Pets love houseplants, even if this love is not always mutual. Combining your favorite animals with house plants poisonous to dogs and cats in one apartment becomes a real challenge. Cats and dogs are prone to chew flowers and grass because of a lack of certain substances in the body or simple curiosity.
Sometimes, animals instinctively sense danger. But over the years of domestic living, they have lost the ability to recognize poisonous things. Unlike nontoxic houseplants for dogs and cats, eating or licking toxic plants can cause severe poisoning, allergies, and even death in cats, dogs, parrots, hamsters, etc.
List of Poisonous Plants for Dogs & Cats
Aroid Family Plants
The aroid family, also called Araceae, comprises Dieffenbachia, Monstera, Spathiphyllum, Anthurium, Scindapsus, Syngonium, Philodendron, Caladium, and Taro. Another member of this family, Epipremnum, is safe for cats.
What is toxic: all parts of these plants (foliage, stems, flowers, roots). The house plants poisonous to pets contain toxic proteins and cyanide compounds; even a tiny dose of these compounds can lead to the animal's death.
The consequences are burns and swelling of the mucous membranes and larynx. If it gets into the eyes, conjunctivitis and an irreversible change in the cornea can develop.
Euphorbiaceae Family Plants
Euphorbia, Croton, Akalifa, Jatropha.
What's harmful: poisonous plant sap.
Croton causes burns, ulcers, inflammation of the mucous membranes, impaired nervous activity, and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract like other plants that are poisonous to pets.
Particular recommendations: the poisonous plant sap is in the tissues of the Euphorbia under pressure and appears on the surface at the slightest damage. It is essential to place plant pots out of the reach of pets.
Solanaceae Family Plants
Capsicum (ornamental pepper), Brovallia, Brunfelsia, Solandra.
What's harmful: poisonous plant sap.
What are the consequences: nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness.
Particular recommendations: bright fruit can attract both pets and ornamental birds.
Apocynaceae Family Plants
Adenium, Oleander, Mandeville, Catharanthus.
What is harmful: poisonous plant sap contains cardiac glycosides.
The consequences are severe violations of cardiac activity in the flesh before death.
Aralievs Family Plants
Hedera (Ivy), Polyscias, Fatsia.
What's poisonous: foliage and stems.
What are the consequences: disorders of nervous activity up to paralysis, diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Special recommendations: at risk for rodents.
Amaryllidaceae Family Plants
Clivia, Hippeastrum, Gemantus.
What is poisonous: the bulbs contain alkaloids, a small part of which is present in the sap of the green parts of plants (leaves and peduncles).
What are the consequences: paralysis, the development of pathologies of internal organs (Clivia is especially dangerous).
Heather Family Plants
Rhododendron.
What's poisonous: leaves.
What are the consequences: numbness, vomiting, overexcitation, and possible violations of the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Mulberry Plants
Ficus.
What is poisonous: when foliage is damaged, juice releases.
What are the consequences: skin burns. If ingested — kidney damage.
Sedge Plants
Cyperus.
What's poisonous: leaves.
These not-cat-safe house plants cause disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular system and renal failure.
Colchicum Plants
Gloriosa.
What is poisonous: all parts of the plant contain alkaloids.
What are the consequences: blood clotting disorders, severe kidney damage.
Plants Safe for Pets
The best way to safely have both pets and plants is to avoid buying houseplants poisonous to dogs and cats at all. Just look for pet-safe greenhouse dwellers out there. You can probably substitute all your toxic plant collections with safer plants. They are no less beautiful or exciting to grow. Here are some most common nontoxic plants:
- Spider plant
- African violet
- Orchid
- Boston fern
- Bird's Nest Fern
- Gloxinia
- Friendship plant (Pilea involucrata)
- Aluminum plant (Pilea cadieri)
- Rattlesnake plant
- Ponytail palm
- Parlor palm
- Date palm
- Bromeliad
- Polka dot plant
- Banana plant
- Nerve plant
- Velvet Plant (Gynura aurantiaca)
- Haworthia
Common Signs of Your Pet's Intoxication by Plants
If you have indoor plants poisonous to dogs or other pets, you must always keep an eye on the animal. If the pet behaves suspiciously, inspect the plants for signs of damage and bites on the leaves and stems. The following symptoms are a direct indication of poisoning. If any are found, the animal must be given first aid and urgently shown to the vet!
