Lilies
Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and even small ingestions can lead to kidney failure and death. All parts of the lily plant are poisonous, including the leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase holding lilies. Even nibbling a small amount can be fatal. Keep all varieties of lilies including Easter, Asian, Japanese, and Tiger lilies away from cats.
Some signs of lily poisoning in cats include vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and dehydration. Seek veterinary care immediately if ingestion is suspected.
Aloe Vera
The gel from aloe vera plants can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in cats. Thankfully, aloe toxicity is generally mild, but ingesting large amounts can potentially lead to more dangerous secondary issues like electrolyte imbalances. Keep aloe vera out of reach of curious cats.
Chrysanthemum
Both garden chrysanthemums and florist chrysanthemums can cause mild to moderate gastric distress in cats. Diarrhea, vomiting, hypersalivation, and lack of appetite are common symptoms upon ingestion. These plants contain pyrethrins that are toxic to cats.
Sago Palm
All parts of sago palms, including the seeds/nuts, leaves, and flowers are extremely poisonous to cats. Ingesting even small amounts can cause vomiting, seizures, liver failure, and death. Make sure to keep sago palms in an area inaccessible to cats.
Lilies of the Valley
The convallatoxin contained in lily of the valley plants can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, a slow heart rate, and possibly heart arrhythmias in cats. Even water from the vase holding these flowers can be dangerous.
Tulips
The bulbs of tulips contain toxins that can lead to intense salivation, diarrhea, vomiting, and depression when consumed by cats. Keep pots of tulips and gardens where bulbs are planted safely away from curious cats.
Daffodils
Daffodils contain lycorine, a toxic alkaloid that causes vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and cardiac arrhythmias in cats if ingested. All parts of daffodils are toxic to cats.
Oleander
All parts of oleanders are poisonous to cats including the leaves, flowers, stems, and sap. Consuming even small amounts can lead to digestive upset, abnormal heart rate, hypothermia, and even death. Keep oleanders strictly outdoors when you have indoor cats.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons
These brightly colored shrubs contain grayanotoxins which affect sodium channels in feline cells. Ingestion can cause vomiting, drooling, weakness, paralysis, and in some cases, coma or death. Avoid keeping these plants indoors and fence off any outdoor azalea bushes.
Cyclamen
The roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of cyclamen plants contain saponins that can irritate a cat’s digestive system. Ingestion leads to salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Although not usually fatal, large ingestions require prompt veterinary treatment.
English Ivy
The leaves and berries of English ivy contain glycosides that cause localized irritation in the mouth and gastrointestinal issues when consumed. Drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea are common. Only grow English ivy outdoors away from cats.
Peace Lily
Peace lily plants contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause mouth pain, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing upon ingestion. Kidney dysfunction can also occur after consuming any part of a peace lily. Keep these toxic plants out of paws’ reach.
Philodendron
The calcium oxalate crystals found in philodendrons can lead to immediate pain, swelling, and damage in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats. The toxicity generally causes only localized irritation but ingesting large amounts warrants a vet visit.
Pothos
Pothos plants contain insoluble calcium oxalates that can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing when ingested by cats. Thankfully, pothos toxicity is relatively mild and self-limiting. Keep plants hung out of reach of cats.
Yew
Every part of yew plants except for the red fleshy aril surrounding the seed is toxic to cats. Consuming even small amounts can cause trembling, muscle rigidity, respiratory failure, collapse, and sudden death. Yews should never be kept in homes with cats.
Autumn Crocus
Ingesting any part of the autumn crocus plant can lead to oral pain, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, liver and kidney damage, respiratory depression, and heart arrhythmias in cats. Just nibbling on a leaf or flower can be extremely dangerous. Avoid growing this plant if you have indoor cats.
Castor Bean
The beans and leaves of castor plants contain ricin, an extremely toxic compound. Consuming even a small amount can lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, severe dehydration, tremors, seizures, and death in cats. Keep castor bean plants strictly outdoors and away from cats.
Hyacinth
Consuming hyacinth plants can cause intense drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats. Large ingestions can lead to tremors, seizures, and even coma. Cats are especially attracted to the flower blooms and water from the vase, so keep hyacinths out of reach.
Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
Dumb cane contains calcium oxalate crystals and dieffenbachia toxin that lead to painful swelling, drooling, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and nausea upon ingestion. The level of toxicity depends on the amount consumed. Only grow this plant outdoors away from cats.
Elephant Ears
The leaves of elephant ear plants contain calcium oxalate crystals and proteolytic enzymes that cause intense burning and irritation in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing in cats. Left untreated, more severe issues like electrolyte abnormalities, muscle spasms, and kidney damage can occur. Do not keep indoors if you have cats.
Dragon Tree (Dracaena)
Ingesting dragon tree leaves can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, weakness, and dilated pupils in cats. Thankfully, a lethal dose is quite large but dragon trees are still best kept out of reach of curious cats. Any ingestion warrants a vet visit.
Schefflera
Schefflera plants contain calcium oxalate crystals which can cause minor oral irritation, hypersalivation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing when ingested by cats. Always keep schefflera out of reach of indoor cats. The toxicity is relatively mild but prompt veterinary care is still advised if any part is consumed.
conclusion
Many common and attractive houseplants pose a major risk for cats. Their naturally curious nature and tendency to nibble on greenery inevitably leads to poisonings each year. While some plants cause only minor irritation, others can result in severe organ damage and rapid death. Knowing which houseplants are toxic is key to keeping your curious cats safe. Always keep dangerous plants strictly outdoors or in an area cats can never access. Seek immediate veterinary care if you suspect your cat has ingested any part of a toxic plant. With vigilance and by removing hazardous plants from your indoor and outdoor spaces, you can help prevent tragic and unnecessary cat poisonings.
FAQs
Which houseplants are the most toxic to cats?
The most dangerous houseplants for cats include lilies, sago palm, oleander, azaleas/rhododendrons, yew, autumn crocus, castor bean plant, and dumb cane. Even small ingestions of these plants can be fatal without swift treatment.
How do I cat-proof my houseplants?
The best ways to cat-proof houseplants include hanging them completely out of reach, placing them in rooms cats are not allowed access to, using pet barriers or sills for raised surfaces, training cats to avoid plants, and spraying leaves with deterrents like citrus or perfumes.
What are symptoms of plant poisoning in cats?
Common symptoms of plant poisoning in cats include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, weakness, tremors, seizures, and collapse. Even mild symptoms warrant an immediate trip to the vet.
What should I do if my cat ate a toxic plant?
If your cat ate a toxic plant, take them to the vet immediately. Depending on the plant, the vet may induce vomiting, administer activated charcoal, provide IV fluids, specific antidotes, or other supportive care. Swift treatment is vital for the best outcome, so do not wait to see if symptoms develop.
How can I safely enjoy flowers and houseplants with my cats?
Opt for non-toxic cat-safe alternatives like African violets, roses, sunflowers, orchids, hibiscus, catnip, basil, marigolds, ponytail palm, and Boston ferns which can be safely kept where cats can access them. Always research a plant before bringing it home.
Why do cats eat houseplants?
Cats munch on houseplants because they are naturally curious, have a taste for greens, are attracted by smells, are seeking fiber or relief from stomach upset, want attention, are bored, or have a tendency to chew. Providing ample appropriate outlets for their needs is key to curbing the behavior.