Your feline friend surely loves exploring their surroundings as much as they like cozying up to you. So, if you have indoor plants, you must ensure that they are safe for your kitty. Certain poisonous plants for cats should be avoided at all costs if you have a cat at home. The following is a list of plants to keep away from your cat:
- Daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips: The Amaryllidaceae family consists of quite a few poisonous plants for cats. Typically, the plant, leaves, and flowers may cause gastric or digestive problems, but the bulbs of these plants are the most dangerous. If ingested, they may cause respiratory problems, or in some cases, even cardiac arrhythmia. So, it is best to avoid this family of plants for the safety of your pet. Yet, if you cannot avoid them, ensure that the unplanted bulbs are not lying around for your kitten to explore.
- Indoor plants like sago palm: Sago palms are quite popular when it comes to landscaping. The look and size also make them extremely attractive as indoor plants, but with a cat around, you must keep this plant away, as it is one of the most poisonous plants for cats. The sago palm’s seeds are the most toxic, but the plant itself can cause significant damage to your cat’s liver too. In some cases, this can be fatal, so this plant is best avoided.
- Kalanchoe or widow’s thrill: This is also a poisonous plant for cats. The Kalanchoe genus has about 125 different species, and these plants are vibrant, colorful, and offer succulent foliage, making them popular indoor plants. However, you should reconsider getting them if you have a cat at home. Just a few nibbles can make your cat experience severe symptoms arising from the toxic cardiac glycosides in the plant.
- Lilies: The entire genus of the lily plant is extremely dangerous for your cat. Day, Easter, Tiger, Stargazer, Japanese Show, and Rubrum are just some of the lilies that can cause trouble. Ingesting any part of these plants can cause kidney failure in cats, and complete degeneration can happen anywhere within 36-72 hours. It is not ingestion alone (negligible amounts are also equally dangerous) that you must be worried about, but even slight mouthing can cause serious trouble.
- Meadow saffron or autumn crocus: This plant is common and blooms with beautiful flowers during the fall season, and the alkaloid colchicine in the plant makes it extremely dangerous for cats. You should keep this plant away from cats as ingesting any part of the plant may lead to signs of gastrointestinal distress. Your pet might drool, vomit, or have a bad case of bloody diarrhea.
Ensure that you stay away from these poisonous plants for cats and use other greens or décor accents to liven up your home.