Top 5 Plants Cats Should Avoid: A Quick Guide

Today, I'd like to share with you some plants that you should never keep around if you have cats.

Here's a list of plants that you should avoid after bringing a cat into your home:

1. Lily

The entire plant is toxic to cats. This includes the petals, leaves, pollen, and even the water in the vase. If a cat accidentally ingests any part of it, it can be fatal. Mild symptoms may include irritation to the mouth, tongue, and throat, causing excessive drooling, vomiting, drowsiness, and loss of appetite. Severe cases can lead to acute kidney failure within 72 hours, which can be fatal.

2. Narcissus

Narcissus, belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, is toxic to cats. The highest concentration of toxins is found in the roots and bulbs. The plant contains solanine and other alkaloids that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, severe convulsions, low blood pressure, arrhythmia, and in severe cases, can lead to paralysis and death.

3. Dieffenbachia

The entire plant is toxic. The plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and protease enzymes that can irritate the mouth, causing a strong burning sensation. This can lead to excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing in cats.

4. Pothos

The sap of Pothos is toxic. If ingested, it can irritate the mouth, causing inflammation, pain, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, and can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, kidney disease, and neurological symptoms in cats.

5. Snake Plant

The sap of the snake plant contains saponins. If a cat ingests it, it can cause vomiting, sometimes with blood, depression, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, and dilated pupils.

Tip:

Many plants are not friendly to cats. In catowning households, it's best to avoid plants from the Araceae family, the Ranunculaceae family, the Solanaceae family, and the Liliaceae family. Instead, consider keeping cat grass, which can help cats regurgitate hairballs that have formed in their stomachs.