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Houseplants not only bring beauty to your home, they can actually make your home healthier by cleaning the air.
But cats and plants? The struggle is real. For as many years as people have grown plants in their homes, they have taken in cats as their domestic pets. Cats are full of a curious nature and most just can’t keep themselves away from the greenery, not matter how many times they’ve been scolded.
You Know What They Say About Curiosity
Never underestimate a cat’s curiosity. After all, curiosity killed the cat! Though you might be inclined to believe that a cat will simply stay away from a dangerous plant out of instinct, this is not so. They like to chew, bite, and sometimes ingest things that they should not be tampering with, so it’s your job to know what plants are safe, and what plants are not.
Many plants are irritants, meaning that they cause irritation to parts of the cat, mostly the GI tract, and can cause redness, swelling, or itchiness on the skin or mouth. Different plants cause different troubles, so be on the lookout for any of these signs:
- Difficulty breathing
- Drooling or difficulty swallowing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Tremors
- Change in urine color
- Excessive drinking and urinating
- Irregular heartbeat; fast or slow
Get your kitty to the vet ASAP if you think that she ate a plant in your home. If possible, bring the plant or a part of it with you when you go. Depending on the plant, the amount ingested, and the time between ingestion and treatment, many cats will resume normal activity. But some plants, such as lilies, can still be fatal no matter how excellent the treatment. And some might cause kitty to be on medications and a special diet for the future.
The Hideous Houseplants
When it comes to houseplants, there are many that can cause trouble for your kitty. This is a short list of the common ones that are generally found in a household that need to be placed out of kitty’s reach, or removed all together.
- Aloe Vera
- Amaryllis
- Azalea
- Baby’s Breath
- Begonia
- Caladium
- Chinese Evergreen
- Dieffenbachia
- Mistletoe
- Philodendron
- Poinsettia
- English Ivy
As mentioned, lilies are very toxic and can be fatal. This includes Tiger, Day, Asian, Barbados, Easter, and Lily of the Valley. Don’t take chances on this species.
The Offensive Outdoor Offenders
If kitty cat goes outside, there are plenty of flowers that he needs to stay away from. The most poisonous outdoor plants that can cause the most harm include:
- Lilies
- Autumn Crocus
- Cyclamen
- Kalanchoe
- Oleander
- Daffodils and Narcissus
- Lily of the Valley
- Tulips and Hyacinths
If you let your cat go outside, try to keep an eye on him if you can; especially if you know that these plants are out there.
The Super Safe Plants
Great news; there are indoor plants that are safe for your cat! Although you don’t want them to make a meal out of the plant, if they happen to take a bite, it won’t harm them. If you love houseplants and you love your kitty, stick with these and everyone can rest easy.
- African Violet
- Air Plants
- Bromeliads
- Christmas Cactus
- Ferns (Maidenhair, Boston, Bird’s Nest)
- Orchids
- Peperomia
- Prayer Plant
- Spider Plant
- Succulents (Echeveria, Kalanchoe)
- Wandering Jew
- Zebra Plant
The curiosity of your can will remain, so expect to see your cat swat, chew, or knock a plant around just for fun. At least they won’t get sick.
Why Do They Eat The Greenery?
Who knows why cats eat greenery; some say that they just like the variety of something new and the texture of the fibrous leaves can be exciting. Cats are carnivores so their natural cat food of choice is, of course, meat. Be sure that you are feeding your cat a good, nutritious cat food that has meat listed at the top of the ingredient list.
If you think that giving your cat a food that has some greenery already in it, there are plenty of foods out there that contain peas, carrots, alfalfa sprouts, beets, and even pumpkin seeds. Though peas don’t hold much nutritional value for a cat, they are becoming a common ingredient as a filler when it comes to grain-free and holistic cat food. There are also plenty of foods that use brown rice or oatmeal as a fiber/carbohydrate in place of corn, which can cause allergies in some cats.
If you’re looking for a natural cat food that has more them meat to satisfy your funky feline, consider some of the following:
- Addiction Herbed Duck Confit Sweet Potatoes Entrée is filled with duck and liver, two hearty meats that cats love, but it also includes sweet potatoes, which provide a great amount of potassium, vitamin B, and beta-carotene, which is an excellent anti-oxidant.
- Eukanuba Entrée with Lamb and Rice contains carrots, which is a great source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. It promotes good eye-health as well as a boosted immunity. It also contains alfalfa, which provides zinc, iron, and manganese as well as vitamins A and C.
- Nutro Ultra Adult Cat Chicken and Whole Brown Rice Formula starts with chicken and chicken meal, which are great sources of natural protein, but you’ll also find brown rice and oatmeal, which are easy for most cats to digest. Flaxseed is also included, which is beneficial to cats as it is full of Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber.
- Blue Buffalo Basics Fish and Potato starts with plenty of fish and potato, which is a grain-free carbohydrate that is an alternative to wheat. It also contains peas, carrots, and flaxseed. Added to the mix is cranberries and blueberries, which give your cat vitamin C, fiber, and plenty of antioxidants.
Always be sure to keep your cat healthy and happy by feeding her a natural cat food that she enjoys. And keep the houseplants and your cat safe from each other to have a happy home.
