Despite not being fatally harmful to cats, Ficus lyrata is best avoided because it makes cats extremely uncomfortable. There are numerous other plants with lovely leaves that cats can safely consume.
So, with a little knowledge, you can keep your curious kitties content and safe while maintaining a beautifully decorated home with a wide range of plants.
How dangerous is Ficus lyrata to felines?
Can cats eat fiddle leaf figs? Cats should not consume fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata). The poisonous principle is an irritating sap that contains calcium oxalate crystals that, if consumed, can result with moderate dermatitis, mouth pain, and mild digestive distress.
Can cats eat fiddle leaf figs?
You want to liven up your home and demonstrate to your pals that you are “hip to the newest interior design trends (hint: indoor rainforests are trendy)” so you want to add some greenery. Before you buy that fancy fiddle leaf fig, huge cactus, or cut-leaf philodendron at the neighborhood nursery, keep in mind that your cat or dog will also be residing with and probably attempting to consume your newest plant-child. We conducted research to assist you in making plant selections that are secure for your pet family members!
Unexpectedly, some of the most common and accessible house plants are harmful to your dogs. Among many other plants, this list includes ficus, snake plant (mother-in-tongue), law’s philodendron, and the majority of cacti.
The most common offenders when it comes to chewing on indoor plants are cats. But pets are also in danger. Dogs can be poisoned by many of the same plants that can harm your cat. In addition, there is a chance that dogs will dig up and consume potentially harmful horticultural bulbs.
If consumed by cats or dogs, aloe vera is toxic and can result in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and tremors.
Mother-in-Tongue law’s (Snake Plant)
If consumed by cats or dogs, it is toxic and can result in diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
Philodendron
If consumed by cats or dogs, this substance is toxic and can cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, and trouble swallowing.
Anguished Fig Tree
Toxic to cats and dogs; when consumed, it can result in oral irritation, excessive drooling, and vomiting as well as dermatitis when the plant is in touch with the animal’s skin.
Fig, Fiddle Leaf
If consumed by cats or dogs, this substance is toxic and can cause vomiting, excessive drooling, and oral irritation.
LiliesThe majority of lily cultivars are hazardous to your pet. A freshly cut spring bouquet on your dining table may be lovely, but your cat or dog can view it more as a meal than a decorative item. For your pets, even a small nibble of the leaves or blossoms or a smell of the pollen from some types can be lethal.
Even though some lily kinds, like Peace and Calla, are not fatal to animals, they can nevertheless produce mild to severe poisoning symptoms in your cat. Excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, pawing at the mouth, loss of appetite, and mouth irritation are among the symptoms.
Easter, Tiger, Day, Japanese, and Stargazer lilies are examples of lilies that can cause renal failure. Vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive drooling, lethargy, dehydration, increased or decreased thirst and urination, stomach discomfort, and kidney failure are all symptoms of poisoning.
Get your pet to a veterinarian right once for treatment if you believe they may have ingested some harmful plant material or if you observe these symptoms in them.
What is a pet and plant lover to do then? There are several animal-safe plants available that can give your decor that contemporary, lush jungle feel!
Here are a few nice illustrations:
Majesty PalmA sizable indoor palm that prefers moist soil and 6 to 8 hours of bright light.
Fern in maidenhair
It needs consistent hydration (not sloppy dampness) and oblique morning or afternoon light to grow because it is delicate and picky.
Spider Plant is versatile and simple to grow. Your spider plant will thrive if you give it well-drained soil and bright indirect light.
Orchids
For an orchid to bloom, strong, indirect light, high humidity, airflow around the roots, and alternating periods of drying soil and heavy watering are desired. This varies based on the type.
Ferns, Staghorn
usually fixed on a piece of wood to allow air to circulate around the roots. This epiphyte benefits from humidity, bright indirect light, and consistent, but not soggy, wetness.
BambooA fast-growing plant, bamboo prefers moist soil with good drainage, lots of water, and five hours of direct sunlight each day.
Cast Iron Works
This plant, a member of the lily family, is not harmful to your pet. Maintain consistent soil moisture and expose it to bright to semi-bright light. It dislikes exposure to direct sunshine.
BromeliadAn ancestor of the pineapple, bromeliads appreciate monthly irrigation and bright, indirect light.
Perhaps you already have some of the listed hazardous plants, and your dogs get along just fine. Or perhaps, despite your pets’ interest, you lack the heart to give away your collection of cacti. Growing pet grass is one method for diverting your pets’ attention away from any potential threat. Once it has grown, put the grass next to your pet’s bowl to reward good behavior. The idea behind a pet herb garden is that some animals will intuitively consume plants that have medical benefits, such as peppermint to calm an upset stomach.
Another choice is to purchase a plant spray that is suitable for pets and has a harsh taste to discourage nibbling.
Is Ficus lyrata harmful to animals?
We’re sorry to break the news to you, but the fiddle leaf fig, one of the most notorious indoor plants on the Internet, is poisonous to dogs if consumed. The fiddle leaf fig is a medium- to large-sized houseplant with a thin trunk and huge fiddle-shaped leaves that is revered by both interior decorators and houseplant aficionados.
