Lime

Yes, lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is toxic to cats. All parts of the plant contain essential oils and psoralens that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and potential photosensitivity if ingested.

The main signs are vomiting, diarrhea, and depression. You may also see drooling or pawing at the mouth from the plant's bitter taste. Skin contact with crushed peel or lime oils can additionally cause dermatitis. GI signs typically begin within a few hours of ingestion.

Contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Call your vet if vomiting is repeated, your cat seems unusually flat, wobbly, or is hiding, or if any skin reaction is spreading — any noticeable change in behaviour after a chew is reason enough to call.

All parts of the lime tree are considered harmful, including the fruit, peel, leaves, and stems. The essential oils and psoralens found throughout the plant are the compounds responsible for gastrointestinal distress and potential photosensitivity reactions in cats.

Yes, limes are potentially toxic to dogs. All parts of the lime tree — including the peel, leaves, and fruit — contain essential oils and psoralens that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and skin irritation. The flesh is less concentrated in these compounds than the peel and leaves, but the plant is still considered harmful.

The most common signs are vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy or depression, typically appearing within a few hours of ingestion. Direct contact with crushed peel or leaves can also cause drooling and skin redness. The flesh of the lime carries a lower concentration of the irritating oils than the peel or leaves.

Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or your veterinarian right away. A small ingestion of lime pulp alone may resolve with monitoring, but repeated vomiting, unusual lethargy, wobbliness, refusal to eat, or a spreading skin rash are reasons to seek veterinary care promptly.

The peel and leaves are the most concentrated sources of the essential oils and psoralens responsible for toxicity, making them more dangerous than the fruit's flesh. Skin irritation is most likely after contact with crushed peel or leaves, while GI signs can follow ingestion of any part of the plant.