Paws Off! These Toxic Plants For Cats Are a BIG No!

Cats are curious creatures, and may chew on plants from indoors or outdoors, leading to various health problems. Several common poison toxic plants for cats cause mild to severe poisoning or death. As a pet owner, it is essential to be aware of toxic plants for cats. Ensuring your home and garden are free of these harmful plants is crucial to protecting your feline well-being.

10 Common Poisonous Plants for Cats

1. Lilies: Lilies, including Easter lilies and tiger lilies, are among the most toxic plants for cats. Ingesting any part of the plant, including the petals and leaves, can lead to kidney failure, which is often fatal if not treated promptly.
2. Azalea: Azaleas are toxic and can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, ingestion can cause more significant issues.
3. Oleander: All parts of the oleander plant are highly toxic, and ingestion can result in severe heart and gastrointestinal issues.
4. Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane): Dieffenbachia is another plant with calcium oxalate crystals in its leaves. Ingesting these crystals can lead to severe oral and throat irritation, causing a cat to drool excessively and have difficulty swallowing.
5. Poinsettia: While not as toxic as once believed, poinsettia plants can still cause mild gastrointestinal issues and skin irritation in cats.
6. Philodendron: Like pothos and dieffenbachia, philodendron plants contain calcium oxalate crystals. When chewed on by cats, they can experience mouth and throat irritation, leading to discomfort, drooling, and difficulty in eating.
7. Sago Palm: All parts of the sago palm, including the seeds, leaves, and roots, contain a potent toxin called cycasin. Ingestion of sago palm can lead to severe liver failure and other severe symptoms.
8. Cyclamen: Ingesting the roots or tubers of cyclamen plants can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and even heart issues in cats.
9. Yew: All parts of the yew plant, including the berries, are highly toxic and can cause sudden cat death.
10. Castor Bean Plant: The seeds of the castor bean plant contain the deadly toxin ricin, which can be fatal if cats ingest it.

If you have a cat, you must know which plants to have in and around your home. If you suspect your cat has ingested any of these toxic plants or if they exhibit any unusual symptoms, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal clinic immediately. Prevention is key, so consider keeping toxic plants out of your home or ensuring they are well out of your cat's reach.

Toxic Indoor Plants for Cats

There are many common house plants that are toxic to cats and understanding their dangers is vital for responsible pet ownership.

1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): Pothos contain calcium oxalate crystals. If a cat chews on the leaves or stems, it can cause oral and throat irritation, resulting in symptoms like drooling, difficulty swallowing, and sometimes mild vomiting.
2. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): The peace lily also contains calcium oxalate crystals. If a cat bites into the leaves or stems, it can cause mouth and throat irritation, often accompanied by excessive drooling.
3. Snake Plant (Sansevieria): While not as toxic as some other plants, snake plants can still lead to mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested by cats. Common symptoms may include vomiting and diarrhea.
4. English Ivy: English ivy can cause digestive issues in cats. Ingesting any part of the plant can result in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
5. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera plants are known for their soothing gel, but the gel can cause gastrointestinal irritation when ingested by cats. Symptoms may include stomach upset and diarrhea.

Common Outdoor Plants Toxic to Cats

It's worth noting that there are a number of common outdoor plants that can be harmful to cats if they are consumed. To give you an idea, here are a few examples:

1. Chrysanthemum: Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, are popular garden flowers that contain pyrethrins. These natural insect repellents can be toxic to cats when ingested or when cats come into contact with them. Symptoms of chrysanthemum poisoning in cats may include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, and, in severe cases, tremors or seizures.
2. Daffodils: Daffodils are known for their bright yellow blooms and contain toxic alkaloids, primarily concentrated in the bulbs. These alkaloids can be extremely harmful to cats if consumed. Symptoms of daffodil poisoning may include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and, in severe cases, more serious symptoms like irregular heartbeat or convulsions.
3. Amaryllis: Amaryllis is another popular ornamental plant that can be toxic to cats, primarily due to the presence of lycorine, a substance found in the bulbs. Symptoms of amaryllis poisoning in cats may include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and, in severe cases, tremors or seizures.
4. Hemlock: Hemlock plants, particularly water hemlock (Cicuta species), contain highly toxic compounds called cicutoxin. Ingesting even small amounts of hemlock can be life-threatening for cats. Symptoms of hemlock poisoning in cats may include drooling, tremors, seizures, vomiting, and respiratory distress. In severe cases, it can lead to paralysis and death. Hemlock poisoning is a medical emergency, and you should immediately seek veterinary care if you suspect your cat has come into contact with hemlock plants.
5. Autumn Crocus: The autumn crocus, also known as meadow saffron, contains colchicine, which can cause severe toxicity in cats when ingested. Symptoms of autumn crocus poisoning may include gastrointestinal distress, organ failure, seizures, and even death.

It is critical to be aware of toxic plants and take measures to prevent your cat from coming into contact with them in your outdoor spaces. Creating a safe and cat-friendly environment in your garden is essential for your pet's well-being.

List of ASPCA Toxic Plants

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) provides a list of plants known to have systemic effects on animals and strong effects on the gastrointestinal tract. It's important to note that this list isn't exhaustive; it comprises the most commonly encountered plants.

Please be aware that ingesting any plant material may lead to vomiting and gastrointestinal discomfort in dogs and cats. Plants are categorized as either non-toxic or potentially toxic, with mild gastrointestinal upset as their primary symptom, typically not life-threatening to your pets. The list has more than six thousand plants listed in it.

Some of the ASPCA toxic plants are as follows.

1. Marijuana: Consuming Cannabis sativa can lead to adverse effects in companion animals, such as depression of the central nervous system, coordination issues, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, increased heart rate, and potentially severe symptoms like seizures and coma.
2. Tulip/Narcissus Bulbs: The bulb portions of Tulipa/Narcissus spp. It contains toxins that may result in severe gastrointestinal irritation, profuse drooling, loss of appetite, central nervous system depression, convulsions, and cardiac abnormalities.
3. Kalanchoe: Kalanchoe contains substances that can cause gastrointestinal irritation and pose a risk to the heart, potentially leading to significant cardiac rhythm and rate disruptions.
4. Schefflera: Schefflera and Brassaia actinophylla have calcium oxalate crystals that can provoke oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips, and tongue in pets that ingest them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are spider plants poisonous for cats?

Fortunately, according to the ASPCA, this common household plant is non toxic to cats and dogs.

Are monstera toxic to cats?

Calcium oxalate crystals are present throughout the monstera plant, including the stems, leaves, roots, and even the unripe fruit. These crystals can harm your cat, so it's best to keep your furry friend away from all parts of the monstera plant.

What is the most poisonous plant to cats?

The lily is the most toxic plant, but there are other harmful flowers for cats both indoors and outdoors.