19 Popular Houseplants That Are Toxic to Cats

Houseplants bring beauty, freshness, and a touch of nature to our homes. However, if you share your living space with a feline friend, it’s crucial to ensure that the plants you choose are safe for your beloved companion. Cats are curious creatures that often explore their environment by sniffing, chewing, and even ingesting plants. Unfortunately, many popular houseplants can be toxic to cats, leading to a range of health issues.

In this blog, we will explore twenty popular houseplants that are toxic to cats, providing essential information to help you create a safe and feline-friendly environment.

1. Lilies

Lilies are popular and elegant flowers, commonly found in floral arrangements. However, various species of lilies, including Easter Lilies and Tiger Lilies, are highly toxic to cats. Ingesting any part of the plant, including the leaves, flowers, or pollen, can lead to kidney failure and even death. It is crucial to keep lilies out of your cat’s reach or avoid having them in your home altogether.

2. Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia, also known as Dumb Cane, is a common houseplant known for its large, vibrant leaves. However, it contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause intense oral irritation, swelling of the tongue, and difficulty swallowing if chewed or ingested by cats. It’s best to choose cat-friendly alternatives to ensure your feline friend’s safety.

Sago Palm

The Sago Palm is an ornamental plant with feathery fronds and a distinctive appearance. However, all parts of the plant, including the seeds, leaves, and roots, contain cycasin—a toxin that can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms, liver failure, and even death in cats. Keep this plant out of your cat’s reach or avoid having it altogether.

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a succulent plant known for its medicinal properties and gel-like sap. While it has various benefits for humans, it can be toxic to cats if ingested in large quantities. The outer layer and yellow sap of the plant contain anthraquinone glycosides, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in urine color in cats. Keep Aloe Vera plants in areas inaccessible to your feline companion.

4. Tulip and Narcissus Bulbs

Tulips and Narcissus flowers are beloved for their vibrant colors and fragrance. However, the bulbs of these plants contain toxins that can cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, loss of appetite, and even heart abnormalities in cats. Keep these bulbs out of your cat’s reach, especially during planting seasons.

5. Peace Lily

Peace Lilies are popular houseplants known for their elegant white flowers and lush, dark green leaves. However, they contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, drooling, and difficulty swallowing if chewed or ingested by cats. Opt for cat-friendly alternatives like the Spider Plant or Boston Fern.

6. Philodendron

Philodendrons are popular houseplants known for their beautiful foliage and easy care. However, they contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, drooling, and difficulty breathing if chewed or ingested by cats. Choose cat-safe alternatives such as the Areca Palm or Boston Fern.

7. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English Ivy is a climbing vine with distinctive, lobed leaves that are often used as a decorative element in homes. However, it contains triterpenoid saponins, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, in cats. Keep English Ivy out of your cat’s reach or opt for non-toxic plants like the Boston Fern.

8. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos, with its trailing vines and variegated leaves, is a popular choice for indoor gardens. However, it contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, and difficulty swallowing if chewed or ingested by cats. Consider cat-friendly plants like the Spider Plant or Calathea as alternatives.

9. Yew

Yew is an evergreen shrub with dark green foliage and red berries. However, the entire plant, including the leaves and seeds, contains a toxic substance called taxine, which can cause severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, tremors, and cardiac abnormalities in cats. Keep yew plants out of your cat’s reach or avoid having them in your home.

10. Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Oleander is a beautiful flowering shrub with clusters of vibrant flowers. However, all parts of the plant, including the leaves, flowers, and branches, contain cardiac glycosides that can cause severe cardiac abnormalities, vomiting, and even death in cats. It is essential to keep oleander plants away from your feline friends.

11. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

Croton plants are cherished for their vibrant and multicolored foliage, adding a tropical touch to any indoor space. However, they contain a substance called Croton oil, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, and skin irritation in cats. Choose safer alternatives like the Parlor Palm or Prayer Plant.

12. Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums, often referred to as mums, are popular flowering plants known for their colorful blooms. However, they contain pyrethrins, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, excessive drooling, and skin irritation in cats. It’s best to keep chrysanthemums away from your curious feline or choose cat-friendly flowers like roses or sunflowers.

13. Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is a popular succulent plant with clusters of small, colorful flowers. However, it contains bufadienolides, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, cardiac abnormalities, and even death in cats. Keep Kalanchoe plants out of your cat’s reach or opt for non-toxic succulents like Haworthia or Echeveria.

14. Azalea and Rhododendron

Azaleas and Rhododendrons are flowering shrubs prized for their stunning blooms. However, all parts of these plants, including the leaves, flowers, and even the nectar, contain grayanotoxins that can cause severe symptoms in cats, such as drooling, vomiting, and cardiovascular abnormalities. Avoid having these plants in your home or garden if you have cats.

15. Daffodils

Daffodils are cheerful spring flowers known for their vibrant colors and trumpet-shaped blooms. However, all parts of the plant, especially the bulbs, contain toxic alkaloids that can cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, and even cardiac abnormalities in cats. Keep daffodils out of your cat’s reach or choose cat-friendly spring flowers like pansies or petunias.

16. Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are popular flowering shrubs with large, showy blooms in various shades of pink, blue, and white. However, they contain cyanogenic glycosides that can cause gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting and diarrhea, in cats. Keep hydrangeas away from your feline friends or opt for non-toxic flowers like marigolds or zinnias.

17. Rubber Plant

Rubber Plants are indoor trees with glossy, dark green leaves. However, they contain a white, milky sap called latex, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, and even skin irritation in cats. Choose cat-friendly plants like the Bamboo Palm or Spider Plant instead.

18. Spider Plant

Spider Plants are popular houseplants with long, arching leaves and small white flowers. While they are generally safe for cats, some cats may experience mild gastrointestinal upset if they ingest large amounts of the plant. Monitor your cat’s interaction with Spider Plants and consult a veterinarian if any symptoms occur.

Conclusion

Creating a safe and feline-friendly environment is essential for the well-being of your beloved cat. By being aware of the houseplants that are toxic to cats, you can make informed choices when selecting greenery for your home. Remember to keep toxic plants out of your cat’s reach and opt for cat-safe alternatives to create a harmonious and worry-free living space for both you and your feline companion. Your cat’s health and happiness are worth the extra effort in creating a safe haven.