Household plants may undoubtedly add life to a space, but some of them are actually harmful to your dogs and even deadly if they consume them. The plants on the list below are dangerous to pets because of the toxic compounds they contain. All pet owners are advised to become familiar with these plants because they go by many different names. Additionally, it’s a smart idea to keep a first-aid kit on hand for your pet in case of any accidents.
Lilies
Although the Lily family of plants is highly diverse, some of its species are poisonous to dogs and cats. While the Stargazer and Easter Lilies are poisonous to both cats and dogs, the Mauna Loa, also known as the Peace Lily, is poisonous to both. In fact, cats may not survive if the Stargazer and Easter Lily are left untreated since it affects the cat’s kidneys and appetite. As for the Peace Lily, if it’s consumed, your dog or cat can start vomiting and struggle to swallow because of irritated lips and tongue.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a beautiful plant for people because of its ability to smooth skin, but it has the opposite effect on dogs who are kept as pets. The plant’s other parts can impair a dog’s digestive tract, but the leaves contain a form of gel substance that won’t hurt your pet if it is consumed.
Ivy (Hedera Helix)
We’ve all heard of poison ivy, but even common ivy, which is rather attractive, can be hazardous to dogs. If the plant is consumed, a dog might get a rash and/or have respiratory issues, but things might become lot worse because poison ivy can also cause paralysis or a coma.
Jade (Crassula Ovata)
The Jade plant is also known as Baby Jade, the Friendship Tree, the Dwarf Rubber Plant, the Chinese or Japanese Rubber Plant, and the Jade Tree. Whatever you choose to call it, make sure to keep your pet cat or dog away from it. Although the precise poisons in this plant are unknown, eating it can cause vomiting, ataxia (loss of coordination), bradycardia (slow heartbeat), and/or sadness.
Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
The poisonous plant Dieffenbachia is also known as Dumb Cane, Exotica, or Tropic Snow, and it is toxic to both dogs and cats. The poisonous chemicals in this plant can cause vomiting, trouble swallowing, burning/swelling of the mouth and tongue, as well as excessive salivation. It may occasionally result in respiratory problems or even death.
Elephant Ear (Caladium)
Other popular names for this vibrant plant species include Malanga, Via Sori, Pai, Taro, Cape, or Ape. Because the compounds in it are comparable to those in Dieffenbachia, the reactions are practically identical. As a result, your pet may experience oral issues, increased salivation or drooling, vomiting, and swallowing issues.
Pothos/Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum Aureum)
The plant, also known as Satin or Silk Pothos, can irritate the mouth and tongue and is poisonous to both dogs and cats. Your pet may also experience nausea, increased salivation, and trouble swallowing. The plant can produce symptoms that are similar to those of Philodendron.
This strange-looking shrub can harm your dog in all of its parts. This applies to everything—leaves, roots, and even seeds. Every portion of the plant is deadly, and eating any of it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even liver failure.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas)
Your pet shouldn’t consume this plant because it may cause irritated reactions like diarrhea and vomiting.
This plant, also known as Emerald Fern, Emerald Feather, Sprengeri Fern, Lace Fern, and Plumosa Fern, is harmful to both dogs and cats. If the berries are consumed, the plant’s sapogenin toxin, which is present in the berries, can cause diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and skin inflammation.
Sowbread (Cyclamen)
This flowering plant will add color to any space, but dogs and cats should avoid it. When ingested, it may cause excessive salivation and drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, an irregular heartbeat, and/or seizures. In extreme situations, it may even be fatal.
There are a number of plant varieties that are suitable for your pet dog to use as decorations in your home because they don’t contain any toxic chemicals or toxins. Hens and Chicks, Burro’s Tail, Blue Echeveria, Ponytail Palm, and Bamboo are the most prevalent and well-liked of these.
How dangerous is pothos for felines?
Because there are so many various species of pothos plants available, they are incredibly easy to grow, and they have wonderful air-purifying properties. You might be wondering if pothos is harmful to cats. Pothos are harmful to cats, which is the unfortunate answer to your inquiry. Call your vet right away if you think your cat may have consumed any pothos plant parts.
Golden Pothos
The golden pothos plant, also known as the Ceylon creeper, money plant, hunter’s cloak, and devil’s ivy, is deadly to cats. Cat owners are urged to keep this one away from their feline companions because of the raphides and calcium oxalate in the plant. Golden pothos poisoning can cause oral discomfort, vomiting, and swallowing issues, among other symptoms. If your cat is exhibiting any of those signs and there is a chance that they came into contact with a golden pothos, you should call your veterinarian right once.
Neon Pothos
Neon Pothos is a great plant for a gardener searching for a flash of color because it has heart-shaped leaves that are a vibrant green color. You’ve probably wondered about neon pothos and cats. They’re as easy to care for as any home plant could be, and they have wonderful air-purifying properties. Unfortunately, it is not a good idea to combine neon pothos with cats because cats can become poisonous from it. Symptoms include skin irritation, mouth discomfort, vomiting, and trouble swallowing, which are similar to those of golden pothos poisoning. If you believe your cat has consumed any portion of a neon pothos, consult your veterinarian as soon as you can.
Are cats safe from pothos ivy?
