African Violet

No, African Violets (Saintpaulia spp.) are considered non-toxic to cats according to ASPCA provenance data. They are one of the safer flowering houseplants to keep around cats.

Toxicity is not expected, but ingesting a large amount of the fibrous plant material may cause mild gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea. Small nibbles are unlikely to cause any reaction.

A small amount of chewing is not a medical concern since the plant is non-toxic. If your cat ate a significant portion and shows persistent vomiting, diarrhea, or signs of distress, contact your veterinarian.

Not exactly — non-toxic means the plant contains no compounds known to poison cats, but eating any plant material in large quantities can irritate a cat's digestive system and trigger vomiting or diarrhea. African Violets are fine to keep in your home, but discouraging your cat from snacking on them is still a good idea.

No, African Violets (Saintpaulia spp.) are considered non-toxic to dogs. The ASPCA classifies this plant as safe, and no toxic principles have been identified that pose a health risk to dogs.

Ingesting a small amount is unlikely to cause any symptoms. If your dog eats a large quantity of the fibrous plant material, mild gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea is possible, though no serious effects are expected.

Monitor your dog for signs of GI upset like vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy. Because the plant is non-toxic, most dogs will be fine without intervention, but if symptoms are persistent or your dog seems distressed, contact your veterinarian.

The fuzzy leaves of the African Violet are not known to be harmful to dogs. The plant is classified as non-toxic, so contact with or ingestion of the leaves — including their texture — is not expected to cause anything beyond possible mild GI upset from eating large amounts of plant matter.