Numerous plants are hazardous or harmful to cats and kittens. Call your veterinarian if you find your pet eating any plants you’re not sure about.
Some of the most typical plants that are harmful for your cat or kitten to consume are listed below:
- Easter tulips
- Amaryllis
- Fall crocus
- Rhododendrons and Azaleas
- Cane toad
- Chrysanthemum
- Daffodils
- Dieffenbachia
- British Ivy
- Hyacinths
- Kalanchoe
- Lily
- Lysimachia of the Valley
- Marijuana
- Oleander
- Calm Lily
- Devil’s Ivy with Pothos
- Palm Sago
- Latin Thyme
- Tulip
- Yew
All of the aforementioned plants are poisonous to cats, but the lily may be the most hazardous. Cats that come into contact with the pollen from lilies and ingest it while grooming can develop kidney failure.
Make sure to keep your cut flowers, particularly lilies, in a room where they won’t come into contact with your cat if you have any in the house.
Can a cat have indoor plants in the house?
Please always check to see if your plants are poisonous as this list is not comprehensive! Also keep in mind that it would often take quite a bit of most plants for your cat to become ill.
25% of the cats in our Instagram Panel have consumed a poisonous plant at some point. Fortunately, for the majority of them, nothing happened, but most cats did vomit up the leaves they had consumed. Be cautious because there are tragic tales of cats dying after consuming plants (we frequently receive letters about it). Be safe rather than sorry!
Plants suggested by our panel’s plant- and cat-lovers: • Hanging plants; spider plants (out of reach, if your cat can reach it, they are attractive because of the movement) • Palm trees (some cats love to eat juicy sweet palm leaves, which destroys them) Olive trees and cacti (but their spines can harm cats!) succulents Haworthia and Echeveria; zamioculca • Peperomia (the taste repels cats!) Grasses, Tillandsia air plants, Calathea, Ferns, Strelitzia, and Calathea (mildly toxic) • Large-leafed plants (less tempting) • Maranta • Lemongrass • Staghorn ferns (which can be mounted and hung out of reach)
Our Instagram panel was consulted for advice on how to coexist peacefully with both cats and plants. These are their top advice and techniques:
- Start with non-toxic plants and watch how your cats interact with them. To preserve more harmful plants, keep some areas off-limits to cats. Put your plants on a refrigerator or plantshelfie or somewhere else where cats can’t get to them. Or in a space you can lock up when you’re not there to keep an eye on your cat’s antics. Where your cats cannot reach, suspend plants from the ceiling using plant hangers. Use wall-pots instead, but only if your cats aren’t too clumsy! Make sure there is no way for your cat to jump up there if you place a plant up high. There must be room for your cat on the #plantshelfie or else the planter can get knocked over. Make sure your plant containers are heavy enough to prevent your cat from knocking them over. If my cat were more of a curious taste tester, I’d advise placing the plants on higher shelves where cats can’t curl up next to them. For your cat to continue to feel that they are the owners of the house rather than you, create another perch location, as I like to call them. When they are little, teach them not to worry them. Behold a spray bottle’s might. A cat-hating essential oil can be found. Cats generally loathe citrus. Put a drop of citrus essential oil on each pot or around the space where you store your plants. This ought to discourage your cat from trying to play with, consume, or harm your plants in any other way. Give your feline pals their own wheat grass, cat grass, or catnip! Set this up at ground level next to your non-toxic plants so that they may easily get it (before they reach your expensive houseplants). Regularly prune growing plants to prevent them from becoming too long becoming cat toys. Maintain the more sensitive plants in terrariums. In order to prevent her from removing the plant from the water so she can drink it, I keep my plants that I am propagating in water safe for her as well. Because my cat enjoys playing with water, I also make an effort to avoid leaving any on my plant trays. Play with your cats to exhaust them. A content and worn-out cat will respect your plants. Chicken wire should be flattened and laid on top of the ground. This will stop your cat from making a big mess by digging up the dirt or by using it as a litter box. To partially cover the soil, you might also add some larger stones or diamonds. Make sure they have all they need and don’t use your plants as a litter box or a scratching post by providing a good scratching pole and a clean litter box. Accept the fact that your cats will eat (some of) your houseplants, and that certain cat scars won’t make them look their best. Acclimate yourself to your plants’ imperfections. After all, your cat also calls it home.
