Is Azalea and rhododendron toxic to cats?
Rhododendron spp. · Ericaceae
Yes. Can kill a cat.
A garden shrub on three of our four markets, and the ASPCA's own signs list ends in cardiac failure.
For a cat
Can kill
For a person
Serious
What to watch for
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Cardiac failure
Pet Poison Helpline notes that severe signs are expected after a large feed, of the kind livestock manage, but may also occur in a cat or a dog that has eaten only a few leaves or flowers.
The numbers
More than 850
Species in the genus
Bertero et al. 2020
Why, and which parts
All parts. Even honey made from the flowers carries the toxin.
Toxic principle: Grayanotoxin
Grayanotoxins jam the sodium channels of nerve and muscle cells open. Normally a cell fires and then resets; these molecules prevent the reset, so cells stay switched on. Held in that state, the nerve that governs heart rate and gut movement overfires, which is why one toxin produces vomiting, a slow or erratic heartbeat, low blood pressure and seizures at once. It is present in every part, nectar included, which is how honey made from these flowers poisons people.
How to recognize it
A shrub, evergreen or deciduous, with leaves arranged in spirals and clusters of large funnel shaped flowers in white, pink, purple or red. The genus runs to more than 850 species, so appearance varies widely; what does not vary is the verdict.
And for a person?
Serious for a person
Poisonous to people as well, including through honey made from the flowers.
A plant's danger to a cat says nothing about its danger to you, and the reverse is just as true. This is a separate question with a separate answer.
This is information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot tell you what is wrong with your cat. Our rule is a simple one: if something is wrong with your cat, call your vet, and call an emergency clinic if it is out of hours. Nothing you read here is a reason to wait.
Worth keeping a paw on
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Other plants at the same level
Same verdict for a cat as Azalea and rhododendron. The ones sharing its exact toxic principle come first.
