Harmful poisonous houseplants and flowers for cats

The Internet is replete with lists of poisonous houseplants, but all lists are far from complete. It is not possible to cover everything. This makes it easier for cat owners to review the plants they already own for health risks to their cats, rather than trying to memorize long lists.

Not all plants listed as dangerous for cats cause serious poisoning. Therefore, you should not get carried away with these lists. But every cat lover should know about deadly plants.

Every cat lover should also be aware that it is better to be on the safe side than to be under-dressed: in any case, plants should be kept away from cats, since most indoor plants are poisonous to one degree or another.

Many garden and field plants can also cause poisoning of greater or lesser severity in a cat. Most owners are confident that if they take their cat out into nature, it will find useful grass on its own. This is not entirely true. Cats rely on smell and taste and sometimes make mistakes. Sometimes a mistake costs them their lives: plants can be treated with pesticides. Some summer residents scatter rat poison throughout their plots. These poisons are such that the cat's senses do not perceive them as dangerous. Both cats and dogs are often poisoned and die.

Below is a list of the most common poisonous plants. Remember that most of the plants mentioned here have many varieties and species, and different species of the same plant (genus) can differ markedly from each other. If the plants standing on your windowsill are not similar to those you see here in the pictures, this does not mean that your plants are not poisonous! Find out what your indoor flowers are called and it’s better to check not with the pictures, but with the names (1st column).

List of dangerous plants and consequences

Poisonous indoor plants and flowers for cats are found in every third apartment, which pet owners are not aware of.
The final effect depends on the amount and type of active agent in the structure of the leaves or stem. This could be vomiting, fever, bowel dysfunction, or more serious problems. The eagerness of cats to gnaw flowers is not explained by increased interest or disobedience, but by cleansing the stomach of accumulated waste and toxins. The animal does not distinguish between useful and dangerous species, so the opposite effect often occurs.

There are several ways of infection. The most common is the consumption of leaves, flowers or stems of poisonous plants. Toxins also enter the stomach after drinking water from pot stands or eating soil. Particularly dangerous species infect an animal after physical contact with its fur or skin.

Flower shops rarely contain information regarding the toxicity of products, so before bringing a new plant into your pet’s home, find out in detail what effect it will have on the pet and all residents of the apartment.

The table groups the most common indoor plants that pose a threat to your pet.

This is not a complete list of indoor plants harmful to cats, but all have similar side effects (swelling of the mucous membranes and larynx, diarrhea, vomiting, malaise, suffocation), the most dangerous ones being fatal.

The result will make itself felt after your cat tries one of the following plants:

• hippeastrum;
• zephyranthes;
• Eupharis;
• monstera;
• dieffenbachia;
• syngonium;
• oleander;
• mandevilla;
• Ardenia jasmine;
• Christmas Day;
• dracaena marginata;
• Usambara violet;
• peperomia, etc.

When poisonous houseplants and flowers for cats are discovered, remove them out of the cat's reach. If this is not possible, it is better to get rid of the plant. Be careful with calla lilies, sprenger ferns, crotons, and asparagus.

What other flowers should you stay away from?

Keep your kitten away from amaryllis, a poisonous flower; it causes convulsions, vomiting, increases salivation, and makes you feel depressing. The popular home flower Kalanchoe provokes dyspeptic disorders. After spathiphyllum, the mucous membranes become inflamed.

Schefflera will cause dermatitis on the skin, and euphorbia will cause conjunctivitis. The latter contains the potent poison euphorbine, which leads to nervous disorders and blindness.

For residents of the private sector whose pet loves to walk outside, it is important to know that trouble can also await them in their garden beds. Do not plant crocuses, pansies, calendula, oleander, daisies, poppies, tobacco, oregano, or dogwoods in your yard.

Instead, grow harmless asparagus officinalis, fittonia, basil, phlox, gerbera, lavender, and oregano. Decorate your yard (and at the same time nourish your cat's body with fiber, vitamins and minerals) by planting lovage, phalaenopsis, Russell's eustoma, passionflower, and Saintpaulia.

Are bouquets dangerous?