Cats should not be around the pothos plant, also known as golden pothos, devil’s ivy taro vine, or ivy arum. Crystals of calcium oxalate can be seen in the stems and leaves of pothos. If cats eat the plant that contains these minerals, they could get hurt. The soft tissues in the cats’ mouths, throats, and stomachs are penetrated by these crystals. Cats and pothos plants are thus a lethal combo.
Cat owners must exercise extra caution around various types of plants while cats are around because to the danger posed by Pothos plants. The virus has a very negative impact on cats’ health, even though they recover quickly after receiving the right care. The cats begin to display symptoms of the plant-borne illness shortly after chewing the plant. One of the most common ones is oral discomfort. After prolonged contact, the flowerless plant irritates people, demonstrating its toxicity.
What types of ivy are toxic to cats?
Hedera helix, also known as branching ivy, glacier ivy, needlepoint ivy, sweetheart ivy, and California ivy, contains triterpenoid saponins that can cause vomiting, gastrointestinal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea in animals if consumed.
How can I prevent my cat from accessing pothos?
Houseplants can also be made cat-proof by giving off an unpleasant odor. Houseplant leaves with cayenne pepper sprinkled on them will cause your cat to swiftly retreat. Citrus smells are also repulsive to cats. To help keep pests away, mix orange and lemon peels with your plants in the pots. Another choice is to directly mist the foliage with orange or lemon oil that has been diluted. IMPORTANT: Citrus oil extracts, such as those used in insecticide sprays, dips, shampoos, insect repellents, food additives, and scents, are poisonous to cats and should be avoided.
Many cat owners who have issues with their cats using plants as litter boxes may buy plants with unpleasant textures so that cats will reconsider their potty habits.
To avoid digging, you can also cover the soil near the bases of the plants with some large pebbles or stones. Cat deterrents could be used around the planter, such as pinecones or aluminum foil. Another choice is to use mesh, chicken wire, or any other permeable material to cover the plant’s base.
Don’t give up if you’re still having trouble keeping your cats away from your plants. There are still some other choices.
- To keep cats out, create a plant room and seal the door. For this, sunrooms are ideal, but sunny bedrooms or baths will do.
- Use wire shelving units to enclose the plants. Although this will help safeguard the plants, very daring cats might still find a way to get their paws inside.
- Why not offer the cat some safe plants as a sort of sacrifice in addition to concentrating on indoor plants cats avoid? Cats adore lemon balm and catnip. Place a few in sturdy plastic pots and scatter the sacrifice plants around the home, keeping them away from your other plants. This will keep your annoying cat busy and could prevent damage to some of your other plants.
What can I do to stop my cat from destroying my plants?
Spring has here, and for many homeowners, this is the season when they decorate their houses with blooming flowers and lush green plants.
Sadly, if you have a cat, they may be especially tempted to eat these plants when you’re not home. While some may be safe for your pet, others could put him or her at risk of poisoning or a variety of other feline health issues. Fortunately, there are some strategies you can employ to stop your cat from eating your houseplants and incorporate these design suggestions for a cat-friendly home.
Utilize chili powder.
Sprinkle some chili powder on the leaves of a non-toxic plant in your home if your cat won’t leave it alone and you want to deter this behavior. You’ll soon discover that your cat will completely shun the plant if you just lightly coat it with the spice. In the weeks after applying the chili powder, be sure to water your plants from the bottom to avoid the spice from washing off. Last but not least, you may also wrap aluminum foil around your potted plants to discourage cats from stepping on them in the future.
If I have a cat, may I have pothos?
Office workers love pothos since it is a low-maintenance plant and is recommended as a fantastic starting plant. But is this cheerful plant harmful to animals? When cats or dogs gnaw on the leaves or stems of pothos, they become poisonous.
If you have animals, you might want to choose a different plant unless you can keep the curious animals away from this one. If the cat is not a jumper, high up on a shelf or on top of a china cabinet would work.
Contact your veterinarian for advice on what to do for your pet or to determine whether it requires an emergency visit if you see that it has consumed some of a pothos plant. If so, take a sample of the plant with you.
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 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.
Are cats poisonous to all types of pothos?
Unfortunately, cats of all types, sizes, ages, and forms are toxic to pothos plants. Cats are poisoned by calcium oxalate crystals, which are present in both the stems and leaves of the plant. It is known that this material interferes with a cat’s ability to adequately digest food by affecting the soft tissues of the cat.
The chemical calcium oxalate crystals that this type of plant contains might induce tongue sensitivity that may influence your pet cat’s appetite and dietary intake even if it is not dangerous to a cat’s internal organs. In addition to breathing issues, calcium oxalate can make you feel generally worn out. A cat that has been exposed to the poisons of a Pothos plant may die if the issue is not treated by a licensed veterinarian.
What plant doesn’t harm cats?
This plant is popular among veterinarians and is simple to cultivate indoors. It is also remarkably tough (yes, even to your black thumb!). Spider plants can help remove toxins from your home because they are excellent air purifiers.
Care guidelines:
Direct sunshine doesn’t agree with spider plants (it scorches their leaves). While they may survive in lower light levels, they thrive best in indirect strong light at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F.