5 Toxic Plants to Keep Away from Cats
Cats tend to nibble on many things around the house, and this includes plants as well. They are very similar to children in the fact that they tend to explore things by putting them first in their mouths, which can cause harm if they are toxic substances. This is why it is important for cat owners to ensure that they make a note of the things they have lying around the house, especially plants.
Five of the most toxic plants for cats that you need to get out of your house immediately and never buy again are:
1. Lily
Many forms of lilies like tiger lilies, daylilies, Easter lilies are known to be highly toxic for cats as they end up causing acute kidney failure. Every bit of the plant, from the petals to the stem, pollen, and leaves, is harmful for ingestion for cats. In addition to the lilies, the water that you place them in also turns toxic and harmful to cats. This is one plant you definitely don’t want around the house.
2. Cyclamen
This is a plant that triggers gastric symptoms along with drooling in cats when exposed to in a small amount. However, if your cat ends up ingesting more, in particular any bit of the tuber, then it can quickly result in cardiac problems, including seizures.
3. Daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips
This is another category of plants that end up causing major gastric issues in cats, and the bulbs of the plant are indeed the most dangerous. This set of plants belong to the plant family known as Amaryllidaceae, and they are well known for their spring flowers. However, they pose a major level of toxic threat to cats as they can easily end up triggering cardiac arrhythmias and other serious respiratory issues. Make sure you keep an eye on consciously keeping away the bulbs of this family of plants to avoid unnecessary risks.
4. Sago palm
This is from the family of cycads and a favorite amongst in-house plants as they replicate real palms. This is really a bad choice of houseplant if you have a cat around because even chewing the leaves can end up triggering severe forms of liver damage and end up to be fatal for your pet. Another related category in this family of cycads are the cardboard palms, and their seeds pose a high-risk threat to cats as well.
5. Kalanchoe
While this may not be a plant that poses a fatal threat to cats, this popular houseplant does end up causing consistent gastric problems in cats. These plants are more often referred to as mother-of-millions and are known to cause the heart rhythm in cats to go abnormal when exposed. While the immediate effect may not be high, there are serious repercussions if the cat is left exposed for long.
If you suspect that your cat may have accidentally ingested any of these toxic plants, then make sure you reach out to a vet immediately. This will ensure you catch any issues in time and be able to control the damage before the situation worsens.