
Plants give you oxygen, purify the air around you, and make your surroundings more beautiful. They are also serene to look at and bring immense peace. These are a few of the reasons we all should have plants at home. Not to mention that they are beneficial to our health and that of our pets. Add in the fact that cats love you climb on them, fight with them, and sometimes even chew on the leaves.
But plants can also prove to be poisonous for your lovely furballs. To avoid the odd chance of your cat being poisoned while innocently goofing around, here is a list of plants you surely should not bring home.
Azaleas/Rhododendron
Generally found outdoors, these beautiful shrubs blooming signify the arrival of spring. The lush green plants can even be found indoors in a smaller size. But the downside of having these lush evergreens is that they belong to the group of poisonous plants for cats. The toxic effect of the plant is directly proportional to the amount ingested by the cat. The symptoms your cat presents with will tell you how fast you should be running to the vet. Grayanotoxin was the chemical in these plants was responsible for its toxicity. Cats can show mild symptoms like loss of appetite, stomachache, diarrhea, and vomiting. Severe cases of ingestion can be fatal with signs like hypotension, seizures, arrhythmia, and coma.
Lily
This a plant family you will most definitely want miles away from your dear cat. Not all lilies are equally toxic but they are all plants poisonous for cats nonetheless. The plant, all of it, in any quantity can prove toxic to your cat. No matter how much of it, if you believe your cat could have even accidentally nipped at a lily, rush to the vet for life. The toxin from the lily can cause kidney failure in the cat. Other symptoms include lack of appetite, vomiting, problem urinating, and dehydration
Dumb Cane
Dumb cane is one of the most common house plants. They are low maintenance and can brighten up any spot in the house, including dark corners. Though it’s beauty does not mask the toxicity it poses to the innocent cats that gladly play with it. The oxalates, along with other toxins contained in the plant cause pets to experience pets a burning sensation if they chew on it. The intoxication by the plant can cause mild to moderate symptoms like vomiting, drooling, decreased appetite, and mouth ache.
Kalanchoe
This bright-flowered fancy-leaved succulent is a well-loved houseplant. Although also known as Devil’s Backbone, the Kalanchoe isn’t all that dangerous. But this plant still makes it to the list of poisonous plants for cats nonetheless. It can cause mild-to-moderate toxicity in your cat. The most common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling. In some very rare cases that turn severe, the cat can display signs of arrhythmia, seizures, and tremors.