Having dealt with poisonous houseplants and cat flowers growing in pots on your windowsills, it’s worth noting that bouquets can also be dangerous. Lilies, chrysanthemums, tulips or lilies of the valley, once they enter the animal’s oral cavity, disrupt movement, cause dermatitis, and indigestion.

The leaves and roots of irises provoke vomiting and diarrhea, and hyacinths contribute to the development of heart failure. Snowdrops cause allergies, stomach upset, and if a large amount of the plant enters the body, cardiac arrest.

Daffodils are characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, kidney and heart failure (bulbs, leaves and flower stalks are especially dangerous for cats). Gladioli lead to bleeding, certain types of lilac reduce appetite and weaken kidney function. If irises or calla lilies appear in the house, remove them away from the kitten, otherwise diarrhea, swelling of the larynx and irritation of the mucous membranes are guaranteed.

Ficus

Ficus is an ornamental plant that decorates many homes. It has gained recognition due to the lack of difficulties in growing and its appearance, which can diversify even the simplest interiors. The houseplant, also known as ficus, comes in many varieties.

Any variety of this plant will irritate both your skin and the mucous membranes of your pet's digestive tract.

• Easy to grow, ficus comes in many varieties, all of which are dangerous for cats. It can irritate your pet's skin and digestive tract.

All varieties of ficus are poisonous to cats.

First aid

Every cat owner should know how to act if an animal is poisoned by flowers. Provide first aid immediately, otherwise intoxication will intensify, and it will be more difficult to eliminate the manifestations of poisoning later. If you notice any oddities in your cat’s behavior or well-being, follow the algorithm:

1. Give her a detoxification sorbent (for example, Polysorb, Adsorbent).
2. Take the animal to the veterinarian as quickly as possible. Tell the doctor the name of the plant that poisoned the kitten (this will help make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment).
3. Clean with soda solution (1 teaspoon per glass of warm water).
4. To lavage the stomach, induce vomiting by introducing a warm solution of salt water. But you can resort to such a radical method only after consultation with a specialist.
5. Inflammation in the larynx and other parts of the mouth is neutralized with a milk mixture with the addition of protein and oil (injected with a syringe).
6. Before going to the doctor, you can “rinse” your stomach with a solution containing activated charcoal.

Ignoring malfunctions in the cat's body leads to toxins accumulating, depressing the functioning of the kidneys or causing gastric bleeding. If the slightest disturbance appears after the kitten has absorbed the leaves or stems of a flower from the windowsill (or vase), take the cat to a veterinary hospital.

Pet treatment

To relieve intoxication, you should induce diarrhea in your pet using vegetable oil.
First aid is to prevent toxins from entering the cat's blood. If your pet is not vomiting, then you should induce a gag reflex using ordinary warm water, which, in addition, will reduce the concentration of poisons in the stomach. If vomiting occurs on its own, then it cannot be prevented, just like diarrhea, since these processes are aimed at self-purification. If there is no diarrhea, it should also be induced with vegetable oil. For an adult pet, 2-3 tbsp is enough. l. It is necessary to give the animal liquid, securing it well in a position on its side. The most suitable period for manipulation is considered to be the excitation phase, or when the animal is still able to move independently. In this case, you need to observe personal safety measures, since in a gloomy state the cat can

A cat that has been poisoned by a dangerous plant is given adsorbents, for example, activated carbon, in order to neutralize and remove toxic substances from the body. Depending on the weight of the pet, experts recommend 2-5 tablets, divided for convenience into 2-4 parts, but not crushed. Coal should be given at intervals of 3-4 hours. An animal that has been poisoned by dangerous plants must be shown to a specialist. If possible, tell the veterinarian exactly what plant the animal was poisoned with so that proper and effective treatment can be prescribed.

How to tell if a cat has been poisoned

The first symptoms indicating intoxication:

• poor appetite;
• impaired body movements;
• drying of mucous membranes;
• lethargy (the kitten loses interest in games, spends more time in solitude, often sleeps);
• difficulty breathing (wheezing may occur);
• paralysis;
• vomit;
• bowel dysfunction;
• increased salivation.