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness or overexcitement
- Weakness
- Twitching
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Irritation of the skin, gums, or eyes
First Aid for Poisoning
The most important thing is to remove the toxic particles of the plant from the skin, mucous membranes, or the animal's body as soon as possible. If the sap of plants poisonous to dogs gets on the skin or eyes, rinse them with plenty of water. If there is a suspicion that the animal has swallowed a piece of the plant, it is necessary to give a large amount of water, try to induce vomiting, and give sorbents.
The next step is to visit the vet. In such a situation, you cannot hesitate! You are risking your pet's life, and every minute matters. Bring a photo of the eaten plant with you so the vet can determine the type of toxin and prescribe adequate therapy. Usually, animals don't eat a lot of poisonous leaves, so the intoxication is rarely severe. Nonetheless, everything depends on your pet and its health condition.
How to Keep Pets Safe?
The first and obvious thing is to give up buying house plants poisonous to cats or dogs, even if they don't show interest in them — no pet is safe then. But if you have owned a toxic plant for some time and now have a pet, the second tip is to keep plants in separate rooms. For example, you may put the plant on a balcony or loggia and teach pets that green in a pot is dangerous. Or, you can at least put the pots on a high shelf where your pet won't reach them.
FAQ
Is Monstera Toxic to Cats?
Monstera is in the Aroid family, which is usually poisonous. This species contains compounds that can cause mucous membrane burns. For people, these symptoms are mild, but not for smaller organisms like pets. Although the sap is toxic, Monstera's fruit is delicious and harmless.
Learn more about Monstera plants.
Is Anthurium Toxic to Cats?
Anthurium, as well as Monstera, is a member of the Aroid family. So, no wonder it has poisonous sap too. The chemical compounds can cause severe skin irritation even in people, not to mention animals. Cats like hiding beneath these huge lobed leaves, but one bite can change these hate-love relationships.
Learn more about Anthurium plants.
Are Caladiums Poisonous to Cats?
Caladiums are known for their vibrant arrow-like foliage, which signals danger. This aroid plant is no less harmful than the previous ones. Calcium crystals in the beautiful leaves cause severe irritation and swelling after ingestion.
Learn more about Caladium plants.
Is Croton Poisonous to Dogs?
Croton plant is not on the list of plants poisonous to cats and dogs for nothing. This plant, belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, has extremely toxic sap as any other spurge plant. It is toxic for most animals, including dogs.
Learn more about Croton plants.
Is Foliage Toxic to Cats?
Foliage plants are a wide variety of species. Unfortunately, most foliage or ornamental plants are either toxic or unedible for cats and other pets. So, everything depends on a particular species of foliage plant.
Is Fittonia Argyroneura Toxic to Cats?
Fittonia argyroneura, commonly known as nerve plant, is a small but wonderful plant from the Acanthaceae family. Fittonia, like many other members of its family, is used in some areas as a pain killer. So, you shouldn't let cats ingest the plant, but it's not toxic.
Learn more about Fittonia plants.
Is Hedera Ivy Poisonous to Cats?
Hedera ivy and any other ivy plant from the Hedera genus are poisonous. These species cause irritation and allergic reactions. The chemical compounds are concen+trated in the newest growth and fruit, making it one of the most dangerous house plants toxic to dogs and cats.
Learn more about Hedera Ivy plants.
If you value your pet, consider buying nontoxic houseplants for cats, dogs, birds, or rodents. Or, as we mentioned, limit the interaction of animals with the poisonous houseplant as much as possible. Your animals are your friends. Sometimes, we treat them as family members. Who, if not us, must be responsible for their well-being? Always check if your plant is pet-safe. For this, download our app, read more articles from us, and stay plantuned!
