Popular Plants That Are Toxic To Cats

Have you ever brought a plant home, only to find your feline buddy immediately started gnawing on its leaves? Cats are carnivores, but they do enjoy some greens and fiber now and then. Unfortunately, kitties don’t know what is and isn’t safe for them. This behavior of eating non-food items isn’t unique to cats; dogs can also exhibit similar behavior. If you’re a dog owner, you might be interested in learning about Pica in Dogs. For cat owners, it’s important to know that quite a few popular houseplants are actually toxic to Fluffy. A local vet lists a few plants for cat owners to avoid in this article.

Lily

This one is particularly concerning at this time of year, as many people like to include lilies in their spring bouquets. Peace lilies are actually extremely toxic to our feline friends, to the point where even drinking a little of the water could make your kitty very sick. Other lilies that are poisonous for Fluffy include the Asiatic lily, Day lily, Japanese Show lily, Rubrum lily, Tiger lily, and Wood lily, along with many hybrids. Lily of the Valley, though not an actual lily, is also unsafe.

Eucalyptus

As you may know, eucalyptus is often used in aromatherapy, and is a popular scent for candles and scented oil. Just keep eucalyptus and eucalyptus products away from your furry friend. Otherwise, Fluffy could develop signs like drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Devil’s Ivy

Often called pothos, or golden pothos, Devil’s ivy contains tiny crystals called insoluble calcium oxalates. These seriously burn Fluffy’s mouth, and can cause drooling, vomiting, lack of appetite, and trouble swallowing.

Tulips

Another popular spring flower, tulips are also very dangerous to our feline overlords. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Other bulbed flowers, such as daffodils, irises, and hyacinths are also unsafe. In fact, you can generally consider anything with a bulb to be toxic to your cute pet. That includes garlic, onions, chives, and scallions, too!

Philodendron

Like the Devil’s ivy, and many other plants that belong to the Araceae group, such as oleanders, philodendrons also contain calcium oxalate crystals, and are definitely not kitty-safe.

Tips

If you aren’t certain whether your plants are safe for your cat or not, check the ASPCA site here. This is also a handy site to pull up while you’re at a greenhouse or plant sale. Just keep in mind that many plants go by several names. We also recommend keeping the number for the Pet Poison Helpline on hand. That number is 800-213-6680. (Charges may apply.)

Please contact us, your local veterinary clinic in Peterborough, ON, anytime. We’re here to help! If your pet is showing symptoms after plant exposure, or if you’re concerned about Pet Allergies and Veterinary Dermatology issues, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional advice and care.