13 Poisonous Plants For Cats - Protect Your Feline Friend
Did you know that some popular home and garden plants can be toxic for your cats when eaten?
But why in the world would my cat eat plants? There could be various reasons for this: a nutritional deficiency in your cat's diet, your cat could be looking for more moisture, or your cat could be feeling nauseated and looking for plants to help induce nausea on purpose.
Whatever the reason, I'm here to help you make sure you populate your home with plants that are safe for cats.
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When your cat is showing symptoms of having eaten something poisonous, here are some ways to determine which organ is affected:
Difficulty breathing (airways affected)
Drooling or difficulty swallowing (mouth, throat, or esophagus affected)
Vomiting (stomach or small intestines affected)
Diarrhea (small intestines or colon affected)
Excessive drinking and urinating (kidneys affected)
Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat and weakness (heart affected)
13 Poisonous Plants For Cats
1. Jade
They are also referred to as rubber plants, money plants, or lucky plants.
Symptoms may not appear immediately, so it is vital to monitor your cat's behavior and health closely after exposure to the plant.
Symptoms include:
Vomiting
Neurological symptoms such as incoordination
Depression
Treatment:
Seek veterinary care immediately
2. Pothos
This plant has a few names, including pothos, golden pothos, and taro vine.
Symptoms include:
Dry mouth, throat, and tongue
Lip irritation
Excessive drooling (hypersalivation)
Vomiting
Difficulty swallowing
The severity of the symptoms will depend on the amount of plant material ingested, so it is crucial to monitor your cat's behavior and health closely after exposure to the plant.
3. Amaryllis
Beautiful, right? Like humans, cats may be drawn to the giant, vibrant flowers and find it too irresistible not to take a bite.
All parts of the amaryllis plant, including the bulb, are toxic when ingested.
Symptoms include:
Stomach pain
Excess drooling
Tremors
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Decrease in appetite
4. Sago Palm
Palms are not pet-friendly at all.
Your curious cat might find these plants attractive, but they should be avoided entirely, as your cat can die when eating Sago Palm.
Symptoms include:
Gastrointestinal and liver damage
The symptoms of sago palm toxicity may not appear for several days after ingestion, making it difficult to diagnose and treat the poisoning in time.
5. Azaleas and Rhododendrons
These plants are both classified in the genus Rhododendron. For cats, all parts of these shrubs are toxic when eaten.
Symptoms include:
Tremors
Seizures
Abnormal heart rate
Vomiting
Treatment:
Seek veterinary care immediately
6. Elephant's ear
Elephant's ear is a popular houseplant, but unfortunately, you'd have to give it away when your cats come home to stay.
All parts of the elephant ear plant, including the leaves, stems, and roots, contain toxic calcium oxalate crystals.
Symptoms include:
Oral irritation
Burning, and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and throat
7. Chrysanthemum, Daisy, Mum
This colorful flowering plant should be entirely off-limits for cats.
All parts of the chrysanthemum plant, including the leaves, flowers, sap, and stems, contain toxic pyrethrins.
Symptoms include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Hypersalivation
Incoordination
Dermatitis
Treatment:
Seek veterinary care immediately
8. Eucalyptus
These fragrant, mind-soothing leaves (including eucalyptus essential oils) should be kept out of reach from cats.
Symptoms include:
Drooling
Vomiting
Decreased appetite
Diarrhea
The severity of the symptoms will depend on the amount of plant material ingested or the extent of skin contact, so it is essential to monitor your cat's behavior and health closely after exposure to the plant.
9. Lily
All parts of lily plants are toxic, including leaves, roots, petals, and pollen. Even the water from a vase of lilies can be harmful.
Symptoms include:
Acute kidney failure
Irritation to the mouth and stomach
To prevent your cat from being exposed to lilies, it is best to keep them out of your home completely.
10. Marijuana
The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, can cause neurological effects in cats if ingested.
Symptoms include:
Disorientation
Sleepiness
Vomiting
Low blood pressure
Seizures
Coma
The onset of symptoms can occur within a few minutes to a few hours after ingestion, and they can last for several hours to days, depending on the amount ingested.
It is important to note that some products containing marijuana, such as edibles or oils, can contain other ingredients that are also toxic to cats, such as chocolate or xylitol.
11. Peace Lily
Peace lily toxicity in cats is usually mild and self-limiting, and most cats recover within a few hours to days with supportive care.
All parts of the peace lily plant, including the leaves, stems, and flowers, contain toxic calcium oxalate crystals.
Symptoms include:
Severe burning and irritation of the mouth, lips, and tongue
Difficulty swallowing
Vomiting
Excessive drooling
12. Tulip
Tulips are among the most notable poisonous plants to cats. All parts of the plant contain toxins called tulipalin A and B, with the highest concentration in the bulb.
Symptoms include:
Vomiting
Depression
Diarrhea
Hypersalivation
It is important to note that other plants in the Liliaceae family, such as daffodils and hyacinths, also contain similar toxins and can be toxic to cats.
13. Snake plant
The snake plant is a wildly popular hard-to-kill houseplant. However, they contain chemical compounds which are toxic to cats.
Symptoms include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
If your cat shows signs of being poisoned, do the following before you take your cat to your veterinarian:
Safely remove plant material from your cat's hair, skin, and mouth.
Monitor your cat in a safe, confined area.
Call the Pet Poison Helpline or Animal Poison Control.
Bring a sample of the plant or plant material to the veterinary office, including pieces of plant found in your cat's vomit.
The Bottom Line
It's your responsibility to take whatever steps you can to protect your cats from exposure to poisonous plants. If this means you have to get rid of some of your favorite plants, do so with a happy heart. Lucky for you, many plants are safe for cats that you can place around your home with peace of mind.