Spring is in full bloom with summer just around the corner. I am a plant and flower lover myself, so it is very important my family and I are conscious of which plants we have in and around our home. This is because we want to keep our Maine Coon named Chloe safe when she is in our house and outside on our porch with her leash. Sometimes it can be an innocent mistake when you are unaware of which plants are safe vs. poisonous for your kitty. Educating yourself on which plants are harmful to cats is very important because you would never wish for them to get sick when it can be avoided.
Let's look at which plants are toxic for our furry friends:
Lilies
Lilies are one of the most poisonous plants for cats. This includes Asiatic lilies, Easter lilies, Japanese show lilies, rubrum lilies, stargazer lilies, red lilies, tiger lilies, Western lilies, wood lilies, and daylilies. These are popular in gardens and bouquets. Lilies can be extremely dangerous if your cat ingests one. A small exposure to the plant's leaves, flowers, or pollen can result in acute kidney failure. It is best to keep these out of the home, or at least in a high enough place that is out of reach of your furry friend.
Sago Palm
Sago palms are common outdoor plants typically found in tropical areas. Specific variants of these palms are kept as houseplants. Other names for it include coontie palm, cardboard palm, cycads, and zamias. While all parts of this particular plant are toxic, the seeds are the worst for your cat and can cause severe liver damage. Other symptoms of poisoning include upset stomach, vomiting, seizures, and liver failure.
Tulips and Hyacinth
Tulips are another trendy flower, especially in gardens and bouquets in the spring. Both tulips and hyacinths are members of the Liliaceae family which include the fatal lily species above. The bulbs of these flowers are especially toxic for cats. Tulips contain the toxins tulipalin A and tulipalin B, while hyacinths contain narcissus-like alkaloids which are concentrated in the bulbs. Signs of poisoning include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and tremors.
Philodendrons
Philodendrons are very popular since they thrive indoors all year. The philodendron family includes the Swiss cheese plant, heartleaf, and fiddle-leaf philodendron. They are easy to care for and decorate the home with. However, pet owners should be extra careful of these plants since their leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the lining of a cat's stomach and intestines. It can also irritate the mouth, with signs including a watering or bleeding mouth and vomiting.
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia can also be known as charming dieffenbachia, dumb cane, exotica perfection, giant dumb cane, gold dieffenbachia, spotted dumb cane, tropic snow, and variable dieffenbachia. This plant also contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause oral irritation. In rare cases, cats can experience breathing problems from exposure. These should not be kept in the home.
Daffodils
Daffodils are perennial blooms, meaning they regrow every spring. All kinds of these flowers are extremely poisonous to cats. Each part of the plant contains a toxin called lycorine, but the bulbs are the most toxic. They can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Ingestion of daffodils in rare circumstances can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, extremely low blood pressure, breathing problems, and convulsions in your kitty. For these reasons, try to replace daffodils with a safe flower option in your home.
Rhododendron and Azalea
The stems, leaves, and flowers of both rhododendrons and azaleas are highly toxic. Eating as few as three leaves can be a large enough dosage to extremely affect your kitty. Cats will exhibit excessive drooling, loss of appetite, an upset digestive system (including colic and diarrhea), weakness, and loss of coordination. They may also experience leg paralysis and a weakened heart rate. Similar to the ground rules with daffodils, make sure to avoid these blooms in your home for the safety of your cat.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera can be very popular in homes for its healing properties. It is characterized by thick leaves resembling those of a succulent. The jagged leaves grow upward in a rosette-like pattern. Its toxic properties include saponins and anthraquinones. If your cat ingests this plant, it can cause lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Snake Plants
Snake plants are often referred to as "mother-in-law's tongue." They are known as one of the best plants for low light conditions and for improving air quality in your house. The ASPCA reports that they are toxic for both dogs and cats. They also contain toxins called saponins which lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Eucalyptus
This plant's popularity is due to the belief it helps soothe the mind, leading to people introducing it into their aromatherapy routine. However, eucalyptol, the active ingredient in eucalyptus essential oil products, makes this plant toxic to cats. The symptoms of eucalyptol poisoning include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weakness. The symptoms are relatively minor, however, no level of these symptoms is pleasant for your kitty.
Safe Plant Options For Your Cat
You may be asking yourself, "Okay, so what plants can I opt for that are safe for my cat?" Here are some options that are completely safe to decorate your home with. These are non-toxic for your kitty.
Spider Plants
True Palms
African Violets
Succulents
Swedish Ivy
Bamboo
Boston Fern
Cast-Iron Plant
Bromeliads
Christmas Cactus
Money Tree
Marigolds
Sunflowers
Jasmine
Hibiscus
Petunias
This is not an extensive list of all of the plants that are poisonous to cats. It is up to you to check before purchasing plants or flowers to decorate your home with to ensure they are safe. We hope this article provided you with common houseplants you can now be aware of, whether it be in your own home or where you take your cat to be petsit.
References
Kascjak, B. (2022, February 28). 18 common indoor plants toxic to cats. All Pet Voices. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://www.allpetvoices.com/18-common-indoor-plants-toxic-cats/.
Rasmussen, C. (2022, May 4). 12 common poisonous plants for cats. purrs&wags. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://www.pumpkin.care/blog/poisonous-plants-for-cats/#:~:text=Lilies%20are%20at%20the%20top%20of%20the%20list,tiger%20lilies%2C%20Western%20lilies%2C%20wood%20lilies%2C%20and%20daylilies.
Sears, C. (2022, January 28). 9 popular houseplants that are toxic to cats. The Spruce. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://www.thespruce.com/houseplants-toxic-to-cats-4775359.
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