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My cat ate Madagascar Palm leaves. Is this plant poisonous for her?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 2 years and 4 months old

My cat ate 3 of this this plant called Pachypodium lamerei leaf 2 days ago and she didn't vomit.today again she ate maybe 4 leaf.hasn't vomit anything yet and is playing.is it poisoning for her?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on September 24th, 2017

The Pachypodium lamerei is also known as the Madagascar Palm, and from what I can find, it does appear to be toxic to cats. It has a highly toxic sap and if ingested it can cause "vomiting, diarrhea, a lack of appetite, lethargy, an irregular heartbeat, and even death if consumed in large amounts" according to the ASPCA. I would move this plant out of Lucy's reach, even throwing it away or giving it away so she doesn't have any access to it. If you do see any of the signs I mentioned above, take her into a vet right away. I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

    Published on September 22nd, 2017

    I can't find any reference to a Madagascar Palm being poisonous or not, but it might be because the plant is not common in the US. Since you know that Lucy ingested some of it, I would recommend contacting an animal poison control center and asking them. There is likely a fee associated with this, but it is worth it to make sure that Lucy won't have any problems. You can contact Pet Poison Helpline (http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com) or ASPCA Poison Control (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control). I believe the scientific name for the Madagascar Palm is Pachypodium lamerei, but I would verify that if possible. Good luck! I hope that was helpful!

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    Answered By Amber W

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on September 25th, 2017

    I would be concerned that Lucy is getting sick from eating the Madagascar Palm. These plants can be toxic if ingested so I'd recommend getting Lucy to see a veterinarian right away. She may need blood work and supportive medications. You can also call ASPCA poison control for more information as they can help provide more details related to plant toxicity - (888) 426-4435 https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control Thank you for using PetCoach and hoping that Lucy recovers quickly!

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