“Larger leaf plants, like the fiddle leaf, are preferable in my opinion because cats can’t really take care of them. Cats can benefit from certain plants! For them to chew on, I actually have an indoor herb garden. Their digestive systems will thank you!
“I had been hanging out with my cat after work for several hours when suddenly she perked up and we both heard a rustling in my living room plant collection. Before I left for work, the neighbor’s cat managed to enter and spend hours hanging out in my plants without our knowledge. In the wild, anything is possible.
“My kitties occasionally just really enjoy sniffing and leaf-peeping. Additionally, I’ve had cat grass and other plants that cats may eat from. The cat likes to be outside and in the wild, therefore I make an effort to surround them with plants and pine cones to bring out their natural side.
“Every time I bring a new plant home, which is rather frequently, my cat examines it for a while before looking at me and appearing to ask, “Really? yet another?”
“In front of a mirror, I placed the cat grass. My cat once nearly died when he saw another cat coming out of the plant where he regularly sticks his entire head to show his love and adoration. Poor person!
“We initially cultivated a cat lawn so that our cat could eat the grass; as a result, we neglected to consider the size of the low pot. He began to sleep there every day for a short period after we discovered him there one day when the grass was almost fully grown. Just seeing him alter the intended use of his gift was entertaining.
* “My boy cat is a real troublemaker. He admires “Plants’ leaves can be punched. He stands beside the plant and begins to beat the leaf with one paw, forcing it to fall. He keeps doing this until I become enraged and remove him from the plant. He constantly makes eye contact when he starts pounding because he knows how much I dislike it when he does so. Lol.
“My first-ever Spider plant offspring made me incredibly happy. After a few unsuccessful efforts, it eventually became rooted. I placed it in his own own tiny pot. The following morning, my cat Moos was sitting over my head and had brought me a gift. Yup! baby spider plant I have. ripped it out of the pot right away and used his teeth to destroy the roots. Sigh*. Since then, Moos has a penchant for tearing little plants out of the ground. As a result, the Ikea Socker greenhouse contains all of the newborn plants securely.
“For a very long time, our cat Simba’s favorite place was a planter with some old soil in it. There once was a Bromelia there, but he kicked it to death with his butt. Simba held his position since we hadn’t yet thought to throw it away. After some time, my husband commented, “I think Simba is breeding something,” and when we lifted his tail, a new Bromelia started emerging from the pot beneath his butt.
What plants should a cat owner avoid having?
One of the wonderful things about cats is that, unlike dogs, you typically don’t have to worry about them ingesting potentially harmful items. With the exception of their propensity for chomping on plants and flowers, one could say that they are more picky and refined. Some of which your cat may find to be really harmful. The following plants need to be kept away from your cat:
Lilies. “True lilies” (Stargazers, Tiger, Easter, and select daylilies) pose such a threat to cats that even a fleeting lick can result in possibly fatal acute renal failure. Your cat shouldn’t even be exposed to pollen or vase water.
Call your veterinarian right once if you believe your cat has consumed a harmful plant. Contact your local Animal ER or one of the following poison control hotlines if their office is closed: Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435.
Which plants itch cats the most?
Plants that irritate pets’ allergies
- Birchpollen.
- Oakpollen.
- Willowpollen.
- Poplarpollen.
- Bottlebrushpollen.
- Mulberry pollen without fruit.
- Contact of primroseskin with plant.
- Getting pollen from male plants on your skin (FYI: female plants produce berries)
Dust Mites
Dr. Ashley Rossman, DVM, CVA, of Glen Oak Dog & Cat Hospital asserts that dust mite allergies are more typical than you might realize. According to her, the three main airborne allergens that pets are vulnerable to are dust mites, mold, and pollen.
