious laminitis-and-fever syndrome is documented in horses, not in companion carnivores.

Sources: ASPCA.

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.

Catsconcern notes

Common signs

Under review — original classification flagged as a likely labeler error pending curator verification.

Escalation note

Under review — original classification flagged as a likely labeler error pending curator verification.

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 and Non-Toxic Plants List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

The ASPCA lists Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana) as non-toxic to both cats and dogs.

Kew Plants of the World Online: Berteroa incana

botanical · 95% reliability

Open source

Provides the accepted botanical nomenclature and distribution for Berteroa incana.

Cats & dogs pagedogs page

Same cat verdict

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