If you must keep house plants in your home, keep plants secured in another room to which your cat does not have access. Never leave your cat to wander about the house (or the yard) unattended. Another consideration is pesticides and other chemicals used in the growing process, these substances may be toxic to your cat even if the plant isn't. Be sure to ask what chemicals were used on the plant.
Symptoms of Toxic Exposure to Plants in Cats
Symptoms of toxic exposure to plant can be quite varied, and range from vomiting, diarrhea, panting and drooling, lethargy, weakness, disorientation, seizure, a loss of coordination, a rash and swelling (commonly in the face and paws), to difficulty breathing and even death.
Below is a list of some of the more common plants that are toxic to cats. This list is not all inclusive. Please check before buying plants to determine if they pose a poisoning danger to your cat.
Common Food Plants Poisonous to Cats
- Apples (including crabapple)
- Apricot
- Cherry (stems, leaves,seeds)
- Garlic
- Grapefruit
- Leeks
- Lemons
- Limes
- Tomatoes
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Oranges
- Rhubarb
Lilly Family Plants Poisionous to Cats
- Amaryllis
- Arum Lilly
- Asian Lilly
- Barbados Lilly
- Calla Lilly
- Climbing lilly
- Cliva lilly
- Day lilies
- Easter Lilly
- Fire Lilly
- Gloriosa Lilly
- Impala Lilly
- Japanese Show Lilly
- Lilly of the Valley
Posionous Spring Bulbs
- Autumn Crocus
- Daffodil
- Elephant Ears
- Hyacinth
- Iris
- Jonquil
- Narcissus
- Tulips
Common Yard Plants
- American Holly
- Azalea
- Baby's Breath
- Begonia
- Bird of Paradise
- Caladium
- Carnation
- Castor Bean
- Chamomile
- Chrysanthemum
- Clematis
- Coleus
- Dahlia
- Daisy
- Foxglove
- Geranium
- Gladiolus
- Ivy
- Hibiscuc
- Hosta
- Holly
- Larkspur
- Morning Glories
- Yucca
Common House Plants Posionous to Cats
- Aloe
- Asparagus Fern
- Cyclamen
- Dumb Cane
- Gardenia
- Ti plant
- House Pines (Norfolk Island Pine)
- Jade Plant
- Kalanchoe
- Ferns
- Palms
- Tobacco
What To Do if You Suspect Your Cat Has Been Poisoned
If you think that your cat has eaten any poisonous plants or any toxic substance, you must get your cat help without delay.
Call your vet or local emergency animal hospital. Be sure to take a sample of the substance that your cat ate along with you to make positive identification easier.
If you cannot contact your veterinarian or other emergency pet service, in the United States and North America, you can call the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-4ANIHELP (1-888-426-4435).
Your credit card will be charged a $55 fee for this service as the Animal Poison Control center is a non-profit service and is staffed 24 hours per day. This charge is necessary to keep the center in operation.