Cherry
Prunus spp.
Yes — cherry trees are toxic to cats. The ASPCA lists Prunus spp. as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. The stems, leaves, and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides that release cyanide when chewed or digested. The ASPCA notes the Prunus group also includes plum, peach, and apricot — all toxic by the same mechanism.
Plate IPrunus spp. — cherry. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats: stems, leaves, and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides. The Prunus group also includes plum, peach, and apricot.
Three plants that look the part, without the risk.
If you want a cat-safe fruiting or flowering plant for the garden, these ASPCA non-toxic plants are good alternatives to cherry trees.
Strawberry
A non-toxic fruiting plant that cats can safely be around. The fruit, leaves, and stems are all ASPCA-listed non-toxic — a garden edible without the cyanogenic risk of cherry pits.
Sunflower
A non-toxic garden flower that is safe around cats. Tall and cheerful, with no toxic parts — a bright substitute for a flowering cherry tree.
Calendula
A non-toxic flowering herb that is safe for cats. The edible petals are ASPCA-listed non-toxic and the plant is easy to grow alongside cherry trees.
What cherry trees do to a cat.
Yes — cherry trees are toxic to cats. The ASPCA lists Prunus spp. as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses. The stems, leaves, and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides that release cyanide when chewed or digested. The ASPCA notes the Prunus group also includes plum, peach, and apricot — all toxic by the same mechanism.
Cherry (Prunus spp., family Rosaceae) is a common garden and orchard tree. The cyanogenic glycosides are concentrated in the stems, leaves, and pits — not the flesh of the fruit. The danger for an outdoor cat is chewing on fallen cherries (which exposes the pits), nibbling low-hanging leaves, or playing with pruned branches.
ASPCA Data
According to the ASPCA, cherry is listed under plants toxic to cats:
Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses.
The toxic parts are the stems, leaves, and pits, which contain cyanogenic glycosides — compounds that release cyanide when the plant tissue is damaged. The ASPCA notes the Prunus group also includes plum, peach, and apricot.
Why the stems, leaves, and pits are dangerous
Cyanogenic glycosides are a chemical defence mechanism. When a cat chews the stems, leaves, or pits, the plant cells rupture and an enzyme releases cyanide from the glycoside. Cyanide blocks cellular respiration — it prevents cells from using oxygen, effectively suffocating them at the cellular level.
The fruit flesh is the exception: it contains very low levels of cyanogenic glycosides and is generally considered safe. The ASPCA listing, however, covers the whole plant, so the safe approach is to treat the entire tree as off-limits.
The Prunus family
Cherry belongs to the genus Prunus, which the ASPCA notes also includes plum, peach, and apricot — all toxic to cats by the same cyanogenic glycoside mechanism. Apple is a different genus (Malus) but the same Rosaceae family and the same cyanogenic toxin. If you are cautious about one, the same caution applies to the others — the family is consistent.
Risk for outdoor cats
An outdoor cat with access to a cherry tree faces two main risks:
- Fallen cherries. Windfall fruit attracts cats to play with and chew. The pits inside are the toxic part — a cat that bites into a windfall cherry ingests them directly.
- Wilted leaves and pruned branches. Wilted cherry leaves are particularly dangerous because the wilting process concentrates the cyanogenic glycosides. Remove pruned branches and fallen leaves promptly.
What to do if your cat eats cherry stems, leaves, or pits
Cyanide toxicity is a medical emergency:
- Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Cyanide acts fast — do not wait for symptoms.
- Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth if you can do so safely.
- Tell the vet exactly what part of the cherry tree was eaten and how much.
Safe garden alternatives
If you want a cat-safe fruiting or flowering plant, strawberry, sunflower, and calendula are all ASPCA-listed non-toxic to cats — and they grow well in the same garden conditions as a cherry tree.
The bottom line
Cherry trees are toxic to cats — the stems, leaves, and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides that release cyanide. The Prunus group (cherry, plum, peach, apricot) and apple all share the same mechanism. The fruit flesh is generally safe, but with a cat in the garden, the safe approach is to keep the whole tree off-limits and clear windfall cherries promptly.
What we have actually seen.
Cyanogenic glycosides in stems, leaves, and pits
The stems, leaves, and pits of cherry trees contain cyanogenic glycosides — compounds that release cyanide when the plant tissue is damaged or digested. Cyanide blocks cellular respiration, preventing cells from using oxygen. The fruit flesh itself is generally considered safe, but the ASPCA listing covers the entire plant.
Risk from fallen fruit and cherry pits
An outdoor cat near a cherry tree may encounter fallen fruit. The danger is not the flesh but the pits inside — a cat that chews windfall cherries can ingest the toxic pits. The stems and leaves are also accessible if a cat chews low branches or plays with pruned cuttings.
The Prunus family — plum, peach, apricot, cherry
The ASPCA notes that the Prunus group also includes plum, peach, and apricot — all toxic to cats by the same cyanogenic glycoside mechanism. If you are cautious about one Prunus tree, the same caution applies to all of them. Apple, while a different genus (Malus), shares the same Rosaceae family and the same cyanogenic mechanism.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Cherry.Accessed June 2026 · aspca.org