Is Areca Palm safe for cats and dogs?

Also sold as: Golden Butterfly Palm, Cane Palm, Golden Feather Palm, Yellow Palm. Retail labels vary, so check the botanical name (Dypsis lutescens) if you are matching a plant you already own.

What the ASPCA lists for Areca Palm

The ASPCA records Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens, family Palmae) as Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses. Read the ASPCA entry.

Do not confuse Areca Palm with Sago Palm

Both are sold as house palms and both are widely labeled just 'palm' at checkout, but they are not related: the sago palm is a cycad, not a true palm. It is one of the few houseplants where a small amount is a genuine emergency rather than an upset stomach. The ASPCA lists Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses, toxic principle Cycasin, with clinical signs: Vomiting, melena, icterus, increased thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, liver damage, liver failure, death. Read the ASPCA entry for Sago Palm. If you are unsure which one you have, treat it as the toxic plant until you can confirm, and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 if your pet has eaten any of it.

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 Areca Palm, 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.