Is Venus Flytrap safe for cats and dogs?

What the ASPCA lists for Venus Flytrap

The ASPCA records Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula, family Droseraceae) as Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses. Read the ASPCA entry.

The ASPCA records no toxic principle and no clinical signs for this plant, which is what a non-toxic entry looks like in their database. The trap closing on a paw or a nose cannot hurt an animal either: the mechanism is slow and the spines are soft. The real cost of a curious pet is to the PLANT, since every trap has a limited number of closures in it and a sprung trap that catches nothing still spends one.

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 Venus Flytrap, 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.