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Aloe vera: toxicity, first aid and care
Aloe vera (Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)): toxic for cats, toxic for dogs, irritant for small children. The toxic principle, the signs, what to do, and how to grow it.
Cats: ToxicDogs: ToxicChildren: Irritant
Also sold as: Medicine plant, burn plant, aaloe.
This is a reference table, not a diagnosis and not veterinary or medical advice. It cannot tell you how much of a plant matters for a particular child or a particular animal — that depends on body weight, on the part eaten and on how long ago. If a person or an animal has eaten part of a plant, phone the poison information centre or a clinician; do not wait for symptoms, and do not make anyone vomit unless you are told to.
What is in it
Toxic principle: Anthraquinone glycosides (aloin) and saponins in the latex — Saponins.
There are two substances in an aloe leaf and they behave completely differently. The clear inner gel is the part used on skin. The bitter yellow latex that seeps from a freshly cut leaf, just under the green skin, contains aloin — a powerful gut stimulant. A pet that bites through a leaf gets the latex.
What it looks like when it goes wrong
Vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy and loss of appetite; urine can look discoloured. Signs are unpleasant rather than dangerous in most cases, but a small cat that has eaten several leaves can dehydrate.
What to do
Phone a veterinary clinic if vomiting or diarrhoea repeats or the animal is flat. For a child who has licked cut gel, rinse the mouth and watch; swallowing the yellow latex is worth a call to the poison centre.
| Country | Poison information centre | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Mürgistusteabekeskus (Health Board) | 16662 | Round the clock; 112 for an emergency |
| Finland | Myrkytystietokeskus (HUS) | 0800 147 111 | Free, round the clock |
| Latvia | Saindēšanās un zāļu informācijas centrs | 67042473 | Round the clock |
| Sweden | Giftinformationscentralen | 010-456 67 00 | Non-urgent advice; 112 in an emergency |
| Norway | Giftinformasjonen | 22 59 13 00 | Round the clock |
| Denmark | Giftlinjen (Bispebjerg Hospital) | 82 12 12 12 | Round the clock |
Anywhere in the European Union, 112 reaches emergency services and can put you through. Lithuania's poison information bureau (Apsinuodijimų kontrolės ir informacijos biuras) publishes its own round-the-clock line; if you do not have it to hand, use 112. For an animal, your own veterinary clinic or its out-of-hours service is the first call — human poison centres do not advise on animals in every country.
How to grow it
| Condition | What it wants |
|---|---|
| Light | The sunniest windowsill you own |
| Water | Soak, then let the pot dry out completely |
| Temperature | 13-27 °C; keep it dry and cool rather than warm and damp in winter |
Grow it hard: gritty cactus compost, a heavy pot with a drainage hole, full sun, and long dry gaps. A flabby pale aloe with floppy leaves is overwatered and underlit, not hungry. Offsets around the base can be twisted off with a few roots and potted separately, which is how most household aloes propagate.
What it gets confused with
Its household reputation as a medicine plant makes people assume it is safe by definition. On skin, the gel on a minor burn is a reasonable folk remedy; taken by mouth it is a different proposition — oral aloe latex was withdrawn from over-the-counter laxative use in the United States for want of safety data. Cut leaves left on a kitchen counter are the usual route to a poisoned cat.
A plant that is not on the toxic lists
If you are deciding what to keep in a home with a cat, a dog or a small child, this one fills a similar role and is not flagged by the veterinary services.
Others that work the same way
Saponins — these behave alike, and what you would do about them is alike too.
Cyclamen
Terpenoid saponins (cyclamin), concentrated in the tuber
Dracaena
Saponins
English ivy
Triterpenoid saponins (hederagenin glycosides); falcarinol on skin
Snake plant
Saponins
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — toxic and non-toxic plants · checked 2026-09-06
Care guidance is standard horticultural practice for a cool-temperate northern climate. Poison-centre numbers are listed on the hub page and are worth confirming against your own country's health service.
Frequently asked questions
Is aloe vera toxic to cats?
The veterinary lists rate it "toxic" for cats and "toxic" for dogs. The toxic principle is anthraquinone glycosides (aloin) and saponins in the latex. There are two substances in an aloe leaf and they behave completely differently. The clear inner gel is the part used on skin.
What should I do if my dog eats aloe vera?
Phone a veterinary clinic if vomiting or diarrhoea repeats or the animal is flat. For a child who has licked cut gel, rinse the mouth and watch; swallowing the yellow latex is worth a call to the poison centre.
Is aloe vera dangerous for a small child?
The verdict for a child who chews or swallows part of it is "irritant" — milder than for a cat, which is the household member this plant affects most. In a child the expected problem is a sore mouth and an upset stomach. Phone the poison information centre with the plant to hand; they will tell you whether it needs to be seen.
How do you care for aloe vera?
Light: The sunniest windowsill you own. Water: Soak, then let the pot dry out completely. Temperature: 13-27 °C; keep it dry and cool rather than warm and damp in winter. Grow it hard: gritty cactus compost, a heavy pot with a drainage hole, full sun, and long dry gaps.
What is aloe vera confused with?
Its household reputation as a medicine plant makes people assume it is safe by definition. On skin, the gel on a minor burn is a reasonable folk remedy; taken by mouth it is a different proposition — oral aloe latex was withdrawn from over-the-counter laxative use in the United States for want of safety data.
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