Spring is officially here! With the warmer weather, lots of beautiful houseplants are in season. However, did you know that many common houseplants are toxic for cats? If your cat ingests one of these plants poisonous to cats, they may show symptoms like vomiting, drooling, difficulty swallowing or lethargy. To avoid a trip to the vet, here are five toxic houseplants for cats that you should keep out of your home, plus cat-safe plants you can choose instead.
Toxic: Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has many benefits from removing harmful pollutants to purifying the air in your home. Despite its benefits, this plant can cause several issues if a cat decides to have a snack. This toxic houseplant contains saponins and anthraquinones, two compounds that protect the plant from insects, fungi, and animals.
Non-Toxic: Haworthia Zebra
A cat-safe alternative to Aloe vera is the Haworthia Zebra. This striped succulent has the same care maintenance as Aloe vera, with the succulent being drought resistant and thriving in direct sunlight. The Haworthia Zebra is smaller than aloe vera, however, it’s a small inconvenience compared to your cat’s health.
Toxic: English Ivy
English Ivy is a popular houseplant choice because of its ability to climb, cling to other objects, and purify the air. However, having this plant in your home with your cat will cause harm if ingested. English Ivy contains polyacetylene and hederagenin, a subtype of saponin. Polyacetylene helps protect the plant from diseases whereas hederagenin defends against insects.
Non-Toxic: Swedish Ivy
If you’re looking for an alternative to English Ivy with similar characteristics, consider Swedish Ivy. This plant has similar markings to English Ivy, loves to climb around its environment, and has air purifying capabilities. You can tell these two ivies apart by their coloring. The Swedish Ivy has green scalloped leaves while it’s toxic sibling English Ivy has dark green lobed leaves.
Toxic: Lily
As Spring draws near, the unique colorful blossoms of the lily symbolize rebirth and purity. Despite its beautiful appearance, this flower is extremely deadly to cats. If your cat happens to get access to the pollen and lick it off its paws, bites a leaf or petal, or even drinks the leftover water from the vase, it can cause liver failure if left untreated. Since there are so many variations of the lily, it is unknown what toxin causes this reaction, but it is present throughout every part of the lily. To get a full list of which lilies are unsafe for your cat, visit ASPCA’s page, “Which Lilies Are Toxic to Pets?”
Non-Toxic: Easter Cactus
While there are no identical alternatives to lilies, an Easter cactus is the next best thing! Like the lily, the Easter cactus starts blooming in March and lasts until May. Easter cacti also carry the same sweet vanilla scent that makes lilies so popular. With an Easter cactus, you and your cat can celebrate the beginning of Spring with safe pink blossoms.
Toxic: Pothos
Another common toxic houseplant is pothos, known for its lush green leaves that climb and purify the air around them. Pothos contains calcium oxalate crystals, helping this plant regulate calcium and defend against herbivores. Unfortunately, if your cat consumers a part of the pothos, it can cause a burning sensation in your cat’s mouth, throat, and stomach. In serious cases, ingesting this plant could cause your kitty to have respiratory distress.
Non-Toxic: Vining Peperomia
Instead of pothos, try a similar alternative, the vining Peperomia. A vining Peperomia trails and climbs like pothos. Peperomias also have a heart shape leaf and purify the air around them, making this plant a perfect cat-safe alternative. The difference between the two is that pothos’ leaves have a dark waxy appearance while the vining Peperomia’s leaves are smooth and thin. Peperomias have no shortage of variety. With over 1,000 species, you’re guaranteed to find a variation that fits beautifully in your home.
Toxic: Snake Plant
Due to their low maintenance nature, a snake plant is common in most households. However, for our feline friends, taking a bite out of a snake plant might cause digestive issues or anemia. The Snake Plant is like Aloe Vera and English Ivy, with saponins being the root cause of the toxicity.
Non-Toxic: Cast Iron Plant
A similar alternative to a snake plant is a cast-iron Plant. The long wide leaves of the cast-iron plant resemble closely to a Snake plant and share the same low maintenance care being content in a low light area with minimal water.
As the weather warms up, it can be tricky to know which toxic houseplants to avoid. Luckily, there are many vibrant cat-safe plants to spruce up your home. By learning which houseplants are poisonous to cats, you can ensure that your furry friend stays healthy and happy. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to visit our Instagram page, Peak City Puppy, for additional blog posts, service information, dog spotlights, and more!
