Is Chinese Evergreen Toxic to Cats?
Short answer: yes. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) — a low-light-tolerant favorite with patterned green, silver, or red leaves — is toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA. It's the same insoluble-calcium-oxalate story as monstera, pothos, and dieffenbachia: sharp, immediate mouth pain rather than a systemic poison.
Quick verdict
Toxic? Yes — to cats and dogs (ASPCA-listed), across all Aglaonema varieties.
How bad? Usually mild to moderate. Pain typically stops a cat from eating much.
Toxic part & why: the whole plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals (raphides).
What is Chinese evergreen, exactly?
Aglaonema is a genus of low-maintenance, low-light-tolerant houseplants prized for their patterned foliage in shades of green, silver, pink, and red — popular varieties include Silver Bay, Red Aglaonema, and Maria. Its tolerance for neglect and dim rooms makes it a common office and bedroom plant, which puts it within easy reach of house cats.
Symptoms of Chinese evergreen exposure
- Intense oral burning — pawing at the mouth, head-shaking
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting and decreased appetite
- Difficulty or pain swallowing
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, or mouth — rare, but the sign that warrants emergency care
What to do if your pet ate Chinese evergreen
- Rinse their mouth gently with water and remove visible plant material.
- Offer something cold — milk or cold water eases the burning.
- Note how much they ate and when.
- Call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 if drooling is heavy, the mouth or tongue swells, or vomiting continues.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to.
Chinese evergreen, or something safer?
Aglaonema's patterned leaves get confused with several other houseplants. Snap a photo and Nature Lenz names the exact species and flags whether it's toxic — free, no paywall.
Get the free app →Pet-safe plants to keep instead
See our cat-safe houseplants verified against the ASPCA for more low-light-friendly options.
The bottom line
Chinese evergreen is toxic but low-drama, much like its aroid relatives — the immediate pain usually limits how much a cat eats. Keep it out of reach of young or bored pets, and if you want a colorful, low-light-tolerant plant that's genuinely pet-safe, look at calathea or a peperomia instead.
FAQs
What makes Chinese evergreen toxic to cats?
Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen) contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals called raphides. When a cat chews the leaves, the needle-like crystals embed in the mouth and throat tissue, causing immediate burning pain.
Can Chinese evergreen kill a cat?
It's very unlikely. The reaction is painful but typically confined to the mouth and gut. Serious airway swelling is rare, but if it happens it needs emergency veterinary care.
Are all varieties of Aglaonema equally toxic?
Yes — the calcium oxalate crystals are present across Aglaonema varieties (Silver Bay, Red Aglaonema, Maria, and others), regardless of leaf color or pattern. Treat all Chinese evergreen cultivars as toxic to pets.
How is Chinese evergreen different from other aroid toxicity?
Chinese evergreen shares the same insoluble calcium oxalate mechanism and mouth-burning symptoms as monstera, pothos, philodendron, and dieffenbachia — all members of the Araceae family. The severity and first-aid steps are essentially identical across this group.
What should I do if my cat chewed Chinese evergreen?
Rinse their mouth gently with water, offer a little milk or cold water to ease the burning, and watch closely for a few hours. Call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 if drooling is heavy, the mouth swells, or vomiting continues.