Yes. The ASPCA's Aloe entry lists aloe (Aloe vera) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with saponins and anthraquinones as the toxic principles. If your pet chewed or swallowed any of the plant, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

To check other common houseplants, see the toxic plant directory.

What happens if a cat or dog eats aloe

The ASPCA's Aloe entry lists these clinical signs: "Vomiting (not horses), lethargy, diarrhea."

The ASPCA has a second entry, True Aloe, under the name Aloe barbadensis, which Kew's Plants of the World Online lists as a synonym of Aloe vera. That entry also lists the plant as toxic to dogs and cats, gives the toxic principles as "Anthraquinones, anthracene, glycosides (aloin)," and lists the clinical signs as "Vomiting, change in urine color (red)."

NC State Extension's Plant Toolbox page for Aloe vera flags the plant as a problem for cats and dogs, lists the leaves as the poisonous part, gives the toxic principle as anthraquinone glycoside and rates the poison severity as "Low." Its symptom list reads: "Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, red urine; skin irritation from latex."

What to do if your pet ate some

Call your veterinarian, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, which says it is available "24 hours a day, 365 days a year." The ASPCA's Aloe entry tells owners to "call the ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible," and notes, "A consultation fee may apply."

Have the plant's name ready. Aloe vera is the name the ASPCA's Aloe entry uses; Aloe barbadensis is the older name on its True Aloe entry. If your pet got into an aloe product rather than the plant, have the product's label ready too. Then follow the instructions the veterinarian or poison control specialist gives you.

Aloe gel vs. the whole plant

The ASPCA's Aloe entry ends its clinical signs with one sentence: "The gel is considered edible." The same entry still lists the plant as toxic to dogs and cats.

A pet that bites into the plant is eating leaf, and NC State lists the leaves as the poisonous part. NC State describes the thick leaves as containing a gel used in many commercial products, and its symptom list includes skin irritation from the latex.

Neither ASPCA aloe entry addresses store-bought aloe gels, drinks or skin products. If your pet licks or eats one, call your veterinarian or poison control with the label in hand.

Which aloes these entries cover

Both ASPCA entries are for Aloe vera: the Aloe entry under that name and the True Aloe entry under Aloe barbadensis. The True Aloe entry also lists Medicine Plant and Barbados Aloe as common names, and NC State's Aloe vera page lists Aloe barbadensis as a former name. Neither entry names another Aloe species, so for a different aloe, look up its botanical name before assuming either way.

Keeping an aloe in a home with pets

  • Place it out of reach. A high shelf or a stand your pet cannot climb works better than a floor spot or low windowsill. A cat that climbs can reach places a dog cannot.
  • Pick up broken leaves. NC State lists the leaves as the poisonous part.
  • Cut leaves away from pets. If you harvest gel from your plant, put the cut leaf and trimmings where a pet cannot get them.
  • Don't rely on deterrents. No placement or deterrent spray guarantees that a pet will leave a plant alone. If your pet is a determined chewer, a plant the ASPCA lists as non-toxic is the simpler choice.

Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic

The ASPCA's plant list adds a caveat that applies to every plant: "the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats." With that in mind, these houseplants have ASPCA entries listing them as non-toxic to dogs and cats:

For longer lists, see plants safe for cats, plants safe for dogs and the toxic plant directory.

Frequently asked

Is aloe vera safe for dogs?
No. The ASPCA's Aloe entry lists Aloe vera as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The toxic principles are saponins and anthraquinones, and the listed signs are vomiting, lethargy and diarrhea.
Is aloe vera gel toxic to cats?
The ASPCA's Aloe entry says 'The gel is considered edible,' but the same entry lists the plant as toxic to cats and dogs. It does not address store-bought aloe products. If your cat licks or eats one, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center with the label in hand.
Are all aloe plants toxic to cats?
The ASPCA's two aloe entries, Aloe and True Aloe, both cover Aloe vera, the second under its older name Aloe barbadensis. Neither names another Aloe species, so look up the botanical name of any other aloe before assuming either way.
Is it safe to have an aloe plant in a house with cats?
The ASPCA lists aloe as toxic to cats, so no spot in the house makes it risk-free. If you keep one, put it where your cat cannot reach and pick up broken leaves. If your cat chews plants, a plant the ASPCA lists as non-toxic, such as a spider plant, is the simpler choice.
What should I do if my dog ate aloe vera?
Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. The ASPCA notes that a consultation fee may apply. Have the botanical name, Aloe vera, ready, or the product label if your dog ate an aloe product.

Sources: ASPCA: Aloe, ASPCA: True Aloe, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, ASPCA: Zebra Haworthia, ASPCA: Spider Plant, ASPCA: Parlor Palm, ASPCA: Boston Fern, Kew POWO: Aloe vera, NC State Extension: Aloe vera