Sweet Cherry
Prunus avium · Rosaceae
How it looks
Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) bears glossy, serrated oval leaves and, in spring, white-to-pale-pink flowers in clusters on the branches. In summer small round fruit in red and deep crimson hangs from the branches. Height 16-50 ft (5-15 m).
Caution — monitor for GI symptoms
The seeds and leaves of Sweet Cherry contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting and diarrhea if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Sweet Cherry rarely leads to serious trouble, but its cyanogenic glycosides can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild gastrointestinal upset. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat shows a marked loss of appetite, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- 1–4 hours after ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Action
- Consult a vet and monitor. Go in immediately if symptoms worsen.
Details
- Scientific name
- Prunus avium
- Common name
- Sweet Cherry
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Toxic parts
- Seeds, Leaves
- Compounds
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Onset
- 1–4 hours after ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Action
- Consult a vet and monitor. Go in immediately if symptoms worsen.
- Source
- ASPCA
