Toxic Houseplants for Cats
There is a very long list of common houseplants that are toxic to cats if ingested. At best the offending plant can cause discomfort, at worst, if a large quantity has been chewed and eaten, the result could be fatal. What may look like a beautiful and innocent adornment in your home, could in fact be a deadly enemy to your feline friend.
If you do have a houseplant that is toxic it may be appropriate to get rid of it altogether, or at the very least place it well out of reach of your cat. Another idea is to sprinkle cayenne pepper on the leaves which will prevent your cat from wanting a quick chew. If your cat is digging at the pots in which your plants sit, consider using needlepoint canvas to cover the soil (make a hole so the plant fits through it) or even plant a container of regular grass for the sole purpose of your cat to enjoy chewing on, instead of your potted plants. If your cat does tangle with a houseplant take it to a vet immediately and don’t wait for signs of ill health. If possible take the plant with you for identification purposes. Symptoms range from frothing at the mouth to seizures and even comas when a cat ingests a quantity of poisonous plant.
Here is a list of toxic plants for cats:
Aloe
Amaryllis
American Bittersweet
Andromeda Japonica
Asian Lily (Liliaceae)
Asparagus Fern
Australian Nut
Autumn Crocus
Avocado
Azalea
Bamboo * (Dracaena sanderiana)
Bird of Paradise
European Bitterswee
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Branching Ivy
Buckeye
Buddist Pine
Caladium
Calla Lily
Castor Bean
Charming Diffenbachia
Chinaberry Tree
Chinese Evergreen
Christmas Rose
Clematis
Cordatum
Corn (or Cornstalk) Plant
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cycads
Cyclamen
Daffodil
Day Lily
Devil’s Ivy
Dumb Cane
Deadly Nightshade
Easter Lily
Elephant Ears
Emerald Feather or Fern
English Ivy
Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron
Flamingo Plant
Florida Beauty
Foxglove
Fruit Salad Plant
Glacier Ivy
Gladiolas
Glory Lily
Gold Dieffenbachia
Gold Dust Dracaena
Golden Pothos
Green Gold Nephthysis
Hahn’s self branching English Ivy
Heartleaf Philodendron
Heavenly Bamboo
Holly
Horsehead Philodendron
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Iris
Japanese Show Lily
Japanese Yew
Jerusalem Cherry
Kalanchoe
Lace Fern
Lacy Tree
Lily of the Valley
Lucky Bamboo * (Dracaena sanderiana)
Macadamia Nut
Madagascar Dragon Tree
Marble Queen
Marijuana
Mauna Loa Peace Lily
Mexican Breadfruit
Mistletoe “American”
Morning Glory
Mother-in-Law
Narcissus
Needlepoint Ivy
Nephthytis
Nightshade
Oleander
Onion
Orange Day Lily
Panda
Peace Lily
Philodendron Pertusum
Plumosa Fern
Precatory Bean
Queensland Nut
Red Emerald
Red Lily
Red-Margined Dracaena
Red Princess
Rhododendron
Ribbon Plant * (Dracaena sanderiana)
Rubrum Lily
Saddle Leaf Philodendron
Sago Palm
Satin Pothos
Schefflera
Spotted Dumb Cane
Stargazer Lily
Striped Dracaena
Sweetheart Ivy
Swiss Cheese Plant
Taro Vine
Tiger Lily
Tomato Plant
Tree Philodendron
Tropic Snow Dumbcane
Tulip
Variable Dieffenbachia
Variegated Philodendron
Warneckei Dracaena
Wood Lily
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Yew
*Note: Only the Dracaena sanderiana (aka Ribbon Dracaena, Lucky Bamboo, or Ribbon Plant) is toxic. True bamboo is not toxic.
(source: http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/plants.htm)
