Plum

Plum trees (Prunus domestica) are potentially toxic to cats. The fruit flesh is generally considered safe, but the stems, leaves, seeds, and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides that can cause cyanide poisoning.

Initial signs include vomiting and diarrhea. The more serious cyanide-related symptoms to watch for are difficulty breathing, panting, brick-red gums, dilated pupils, weakness, and collapse. These can appear within minutes to about an hour of pit kernel ingestion.

Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately if your cat chewed open a pit or ate any leaves or wilted plant material. Labored breathing, gum-color changes, or collapse are same-minute emergencies requiring immediate emergency vet care.

Cyanide signs can appear within minutes to about an hour after a pit kernel is ingested and can progress rapidly within hours. Mild GI symptoms from leaf-only ingestion typically resolve in 24–48 hours with supportive care, but any breathing difficulty or gum-color change warrants immediate veterinary attention regardless of timing.

Plum trees (Prunus domestica) are potentially toxic to dogs. The fruit flesh is generally safe, but the stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides — cyanide precursors — that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and potentially serious respiratory distress.

The pit (seed), stems, and leaves are the dangerous parts, all containing cyanide precursors. The risk is highest when a pit is crushed or chewed open, releasing the toxic kernel inside; a whole swallowed pit is lower in cyanide risk but poses a GI obstruction hazard.

Early signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The more serious cyanide signature follows within minutes to an hour of kernel ingestion: panting, rapid or labored breathing, brick-red gums, dilated pupils, weakness, and shock. Gum-color changes or labored breathing are same-minute emergencies.

Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Call right away if the pit was crushed or chewed, or if leaves or wilting material were eaten. Cyanide onset can occur within minutes to an hour after kernel ingestion, so do not wait for symptoms to appear.