What should I do if my cat ate Bog Laurel?

Remove any leaves or plant material from your cat's mouth and from their reach, then call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Don't induce vomiting at home unless poison control or your veterinarian tells you to. Call immediately on any known ingestion — bog laurel is in the same toxin class (grayanotoxin) as mountain laurel and rhododendron and can affect the heart. Don't wait for symptoms. Reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.

What should I do if my dog ate Bog Laurel?

Remove any remaining leaves from your dog's mouth and bag a sample of the plant — your vet will want to see it. Do not induce vomiting at home; grayanotoxin cases benefit from controlled veterinary decontamination, ideally within 2 hours. Call ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) on the way to the clinic. Call right away — do not wait for symptoms. Even a few leaves matter for small dogs. Treat any vomiting, drooling, change in heart rate or breathing, or sudden weakness as an emergency and head to a vet or ER.

Bog Laurel — (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman — Photo by (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas GoldmaniNaturalistCC BY-SA

Photo by (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas GoldmaniNaturalistCC BY-SA

Pet safety reference

Bog Laurel

Q: Is Bog Laurel safe for cats?

Bog Laurel is potentially toxic to cats. This plant is highly toxic. Ingestion of even small amounts can cause severe systemic illness. Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately if ingestion is suspected.

Q: Is Bog Laurel safe for dogs?

Bog Laurel is potentially toxic to dogs. Ingestion of this plant is considered a medical emergency due to the presence of potent grayanotoxins. Seek immediate veterinary care if your dog has consumed any part of this plant.

Kalmia poliifolia

Bog Laurel is a small, evergreen shrub native to North American wetlands, known for its clusters of delicate, cup-shaped pink flowers. It contains grayanotoxins, which are highly dangerous if ingested by pets.

Check a list

Bog LaurelKalmia polifoliaKalmia poliifoliaPale Laurel

Light: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Small shrub
Care: High

Safety status

Cats & Dogs

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

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

Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, tremors, and potential cardiac arrhythmias.

Escalation note

This plant is highly toxic. Ingestion of even small amounts can cause severe systemic illness. Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately if ingestion is suspected.

Dogs — concern notes

Common signs

Excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, and potential heart rate irregularities.

Escalation note

Ingestion of this plant is considered a medical emergency due to the presence of potent grayanotoxins. Seek immediate veterinary care if your dog has consumed any part of this plant.

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

Bog Laurel (Kalmia poliifolia) is listed as toxic to both cats and dogs due to grayanotoxins.

NC State Extension Plant Toolbox

botanical · 94% reliability

Open source

Kalmia polifolia is a native evergreen shrub that thrives in acidic, boggy soils and is known to be toxic to animals.

cats safety page My cat ate Bog Laurel dogs safety page My dog ate Bog Laurel

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