You can be a fan of plants and at the same time enjoy the company of a cat at home, but some precautions must be taken, since there are some plant species that are toxic to them and their ingestion can cause various outcomes in the animal. . If you want to keep plants in your house, or if you let your cat out in your garden, you need to be able to accurately identify the plants and flowers that are poisonous to cats.
According to the Affinity Foundation, “The reason why cats insist on nibbling on plants, even those that are toxic to them, is still not entirely clear. Although there are recent studies that speak of a behavior inherited from their wild ancestors that pushes them to eat grass and other plants to purge themselves against possible intestinal parasites. Being an innate behavior, they maintain it despite being dewormed.
Cats will chew on plants and because they love to climb and explore, it’s hard to keep them out of their reach
Ultimately, cats will chew on plants and because they love to climb and explore, it’s hard to keep them out of their reach so when in doubt, it’s safer to remove a plant from your home that may be harmful to your pet.
Many toxic plants are irritating: they cause localized inflammation on the skin, mouth, stomach, etc. The toxic principle of other plants can have a systemic effect and damage or alter the functioning of the cat’s organs, such as the kidneys or the heart.
Kalanchoe
Here is a list of some common plants that are toxic to cats:
Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp).
Autumn daffodil (Colchicum autumnale).
Azaleas and rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp).
Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
Chrysanthemums and daisies (Chrysanthemum).
Cyclamen (Cyclamen).
Narcissus (Narcissus).
Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia).
English ivy (Hedera helix).
Hyacinth (Hyacintus orientalis).
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe).
Daylilies (Lilium).
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis).
Marijuana (Cannabis sativa).
Oleander (Nerium oleander).
Spatiphyllum (Peace Lily).
Potto (Epipremnum aureum).
Cycas (Cycas revoluta).
Spanish thyme (Coleus ampoinicus).
Tulips (Tulipa)
Yew (Taxus)
If a plant is poisonous to cats, usually all parts of the plant will be, although some parts may have higher concentrations of the poison than others.
Poto
Toxic doses can vary from plant to plant. In some cases, ingesting a small amount can have devastating results, while cats may need to be exposed to relatively large amounts of other plants before symptoms develop.
That is why the identification of the plant is very important to determine the treatment. If you don’t know the name of the poisonous plant he was exposed to, it’s a good idea to take a sample to the vet.
The vet can give the animal medication to stimulate vomiting and activated charcoal to absorb any toxic substances that may be in the intestine. According to Javier García Peiteado, a veterinarian at the Gaia Clinic , and a specialist in exotic animals and diagnostic imaging, “you should never try to induce vomiting at home, as the situation could worsen.”
The consequence for cats of ingesting a poisonous plant can be fatal, especially if treatment is delayed. Other plants can cause so much damage that further medication or a special diet is needed in the long term.