# Aloe Vera & my cat

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-vera-my-cat/35618>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 4, 2000, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-vera-my-cat/35618 "2000-10-04T14:42:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Derf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Derf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derf)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-vera-my-cat/35618/1 "2000-10-04T14:42:01Z")

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It seems my cat (Marley) has developed a penchant for Aloe Vera. Alas the poor plant does not seem to care too much for the cat’s incessant chewing. I actually just noticed that the plant was looking a little peaked last night, then I caught the cat chewing on it.

The poor plant is on it’s last legs, but I can probably get my mother-in-law to nurse it back to health. My question is this: Is eating the aloe plant going to kill my cat? Is it toxic?

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**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-vera-my-cat/35618/2 "2000-10-04T15:01:52Z")

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Unfortunately, quite possibly. This link has plant toxicity levels. Aloe is listed as #3 and #7, minor toxicity to humans and known to cause problems with pets. Call a vet to be sure though.

Hope it turns out OK.

-T  
Lets see if this works:  
[Plant Toxicity](http://wellness.ucdavis.edu/safety_info/poison_prevention/take_care_with_plants/toxicity_of_plants.html)

If not, then this is it:

[http://wellness.ucdavis.edu/safety\_info/poison\_prevention/take\_care\_with\_plants/toxicity\_of\_plants.html](http://wellness.ucdavis.edu/safety_info/poison_prevention/take_care_with_plants/toxicity_of_plants.html)

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**Author:** ![Derf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Derf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derf)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-vera-my-cat/35618/3 "2000-10-04T15:10:12Z")

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Thanks for the quick reply. I’ll call the vet and see what she says. FWIW the plant is definitely out of Marley’s way now.

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**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-vera-my-cat/35618/4 "2000-10-04T16:03:40Z")

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My cat used to love the taste of Mentholatum.