Unfortunately, eating fiddle leaf fig foliage might make your dog experience unpleasant symptoms like skin and gastrointestinal irritation. Bring a fiddle leaf fig outside if your dog likes to gnaw on plants.
What area of a fiddle leaf fig causes cats to become sick?
Latest revision:
Although fiddle leaf figs make stunning indoor plants, cats and dogs cannot handle them. The plant’s insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which resemble tiny needles, can have harmful side effects on your cat, including mouth irritation, frequent drooling, and difficulties eating.
It’s preferable to keep fiddle leaf figs outside of your house because they are so harmful to cats. You should at the very least put the plant in a difficult-to-reach area for your cat.
Do all ficus trees make cats sick?
Even though many of the houseplants on this list are fashionable and lovely, it’s a good idea to keep your dogs away from them.
The asparagus fern, also known as emerald feather, emerald fern, sprengeri fern, plumosa fern, and lace fern, is poisonous to dogs and cats. They can also induce vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain if swallowed, in addition to allergic dermatitis when exposed to the skin repeatedly. While the Boston Fern and Bird’s Nest Fern are safe for dogs, the asparagus fern is harmful to animals.
The exotic and gorgeous bird of paradise plant is harmful to animals. They are extremely dangerous for pets since their flower seeds have toxic tannins and their leaves have hydrocyanic acid.
This vine plant, also known as Nephthytis, Green Gold Naphthysis, African Evergreen, and Trileaf Wonder, contains insoluble calcium oxalates that, if consumed, can irritate the mouth, induce swelling, and make it difficult to swallow.
Pets and ficus plants do not get along. Common ficus houseplant species include Ficus elastica, Ficus lyrata, and Ficus maclellandii all have poisonous sap that can irritate cats and dogs’ skin and gastrointestinal systems. Keep your animal companions away from this dangerous plant species.
poisonous succulents
While some succulents are suitable for pets, others are not. The succulent kinds listed below are harmful to both cats and dogs:
- Aloe
- Jade
- Kalanchoe
- pearly whites
- (Mother-in-tongue) law’s Snake plant
Chinese Evergreen is poisonous to pets, just like other Araceae types, due to its insoluble calcium oxalates. They can irritate the mouth, produce pain and swelling in the mouth, and make it difficult to swallow if consumed.
Cats and dogs should not be exposed to croton plants since they can irritate their skin and digestive systems.
The saponins found in dracaena species like the dragon plant are poisonous to animals.
Although there are many philodendron variations, the split leaf and heart leaf philodendron are the most popular indoor varieties (aka Monstera). All philodendron kinds are poisonous to animals because they are members of the Araceae family.
The seeds, or nuts, of the sago palm are the most dangerous component of the plant, while all sections are thought to be deadly to animals. The cycasin found in sago palms has been linked to nausea, diarrhea, liver failure, convulsions, and lethargy.
Wandering jew plants, also known as Tradescantia zebrina, fluminensis, or pallida, are thought to be harmful to cats and allergen-producing to dogs.
Other Toxic Plants:
- Stupid Cane
- British Ivy
- Calm Lily
- Pothos
- Tetrasperm Rhaphidophora
- Yucca Tree
- Plant Z (Zamioculcas zamifolia)
You have it now! You may rest easy at night knowing that your pets are secure around your houseplants.
Are cats hazardous to spider plants?
Although deemed safe for cats, spider plants are not always safe from cats. Many felines simply can’t help themselves, as was already explained. There is a valid justification for this. Chemicals identified in spider plants are comparable to those in opium. Our feline friends experience a moderate psychedelic impact from these substances. Now that you know why Fluffy often appears fairly wide-eyed after consuming these plants, you can stop wondering.
Are cats poisonous to money trees?
The well-known Chinese money plant, Pilea peperomioides, is the ideal illustration of a simple and cat-safe plant. Pilea peperomioides is a wonderful first houseplant for novices because it is non-toxic to cats, dogs, other pets, and people, and it requires little care.
Give your Pilea plant a well-draining potting mix that still has some moisture in it to keep it healthy. Simple houseplant soil and a bit of perlite should do the trick! For this plant, it is best to maintain the soil fairly moist and in bright indirect light.
The Chinese money plant’s ease of propagation is one of its best qualities. Pups, or young plants, will emerge from the earth around the mother plant. To make brand-new plants, you can take these and pot them separately.
A Pilea peperomioides is available for purchase. The Pilea care manuals contain further details about this houseplant.
Are cats poisoned by monstera?
Some of your indoor plants are just not safe if you have pets or young children, which is a sad but inevitable realization in the road of becoming a plant parent. While many common genera of houseplants are stunning to look at, many of them are moderately or seriously hazardous. Still others, when handled excessively, can irritate the skin.
The good news is that with enough preparation, you can determine which dangerous houseplants to stay away from, evaluate the risk to your family and pets, and still enjoy a lively and stunningly green collection of indoor plants.
