Toxic or not, is your cat irretrievably attracted to your plants and are you worried about their health? Here we give you some tips on how to keep your four-legged friend away from your plants.
A few notions on the toxicity of plants
Do you love adorning your shelves, balconies and window sills with pretty green plants? We also understand you! Be careful though if you have a cat because these can be toxic for him. Indeed, whether in your garden, or in your interior, if you have plants, it is very likely that some of them are toxic. They can then have harmful effects for your cat in case of contact or ingestion. However, it is important that we can reassure you: for your cat to be seriously poisoned, it would have to have ingested a very large quantity of the toxic plant in question. But to avoid any inconvenience, especially if your hairball tends to eat or bite your plants, we are here to provide you with an update on the various measures to take in order to avoid any plant poisoning for your cat. Here we go!
Poisonous plants for your cat
Here we take stock of the different plants that are toxic to your pet. This list is of course not exhaustive, but it is about the most known and widespread plants. You will need to keep your feline friend away from these plants.
First of all, avoid leaving the Ficus accessible to your cat. Indeed it can cause serious diarrhea, vomiting, irritation and mouth burns in your pet.
Philodendron, or Monstera Deliciosa can cause kidney and digestive damage in your furry friend.
Ah, spring, its lovely month of May and its blooming lily of the valley! If you liked to decorate your interior with the arrival of the beautiful days, you should change your habits now that you have a pet. Indeed, this pretty spring flower is actually a poison for our animal friends (dogs and cats). Its ingestion can cause serious digestive problems in our four-legged friends, but also heart problems.
The Yucca, much loved by plant lovers, is a serious enemy for your cat. Many side effects can be observed, up to paralysis of the posterior train, or even coma.
Rhododendron should be avoided in your cat's environment. Indeed, this pretty plant with pink flowers is full of toxins and can prove fatal for your animal, even if the ingestion is low. Just like Sanseveria, Diffenbachia, or Aloe Vera, full of virtues for humans, but not for our animal friends.
Precautions to take for your cat
We already told you about it in our article on Poisonous plants: precautions to take. The first instinct you should have, if you decide to keep toxic plants in your home, is to place them out of reach of your cat, for more safety. Prefer a shelf in height, a plant fixed in suspension, etc. You can also teach him from an early age not to approach your plants.
Do not let your cat near freshly pruned plants, whose sap, resin or latex can be toxic.
Also remember to cover your compost, so that it is not accessible to your animals and do not leave fruits, seeds or bulbs within their reach.
In order to avoid any poisoning, it is also necessary to deworm your cat on a regular basis, with a suitable dewormer, prescribed by your veterinarian. This will prevent him from being tempted to nibble on your plants.
We also recommend equipping yourself with catnip, which your feline loves and will therefore ward off danger!
Tips to keep your cats away from poisonous plants
Find out about the toxicity of each of your plants. Also, in case of ingestion by your animal, consult your veterinarian directly, giving him as much information as possible on the ingested plant. Even if you have not seen your animal near one of your poisonous plants, but it shows digestive symptoms, heart, nervous or respiratory problems, it is certainly poisoning by one of your plants. In this case, do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are a natural repellent. It is of course safe for your cat, so you can dispose of it in the soil of your plant. This will deter your cat from lurking around and nibbling on it. Plus, the good news is that coffee grounds are a quality fertilizer for your plants. Its duplication side should convince you!
Citrus
The cat does not like citrus smells. To keep it away from your plants, we therefore advise you to place orange, lemon and grapefruit peel in the soil. In addition, citrus peels are known to fertilize the soil. You would therefore be wrong to deprive yourself of it.
The mustard
Another tip: mustard, whose smell is not at all appreciated by our cat friends. Mix a little mustard with lukewarm water and spray the leaves of your plants with this mixture. Guaranteed effect... your cat will pass its way!
Keep in mind that in general, your cat will not naturally consume high doses of a plant that is toxic to him, but prevention is better than cure! Stay vigilant and keep an eye out!
