Plants & Pets
TreeTake Network
There is an apt saying: Curiosity killed the cat! Cats are curious creatures. They love to jump and explore. Playful or bored cats may spot a lush green vine hanging down and decide the plant looks like a fun new toy. Then, cats that are around toxic plants may get the seeds or pollen trapped in their fur or on their paws. Then, while grooming themselves, they can inadvertently ingest the toxic substances. Hence, keeping toxic houseplants out of a cat's reach can be a challenge. Knowing which plants in your home and garden are toxic to cats could help to safeguard your feline friend's health if they suffer from poisoning due to ingesting toxic plants. Typically, cats are pretty careful about what they eat, making poisoning relatively rare in cats. That said, when poisoning due to plant ingestion does happen in cats, it is often down to a bored cat playing with and nibbling on a plant that looks fun, or cat's grooming.
For the sake of your cat's health, if you notice your furry friend eating any plant that you're unsure of, the best is to call your vet. We are also naming a few common plants that are poisonous for your cat or kitten to eat:
1. Sago Palm: Sago Palm is a beautiful plant with plenty of prickly fronds. Although this palm plant looks great, it’s highly poisonous for cats, even in small concentrations. The seeds of this plant contain the most amount of toxins of all its parts. The contaminant present in the Sago palm plant is called cycasin, which causes liver damage and even liver failure in extreme cases.
2. Daffodils: Daffodils are a treat to our eyes, but they’re very harmful to our feline friends. The whole plant is poisonous, but ingesting the bulbs would cause severe damage to cats. If your pet eats a lot of it, there may be a seizure (similar to epilepsy), a drop in blood pressure, and cardiac arrhythmia.
3. Tulips: From petals to stems and leaves, tulips are extremely toxic plants for cats. The most quantity of toxic compounds is present in tulip bulbs. If your cat eats a bulb or two, it may experience diarrhoea, vomiting, hypersalivation, etc. If you suspect tulip poisoning, get your cat to the nearest vet as soon as possible.
4. Aloe Vera: While aloe vera is a miracle plant for humans, it’s moderately poisonous for cats. Pure aloe vera contains saponins, putting it on the list of toxic plants for cats. But the interesting thing here is that the gel is safe for cats. It’s the outer white waxy coating that’s the problem. So, keep your cat away from aloe vera plants in your home.
5. Hyacinths: Hyacinths have gorgeous flowers that grow tall and bunchy. They’re found in several shades, like pink, purple, white, yellow, red, and more. Their fragrance is almost addicting. But they’re not cat-friendly at all and are toxic plants for cats. Cats can experience issues even if they sniff a hyacinth flower. This happens due to the high level of toxins like allantoin present in hyacinths. These toxins can cause intense diarrhoea and blood vomiting.
6. Lilies: Lilies are easily found in living room vases, gracing the room with their ethereal beauty. However, they’re very harmful to cats. All parts of the lily plant stems, flowers, leaves, and pollen can be fatal to your cat, even on contact. Consider this example to get an idea of how dangerous lilies are for your cat. Say your cat drinks or licks some of the water in which the lilies were kept. It would most likely die of kidney failure. Hence, lilies are one of the most toxic plants for cats.
7. Cyclamen: Cyclamens are mild to moderately toxic for cats. The tubers are more toxic than the flowers and leaves. So, if your cat chews any of these parts of the cyclamen plant, it might get diarrhoea, vomiting, and hypersalivation. If the cat eats a small quantity, you can rinse the mouth with water to help ease any irritation.
8. Autumn Crocus: Various autumn plants are harmful to cats, and the crocus is no exception. All parts of this plant can cause serious trouble for pets if they bite or chew them. Crocus can cause vomiting, digestive issues, and episodes of seizure for your cat. Watch out for these signs in your cat during the autumn season.
9. Azaleas: Azaleas are moderately toxic in common cats, but they usually don’t cause fatal effects. If your cat chews a couple of azalea leaves, it may experience loss of appetite, an upset stomach, or vomiting.
10. Dieffenbachia: Dieffenbachia is commonly called a ‘dumb cane’. It is a common house plant known for its lush, dark green leaves with white patterns on them. It can instantly brighten up the appearance of any room. Dumb canes possess a peculiar property of causing burning sensations in your cat’s mouth if it eats some leaves. There could also be swelling, drooling, and breathing difficulties. Therefore, keep these plants where your pet can’t reach them.
Besides the above-mentioned plants, some other toxic plants include Spring bulbs, Amaryllis, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Castor Bean, Chrysanthemum, English Ivy, Kalanchoe, Lily of the Valley, Marijuana, Oleander, Peace Lily, Pothos, Devil’s Ivy, Spanish Thyme and Yew.
What to do if your cat has been eating plants?
If you notice your cat eating a plant that you are unsure of, contact your vet immediately. Before heading to the veterinary clinic there are a few things you should do: Stay calm and remove any bits of plant from around your cat's mouth, paws, or fur then move your cat to a safe confined space (well away from the plant) while you get ready to go to the vet's office. Take some time to identify the plant that your cat has ingested then call your veterinarian, or if it is after hours, please call your emergency vet's for assistance. Bring a sample of the plant along with you to show your vet, or if you are unsure which plant your cat has been eating bring in a sample of your cat's vomit containing the plant material.
Diagnosis of plant poisoning in cats
When it comes to diagnosis and treatment, being able to identify the plant that your cat has ingested will give your vet a vital head start. If you are unable to identify the plant that your cat has ingested or supply a sample of the plant matter, your vet will need to run a series of tests to identify the type of poison ingested before treatment can begin.
You know what they say: ‘Better safe than sorry’. Avoid getting the above plants for your house if you have a cat. And if you do have some of these in your home, remember to keep them away from your cat’s sight or reach. Another great thing could be to buy pet-friendly plants.
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