Each cat goes through this process differently. If in one case the symptoms appear several hours after ingestion of the harmful plant, then in another situation the poisoning is protracted and chronic. How quickly the consequences will be felt depends on the amount of weed eaten. You cannot do without medical intervention, because it is possible to completely cure a cat only with drug therapy or in an inpatient setting.

Memo to the owner

Observant owners have noticed that cats also have an irresistible curiosity about new plants brought into the house. They love to smell them, play with them, touch them with their paws, or, most dangerously, taste them. They also recorded a love for citrus fruits, although they hate their aroma. Therefore, when purchasing flowers and herbs, it is advisable to obtain information about each plant to ensure their safety for pets. Here you already have to choose what you love most: flowers or cats. It is best to learn the properties of all plants than to deal with the consequences.

In addition to playing, cats eat suitable flowers to increase the amount of minerals and vitamins. While eating useful plants, cats may stumble upon dangerous ones. Therefore, in order to protect the lives of cats, it is necessary to create an atmosphere of calm and security. And to do this, you need to destroy those herbs in the garden and in the house that can lead to poisoning or death of the animal. It is also important to remember that fertilized soil or soil treated with beetles near plants can have a negative effect on them.

How to save a flower without harming your cat

Owners do not always want to part with poisonous indoor plants and flowers for cats, especially with an expensive, rare species or a valuable gift. What to do without causing damage to the cat’s health? The following precautions will help:

• place pots with poisonous flowers on the top shelves or on cabinets where the animal will definitely not reach;
• periodically spray the leaves of the plants with lemon juice (any other citrus will do) or put the fruit slices/zest directly into the pot - cats don’t like strong fruity aromas, so they definitely won’t go near the pot;
• Another bitter “anti-rodent” will also work: for educational purposes, spray the stem and leaves with the liquid;
• Place cacti in smaller pots around the cat’s main “enemy” in a pot, thereby creating a “thorny fence” (however, there is still a risk of the cacti tipping over);
• treat the windowsill with vinegar solution;
• hang plants on special plastic holders for pots;
• leave flowers in the loggia without letting the kitten in;
• alternate plants, growing species with a persistent aroma (tangerine, coleus dog, kincan) next to dangerous flowers;
• protect from small kittens with thick curtains, through which the cats will not be able to get to the potty;
• development of a reflex - a radical method of weaning a pet from chewing leaves and stems, consists of spraying the cat with a spray bottle immediately after he starts chewing the greens (after a couple of weeks of such prevention, the cat will forget the way to the desired flower).

In order not to deprive your pet of the pleasure of eating greens, buy special grass for cats at the pet store. It grows all year round. At the same time, you will be calm about the animal’s well-being, and the kitten will receive a complex of necessary vitamins and will not harm your favorite flower.

Safe window sill landscaping

Poisonous indoor plants and flowers for cats should not be in close proximity to the animal. Flora connoisseurs who don’t want their windows to be empty replace toxic plants with safe ones:

• ficus;
• arrowroot;
• chlorophytum;
• sago palm;
• indoor rose;
• violet;
• Coleus

There are fewer harmless plants than prohibited ones, but there is plenty to choose from. The correct selection of indoor flowers will not only decorate the interior, but will also provide the cat with a useful garden. Pamper your pet with catnip, thyme, wheat, thyme, camellia, peperomia, argent or indoor grapes. Toys made from dried flowers will delight your cat, and the animal’s gratitude will know no bounds.

Precautionary measures

If the owner does not know whether dracaena is poisonous or not for cats, then he does not need to grow this flower in the house. You should always remember which flowers are poisonous to cats and which are not. It is advisable to keep only non-poisonous plants in the house, such as arrowroot, roses, coleus, cacti, catnip, violets (but not uzambara), cereals, basil, mint, thyme, lettuce, parsley. If, after all, there is a dangerous flower in the apartment, then it must be placed in the most inaccessible place for the cat.

Following safety measures and choosing the right home flora is a great way to decorate your interior without harming your pet. But before buying, you need to read the description of the flower and check the prohibited list.