Cardboard Cycad

Yes, cardboard cycad (Zamia furfuracea) is highly toxic to cats. It contains cycasin, an extremely potent toxin that can cause life-threatening liver failure even from a small amount. This is a medical emergency — contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately if your cat has touched or eaten any part of this plant.

Early signs — often within 15 minutes to a few hours — include drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. Over the following hours watch for lethargy, loss of appetite, and increased thirst. Jaundice (yellow gums or yellowing of the whites of the eyes) is a red-flag sign that liver damage is underway and requires emergency care. Liver enzyme elevations may not appear on bloodwork until 24–48 hours after ingestion, and acute liver failure can develop 2–3 days later.

Call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 immediately — do not wait for symptoms to appear. Gently remove any plant material from your cat's mouth if it is safe to do so, and bring a piece of the plant or a clear photo for identification. Do not try to induce vomiting at home; that decision must be made by a veterinarian.

Cardboard cycad contains cycasin, a toxin that causes severe liver damage. What makes it especially dangerous is that bloodwork can appear normal for the first 24 hours while liver injury is already progressing, meaning symptom-watching at home gives a false sense of safety. Because the window for effective treatment is narrow, vets recommend calling immediately — even if your cat seems fine — rather than waiting to see if signs develop.

Yes, cardboard cycad (Zamia furfuracea) is highly toxic to dogs. All parts of the plant are dangerous, and ingestion is treated as a medical emergency — even a small amount can cause serious harm.

Vomiting (sometimes bloody) and dark or tarry stools typically appear within 15 minutes to several hours. Neurologic signs like ataxia, tremors, or seizures can follow at 4–12 hours, and acute liver failure usually declares itself at 2–3 days, with bloodwork changes detectable at 24–48 hours. Severe cases can progress to jaundice, unexplained bleeding, coagulopathy, and death.

Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or an emergency vet immediately — do not wait for symptoms to appear. Remove any plant material from your dog's mouth if it's safe to do so, and bring a piece or clear photo of the plant for identification. Do not try to induce vomiting at home; that decision belongs to the veterinarian, and early clinic-induced vomiting is the single biggest survival lever.

Yes — while all parts of the cardboard cycad are toxic to dogs, the seeds are the most dangerous. That said, the leaves and stem are still capable of causing severe poisoning, so no part of the plant should be considered safe.