Known As: Castorbean, Castor Oil Plant
Latin Name: Ricinus communis
Description:  Robust shrub with reddish to purple stems reaching up to 15 feet in height.  Large, glossy, red or bronze-tinted, umbrella-shaped leaves from 4 to 30 inches across with 5-9 pointed, fingerlike lobes.  The long purple leaf stems are attached near the center of the leaf blades.  Greenish-white or reddish-brown flowers are produced in narrow, upright clusters. The fruit is a three-lobed, green or red capsule with a soft, spiny exterior. Contains 1 to 3 seeds which are oval, light brown and mottled or streaked with light and dark brown so that they resemble a pinto bean.
Poisonous Parts:  Seeds and foliage. Ricin, a water soluble protein, is concentrated in the seed.  Also present are ricinine, an alkaloid, and an irritant oil.
Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, swelling around the mouth, difficulty in breathing, convulsions, increased heart rate.  Can be FATAL. Signs may not manifest until 18-24 hours after ingestion.  Early signs include depression and a mild increase in temperature.
Treatment: Unless your cat is unconscious or having convulsions, induce vomiting.  Get immediate veterinary assistance.