Here are 10 toxic houseplants that, while we love them, should be used with caution if your children or pets will have access to them. A word of clarity, though, is in need before we proceed: “toxic is a relative term, and the severity of a reaction will depend largely on the level of exposure (amount consumed), which plant species, and the specifics of your pet. Some poisonous houseplants cause short-lived, acute symptoms (such as vomiting). Some can have more serious, life-threatening effects if swallowed in excess, while others only irritate the skin. This list is by no means intended to be comprehensive, so we strongly advise conducting additional research (ASPCA has a great database for pet owners).
Poisonous Houseplants for Pet Owners and Parents to Avoid
- Starting with one of the biggest players, Philodendron (and Monstera) is a vast genus of tropical plants that is particularly well-liked for usage inside because of its great variety of growing habits, leaf shapes, and colors. Plants in this genus are poisonous to dogs and cats as well as somewhat toxic to humans. Oral irritation, soreness and swelling in the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and trouble swallowing are all signs of exposure.
Are cats safe around snake plants?
Sansevieria trifasciata, sometimes known as the snake plant, is a very common indoor plant since it requires very little maintenance. The ASCPA cautions that cats are poisonous when using it. When swallowed or chewed, the chemical components in snake plants known as saponins cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats.
What to do: Snake plants are less hazardous to cats than aloe, so avoid them. If your cat is displaying symptoms and you feel they are related to chewing on or eating a snake plant, call your veterinarian or a helpline right once. Instructions will be given to you in accordance with how serious your symptoms are.
Change it: The caeroba is a non-toxic plant with a snake plant-like appearance. It’s even occasionally referred to as a “rattlesnake plant.” It still has that lovely winding aspect, but it’s less thick and more billowy than sturdy and straight.
Do fiddle leaf figs make healthy houseplants?
Ficus lyrata is one of our most popular plants at Flora Grubb Gardens, our nursery in San Francisco, and we almost always have it in stock. Come get yours right now! Continue reading for advice on how to grow and take care of these plants.
The fiddle-leaf fig, or Ficus lyrata, is the ideal interior specimen plant. The plant has erect, violin-shaped leaves that are enormous, densely veined, and tall. Our retail plant shop in San Francisco almost always has Ficus lyrata on hand.
These plants are indigenous to the tropics, where they flourish in hot, muggy weather. As a result, the home grower may find it difficult to replicate these steamy circumstances, making them a little more difficult. Fortunately, they are rather resilient plants that can endure less-than-ideal conditions for a fair amount of time. Last but not least, F. lyrata are really produced as larger specimen plants. If you can place them in a floor-standing planter that will allow the plant to grow to at least 6 feet, that would be ideal. In tropical settings, trees frequently reach heights of 40 feet or more. These are not naturally trimmed down to reasonable sizes due to their enormous leaves, though they can be shaped with light trimming.
Ficus lyrata plants don’t require much maintenance. Spotting on the leaves, which is particularly obvious in a plant with such huge leaves, is one of the most prevalent complaints about these plants. This spotting is typically brought on by a leaf injury, such as mechanical harm or a mite infestation. When exposed to air, the sap of Ficus lyrata can produce these brown patches. The plants are also vulnerable to a number of leaf-spotting and fungus diseases, which are often brought on by poor air circulation and an excessive amount of moisture that collects on the leaves. By keeping the plant well-trimmed and eliminating any dead leaves or twigs that you spot, you can assist stop this form of attack.
However, if your plant is dropping leaves, it’s probably due to inadequate moisture at the roots, low humidity, and cold, dry air. To raise the surrounding humidity, try spraying the plant frequently. Finally, because these plants are particularly sensitive to high salt concentrations, flush your potting soil completely on a regular basis, preferably once a month, to avoid salt buildup.
Pests include aphids, mealybugs, mites, scale, and whiteflies can harm Ficus lyrata. If at all feasible, locate the infestation as soon as you can and use the least hazardous remedy.
Repotting: Healthy specimens have vigorous, quickly developing roots (which is pretty typical for any ficus). Try to repot the plant once a year, increasing the pot size by two to four until the plant is the required size or you can no longer handle the container. After placing plants in large containers, remove the top few inches of soil and replace it once a year with new potting soil.
Advice: Avoid often turning or moving this plant. The plant should be placed permanently, and to keep it clean, use an old T-shirt to dust it. As necessary, stake and prune. Only leaves facing the light will remain on Ficus lyrata; ones facing a darker wall or corner will wither away. If you move or reposition your ficus, be prepared for leaf loss.
Ficus lyrata need strong, filtered light. Even a little sun won’t kill them, especially if they’re in an eastern-facing window. When housed in a too-dark environment, plants won’t develop quickly.
Water: Keep it moist, but don’t let it stand in water because that will cause it to lose leaves and develop root rot.
Fertilizer: For plants that are not in ideal conditions or are recuperating from stress, apply Maxsea All Purpose Fertilizer seasonally and up to monthly.