Decorating with plants and flowers is a great way to beautify your home and yard, but some of your favorite foliage can be toxic to your feline friend. Before adding new greenery to your home or garden, read up on poisonous plants to cats so that you can keep your kitty safe.
Plants That Are Poisonous to Cats
From houseplants to garden plants, including vegetables and herbs, here is just a selection of plants and flowers toxic to cats:
1. Lilies: People tend to use "lily" as an all-encompassing term, but there are about 90 species in all, including the Asiatic lily, Easter lily and lily of the valley. What do they have in common other than a name? They're all poisonous plants to cats. In fact, they're one of the most toxic plants for your feline friend; ingestion can lead to immediate kidney failure.
2. Eucalyptus: Though rich in fiber, eucalyptus isn't part of a healthy diet — the leaves are toxic to most animals, except koalas and a few wild bird species.
3. Jade: Succulents, like jade, are the perfect option for those who don't have a green thumb because they're low-maintenance and beautiful. Unfortunately, jade is also one of several succulents that are poisonous to cats.
4. Milkweed: Planting milkweed in gardens has become a popular way to support monarch butterfly populations. However, the fruit of the milkweed plant is toxic to both wildlife and humans.
5. Onion: Onions are a staple of dinner tables around the globe, especially in China and India, the top two onion-producing countries. But onions, as well as garlic, leeks, scallions, chives and shallots, are toxic to many animals, including cats and dogs.
6. Tomato: The fruit of the tomato is harmless to your kitty, but its stem and leaves can be toxic. Add this to your list of people food not to give your cat.
7. Daffodils: These popular springtime annuals, with their deep yellow and white coloring, look terrific bunched together. But don't let their beauty deceive you. According to a study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal, daffodil flowers, leaves and bulbs can all be poisonous to cats.
8. Hyacinths: Sweet-smelling hyacinth flowers are native to the eastern Mediterranean. Close relatives include water hyacinths, native to Texas, and the tulip. Despite their beauty, these bulb flowers contain alkaloids that can be dangerous for your kitty.
9. Mistletoe: The practice of kissing under the mistletoe dates back to the 18th century. For cats, though, these plants don't lead to everlasting love but to serious health issues, including cardiovascular shutdown. Other holiday plants, like amaryllis, also pose problems for your cat's health and should be kept out of the house.
10. Mandrake: The flowering mandrake shrub originated in the Mediterranean region and has had a mythical reputation for centuries. But its toxicity isn't just folklore: The mandrake root is highly poisonous to cats (and to humans).
11. Azaleas: Part of the rhododendron family, an azalea is a small, deciduous species that is poisonous to cats, who can suffer gastrointestinal, cardiovascular or central nervous system issues, says the Pet Poison Helpline.
Other common plants that are toxic to cats include:
- Croton (Joseph's Coat)
- Caladium (Elephant Ear)
- Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
- Ficus (rubber plants, weeping and variegated fig plants)
- Philodendron
- Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)
- Oleander
- Poinsettia
- Christmas Cherry
- Holly Berries
Toxicity can vary based on the type of plant and how much is ingested. For instance, poinsettias, common during holiday seasons, have a mild toxicity to cats, however certain cats are particularly susceptible and, in most cats, certain amounts of consumption can result in clinical signs severe enough for medical treatment. If you're curious about getting a new plant for the home, but want to know if it is poisonous to your cat, the Pet Poison Helpline is a good resource to check against numerous types of plants.
Tasty Tips
Signs of Ingestion
Every plant toxin can cause a different reaction. For example, if your cat eats a plant in the onion family, it could harm your kitty's red blood cells and cause anemia, leading to weakness, reduced appetite and pale gums. If your cat consumes a jade plant, they might vomit or seem uncoordinated, according to the ASPCA.
While side effects differ depending on the specific plant, there are common signs of poisoning you can watch out for, including:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Disorientation
- Heart palpitations
- Loss of appetite
- Dilated pupils
- Excessive licking or scratching
Unless you catch your cat in the act, you may not know they've ingested toxic plant material. If your kitty exhibits any of these signs for an unknown reason and has access to plants or flowers poisonous to cats, contact your veterinarian right away.
If you suspect your cat has ingested poisonous plants, call your veterinarian immediately.
Hairballs are no fun. For you or your cat.
Hairballs are a fact of life for cats. But you can do something to help make them a little less frequent. Feed them Hill's Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Adult dry cat food, which supports the health of the whole urinary system and helps avoid hairball formation.
Hairballs are no fun. For you or your cat.
Hairballs are a fact of life for cats. But you can do something to help make them a little less frequent. Feed them Hill's Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Adult dry cat food, which supports the health of the whole urinary system and helps avoid hairball formation.
What to Do If Your Cat Ingests a Poisonous Plant
If you suspect your cat has ingested poisonous plants, call your veterinarian immediately. If your veterinarian isn't available, call a pet poison control center. Keep these phone numbers handy in the event of an emergency.
Unless a pet health professional tells you to do so, don't try to induce vomiting in your cat, emphasizes Vets Now — in some cases, it can be more dangerous for them to vomit whatever they consumed than to leave the toxin in their stomach. Always follow the veterinarian's specific instructions.
At the veterinary clinic, the veterinarian will perform an exam and any blood tests required to diagnose the poisoning and determine the treatment.
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Poison Prevention
Keeping your indoor kitty safe from plants poisonous to cats is fairly easy — don't bring toxic plants into your home, even if it means declining a gorgeous bouquet of flowers.
It gets a little trickier for outdoor cats, but there are ways you can reduce the chance of accidental ingestion. International Cat Care recommends that you remove the most dangerous plants from your garden and check if there are any potentially toxic plants in your neighbors' gardens. In the event that your cat gets sick, you'll be able to share the likely culprits with your veterinarian, which will allow them to better determine the cause of poisoning and the proper treatment.
Before sprucing up your home with fresh flowers and greenery, do some research and speak with your veterinarian to ensure that your choices don't include plants poisonous to cats. There are plenty of safe options, like African violets, jasmine and begonias, that are eye-catching and safe for your feline friend.
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Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.