Plants and Flowers that are Toxic to Cats

Many toxic plants are irritants: they cause localized inflammation of the skin, mouth, stomach, etc. Other plants may have systemic and systemic effects. Other plants may have systemic effects and damage or alter the function of the cat’s organs, such as the kidneys or heart.

Some common plants that are toxic to cats include:

• Lily flowers
• Taro
• Eucalyptus
• Cibotium barometz
• Amaryllis flower
• Azalea flower
• Daffodil Flower
• Ficus lyrate
• Aloe Vera
• Sansevieria
• Chrysanthemum
• Poinsettia
• Cycas
• Aglonema
• Asparagus

Plant Parts that are Toxic to Cats

If a plant is considered toxic to cats, assume that all parts of the plant are toxic, although some parts of the plant may have a higher concentration of toxins than others.

The dose of poison can vary widely from plant to plant. In some cases, ingesting only a small amount can have devastating effects, while for other plants, cats may need to be exposed to relatively large amounts of the plant before symptoms of poisoning appear.

Symptoms to Watch Out For

Because many plants are irritants, most symptoms seen are irritation or inflammation, such as redness, swelling, or itching of the eyes, skin, or mouth.

When deeper parts of the digestive tract, such as the stomach and intestines, become irritated, vomiting and diarrhea are likely to occur in your cat.

If the poison directly affects a specific organ, the symptoms seen will be primarily related to that organ. For example:

• Difficulty breathing (if the airways are affected)
• Drooling or difficulty swallowing (if the mouth, throat or esophagus is affected)
• Vomiting (if the stomach or small intestine is affected)
• Diarrhea (if the small intestine or colon is affected)
• Excessive drinking and urination (if the kidneys are affected)
• Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat and weakness (if the heart is affected)
• Immediate Treatment

If you see your cat eating a plant and are unsure if it is poisonous, or if you suspect that your cat has eaten a poisonous plant, do the following before taking her to the vet:

Remove all plant material from your cat’s fur, skin and mouth if you can do so safely.

Identifying the plant that poisoned your cat is crucial to determining treatment. If unsure of the name of the poisonous plant your cat has been exposed to, take a sample of the plant or plant material with you to the vet, including any pieces of the plant found in the vomit.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is best made by identifying the plant. The veterinarian will perform a physical examination on the cat and perform blood tests as needed to determine your cat’s overall health.

These tests are especially necessary if the identity of the poisonous plant is unknown, or if the identified plant is known to target the cat’s internal organs.

Treatment

The veterinarian may give your cat medication to induce vomiting to expel the poison or administer activated charcoal to absorb any toxins that may be in the intestines. The vet may also give medication such as sucralfate, which protects the damaged area of the stomach.

Supportive care, such as intravenous fluids, anti-nausea medications, pain medications for cats, and anti-inflammatory medications will be used as needed. Other treatments may be required based on the toxins involved and the cat’s condition.