What are the symptoms of Wisteria poisoning in cats?

vomiting, diarrhea (may be bloody with large ingestions), abdominal pain, depression or lethargy

Wisteria

Q: Is Wisteria toxic to cats?

Toxic: Toxic — all parts contain a compound that causes vomiting and diarrhea; seeds and pods are most concentrated. Wisteria (a common flowering vine) is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA. The seeds and seed pods contain the highest concentration of toxic compounds (including a glycoside called wisterin), though all parts of the plant can cause illness if chewed or eaten. It typically causes gastrointestinal illness rather than organ failure, but can be serious if a cat eats a significant amount of seed pods. Source: ASPCA.

Toxic

Verdict

Toxic — all parts contain a compound that causes vomiting and diarrhea; seeds and pods are most concentrated.

Toxic principle: wisterin (glycoside), resins — concentrated in seeds and pods

Source: ASPCA · Verified 2026-06-12

If your cat ate this

Cats hide symptoms — don't wait and see. Even small amounts of certain substances can be fatal to a cat. Act fast.

1. Call your veterinarian immediately
US — National hotline: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 aspca.org(24/7, Consultation fee may apply.)
US — National hotline: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 petpoisonhelpline.com(24/7, $89 per incident fee; also covers Canada.)
GB — National hotline: Animal PoisonLine 01202 509 000 animalpoisonline.co.uk(24/7, £35 per call (8am–8pm weekdays), £45 at other times.)
AU — National hotline: Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 animalpoisons.com.au(24/7)
NZ — National hotline: Animal Poisons Helpline 0800 869 738 poisons.co.nz(11am–7pm NZ time (currently being extended), Charges apply.)
CA — National hotline: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 petpoisonhelpline.com(24/7, $89 per incident fee.)

Verified 2026-08-06

Verdict

Wisteria (a common flowering vine) is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA. The seeds and seed pods contain the highest concentration of toxic compounds (including a glycoside called wisterin), though all parts of the plant can cause illness if chewed or eaten. It typically causes gastrointestinal illness rather than organ failure, but can be serious if a cat eats a significant amount of seed pods.

Symptoms to watch for

• vomiting
• diarrhea (may be bloody with large ingestions)
• abdominal pain
• depression or lethargy

What to do

Remove any chewed plant material from your cat's mouth if it's safe to do so, and contact a vet, especially if your cat has eaten seed pods. Keep wisteria vines and dropped seed pods out of reach, particularly in gardens where cats roam.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435 aspca.org

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