Plants Poisonous to Cats- The Guide

While you can’t control the kinds of plants your neighbours choose to feature in their garden for your roaming feline to happen across, you can make your own outdoor space a haven for your beloved pet. There are several outdoor plants that are highly toxic to cats and should be avoided at all costs. When you’re considering what to add to your garden to bloom over spring and summer, be sure to check you’re not inadvertently putting your cat at risk.

Some plants need to be ingested while others can cause irritation to the skin by just touching them.

Plants that can cause harm through contact with the skin but also by ingestion include:

Other plants that are poisonous if ingested and should still be avoided include:

Indoor plants are perfect decorative features, but for cat owners it’s important to understand which ones to avoid.

Cycad plants are highly toxic to cats and are easily identified by their thick, woody trunks and stiff, usually spear like leaves. Types of plants that are considered cycads include Farn Palms, Sago Palms and Zamia and they’re poisonous to cats because they contain a phytotoxin called cycasin. While they may be one of the most toxic species of plants to cats, other plants you should avoid having in your home include:

Spider plants are a great option for cat owners who also want to be plant parents. They are non-toxic to all pets so are a safe plan to include in a collection. If you stay away from spraying them with any kind of pesticides, the plant itself is not a threat to their health. Cats should still not be allowed to make a meal of a spider plant.

As obligatory carnivores, a very small amount of their diet should be green matter. Having a nibble won’t do any harm, but you may want to reconsider where you place your plants if your feline friends are having a picnic out of your spider plants.

Rubber plants are toxic to cats. While some varieties are more toxic than others, they should all be avoided if you want to stay away from stomach upsets if your feline friend decides to take a few bites.

While all rubber plants are considered toxic to cats, there is one saving grace. A small plant of a different classification from the usual rubber plants is non-toxic. The American Rubber plant is a cat safe option for anyone looking to include something similar in their home.

If you suspect your four-legged friend has injected a toxic plant of some variety and is showing symptoms of poisoning, you should take them to the vet immediately. The sooner you can get them to a medical professional, the sooner they can be given the support and help they need to overcome it.

Symptoms of plant poisoning in cats are:

While a mild case of poisoning may pass of its own accord, you can’t be sure that the symptoms won't get worse progressively so you should always seek out a vet if you suspect they’ve ingested a toxic plant.

For everything you need to keep your moggy safe and all your other cat essentials, look at our wide range in store and online.