While each pet may react to dust mites differently and to differing degrees of severity, most animals will show signs of allergies to dust mites through their skin, according to Dr. Rossman.
“According to Dr. Rossman, they may experience itchiness, redness and inflammation of the skin, and finally develop dermatitis.
Your dog’s bed may cause an allergic reaction if you don’t wash it frequently.”
Dust mites can be found frequently in pillows, bedding, and carpets as well as in hard-to-clean spaces beneath couches or beds, according to Dr. Travis Arndt, DVM, assistant medical director at the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America.
Dog Bed Stuffing
“According to Dr. Arndt, although certain fabrics and materials in your pet’s bed may create an allergic reaction, it’s more likely that the dust mites are to blame.
“Although there are hypoallergenic beds available, it’s still vital to wash your pet’s bed periodically to get rid of dust mites and remove dead skin, according to the expert.
If it doesn’t work, Dr. Rossman advises looking to see if the bed was made of wool, down, or feathers, as these are more likely to trigger allergic reactions.
“Dr. Gary Richter, MS, DVM, CVC, CVA, who mixes conventional and holistic therapy modalities in his practice, adds, “I have also observed animals that have contact allergies to wool, found in carpets or occasionally bedding.”
Dr. Rossman claims “An allergic reaction is far less likely to occur when cotton is used exclusively.
Other Pets
It’s possible for your pet to acquire an allergy to new animals in the house “According to Dr. Arndt, pets can develop allergies to dander at any time in their life and can be allergic to a new animal, just like people.
Even while this isn’t a typical allergy, it does happen and can be worth investigating if you’re unable to identify any other potential explanations for your pet’s sensitivity, advises Dr. Arndt.
“Dr. Arndt says that since sensitive pets frequently react to multiple environmental triggers, it’s wise to consult your veterinarian about identifying the allergen before concluding that another pet is to blame.
Chemical Skin Irritants
According to Dr. Richter, household cleaners are among the most common causes of contact dermatitis.
“According to Dr. Richter, this is a good reason to use all-natural cleaners because they will be less likely to result in contact dermatitis.
Dr. Rossman advises that in addition to abrasive cleansers, you should be on the lookout for shampoos, detergents, soaps, and hair sprays as potential causes of pet allergies.
“To wash anything your pet sleeps on, search for organic, unscented detergents that are free from dyes and scents, advises Dr. Rossman, as some laundry detergents and soaps can make materials more sensitive and therefore cause an allergic reaction.
Dr. Arndt notes that the issue with contact dermatitis is that the amount of products used in many houses makes it impossible to pinpoint the exact origin of the condition.
Dogs who swim or relax by the pool are one of the most unexpected yet prevalent sources of contact dermatitis, according to Dr. Arndt.
Over time, prolonged exposure to the chlorinated pool water can result in an allergic reaction.
Indoor Plants
According to Dr. Arndt, there are numerous indoor and outdoor plants that could cause an airborne or contact allergic reaction in your pet. According to him, any flowering houseplant has the potential to make pets allergic. Seasonal itching, frequent grooming, rashes, sneezing, and eye discharge are typical symptoms.
No matter what kind of indoor plants you have, you should be aware that the potting soil may be home to mold, which can also make your pet allergic. Dr. Arndt advises against overwatering plants and to keep them in a well-ventilated, well-lit space in order to avoid mold growth in the soil.
Smoke
Dr. Richter notes that because smoke is a respiratory irritant, petscats in particular might be extremely sensitive to it. “He emphasizes that smoke of any kind, including smoke from cooking, can lead to problems.
According to Dr. Arndt, pets that live in households where people smoke cigarettes are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis, an allergic reaction that results in itchy skin. “According to him, breathing in the chemicals and allergens can cause asthma in some pets.
According to Dr. Rossman, other symptoms of an allergic response in your pet include shortness of breath, wet eyes, sneezing, or trouble breathing. Consult your veterinarian as soon as possible if you think your pet may be allergic or if they are having trouble breathing.