Annual Sweet Pea
Lathyrus odoratus · Fabaceae
How it looks
Sweet Pea grows as a vine with butterfly-shaped flowers gathered 5–8 per cluster at the stem tips. Pink, purple, white, and pale yellow are common, with a strong sweet fragrance. The leaves are oval and paired oppositely, with clinging tendrils at the tips.
No cat toxicity data — caution advised
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) does not appear in the ASPCA's plant list for cats, so there is no confirmed assessment for cats either way. NC State Extension does record toxicity for people — a Low severity rating, tied to the seeds — but a finding about humans is not evidence about cats. With no confirmed evidence, we cannot call it safe, so exercise caution if your cat has access to it.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Action
- Go to an animal hospital immediately. Don't wait, even if symptoms seem mild.
- Onset (typical course)
- 2–6 hours after ingestion
Guide for parents
Sweet Pea has no toxicity data for cats, so its safety cannot be stated either way. It reaches most homes as a spring cut flower, usually tucked into a mixed bouquet rather than bought on its own.
If you look it up, the ASPCA's Sweet Pea entry describes a plant that is harmless to cats — but that entry is for Lathyrus latifolius, the perennial, which the ASPCA also lists under the names Perennial Pea and Everlasting Pea. The fragrant annual that florists sell is a different species, Lathyrus odoratus. Scent is the easiest tell: the annual is strongly and sweetly perfumed, while the perennial has almost none.
NC State Extension does have a page for the annual, but the toxicity recorded there applies to people — a Low severity rating attached to the seeds, alongside a note that the fruits are inedible. Whether the same holds for cats has never been established. The ASPCA also lists the perennial in this genus as toxic to horses, which is one more reason not to assume the annual is fine for cats while no feline assessment exists.
At home, clear away the pods that form once the flowers fade, and keep the vase somewhere your cat does not jump. If you find that leaves or pods have been chewed, note roughly how much and when, and call your vet.
Details
- Scientific name
- Lathyrus odoratus
- Common name
- Annual Sweet Pea
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Source
- No confirmed source for cats — not listed by ASPCA
Also known as
Related plants
Same plant family· Fabaceae
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