Is African Violet safe for cats and dogs?

Also sold as: Cape Marigold. Retail labels vary, so check the botanical name (Saintpaulia) if you are matching a plant you already own.

What the ASPCA lists for African Violet

The ASPCA records African Violet (Saintpaulia, family Gesneriaceae) as Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses. Read the ASPCA entry.

No toxic principle and no clinical signs are recorded, and the entry clears all three species the ASPCA tracks. The flowers are covered by the same entry as the leaves, which matters here because this is a plant kept for its blooms and a cat will reach a flower before a leaf.

The plant is not a violet. True violets are Viola and sit in a different family; this one is Saintpaulia, in the family Gesneriaceae, and the ASPCA files it at genus level as Saintpaulia spp. The entry also carries Cape Marigold as an alternative name, which is worth ignoring, because Cape Marigold is used in the trade for unrelated daisies. Trust the scientific name on the label rather than either common name.

What this verdict does and does not mean

Being non-toxic does not mean a plant is chew-proof: even pet-safe houseplants can upset a cat's or dog's stomach if they eat a large amount, simply because it is plant matter. Most toxic houseplants cause irritant-level symptoms, such as drooling, mouth soreness, or a mild upset stomach, rather than a medical emergency. A small number of plants are a genuine emergency, most notably true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) for cats, which can cause fatal kidney failure from even a small amount of pollen or a nibbled leaf. If you are ever in doubt, or your pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.

More on pet safety

Read the full care guide for African Violet, browse the pet safety checker for other plants, or identify a plant from a photo first if you are not sure what you have. Verdicts here follow the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.