Coontie Palm
Zamia pumila · Cycadaceae
How it looks
Coontie Palm is a small cycad-family plant whose glossy feather-shaped leaves spread from a short trunk. The leaves are narrower and smaller than those of Zamia, and at about 20 in to 3 ft (50 cm-1 m) tall it is more compact. It looks like a palm but is not a true palm.
Deadly — liver failure
Coontie Palm (Coontie Palm) is a cycad; all parts (especially the seeds) contain cycasin, and ingestion can lead to liver failure and death.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- 6–24 hours after ingestion (symptoms may be delayed)
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, liver failure, death
- Action
- Go to a 24-hour animal hospital immediately. Don't wait, even if there are no symptoms.
Guide for parents
Despite its name, the coontie palm is not a true palm but a cycad, sold as an indoor foliage plant. The whole plant — especially the seeds — contains cycasin, which can lead to liver failure if eaten. Do not bring it into a home with a cat.
Telling it apart
The coontie palm is a cycad, like the sago palm, cardboard cycad, and cardboard palm, and it shares the liver toxin cycasin with them. The name "palm" makes it easy to confuse with true palms, but true palms like areca and parlor palm are non-toxic. Stiff, feather-like fronds with cone-like structures mean a cycad.
How cats get exposed
Even a chew or two on the leaves can start liver damage, and the seeds are especially dangerous because of their high cycasin content. Watch dropped leaves and the roots and stem that get exposed during repotting.
How symptoms progress
Signs usually begin within a few hours with vomiting and diarrhea, but the real danger is liver toxicity. Liver damage develops fully over 24–48 hours, leading to jaundice, bleeding, and lethargy, and can end in fatal liver failure. Don't relax even if the early signs settle down.
What to do right now
If there is any chance your cat chewed or swallowed it, get to a 24-hour emergency vet immediately, even with no symptoms. With cycasin poisoning, faster treatment means a better outcome. Do not induce vomiting at home — follow the clinic's instructions.
Details
- Scientific name
- Zamia pumila
- Common name
- Coontie Palm
- Family
- Cycadaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts (especially the seeds)
- Compounds
- Cycasin
- Source
- ASPCA
Related plants
Same plant family· Cycadaceae
Related guides
Top 10 Flowers Dangerous to Cats — The Ones You See at Florists
Ten flowers you'll commonly find at florists and grocery stores that are toxic to cats. Check before you receive them, and before you bring them home.
Got a Bouquet? What to Do If You Have a Cat
A bouquet is a lovely surprise — but if you live with a cat, there are a few things to take care of right away. From checking what's in the arrangement to choosing the right vase, here's what actually helps, in order.
Why Cats Chew Plants, and How to Stop It
A cat chewing and tearing at plants isn't just mischief — there's an instinct behind it. Once you understand why, the ways to stop it follow naturally.