Indoor plants can be a good way to freshen up your room and create a calming environment. However, if you are a cat parent, it is crucial to check if the plants you are bringing home or already have are toxic to cats. If not, it can cause serious problems, such as organ failure, seizures or even death, to your feline. 

Your feline may nibble on your plants to get extra nutrients and fibre. Unfortunately, they would not know whether the plant is good or bad for them. Thus, as a responsible pet parent, it is your duty to ensure that your feline is not exposed to any toxic houseplants. Here we have identified some toxic plants for cats. 

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Toxic Components: Insoluble Calcium Oxalates 

If your cat consumes lilies, your veterinarian may have to perform lab work such as blood and urine tests. Depending on the test results, there would be discussions on a monitoring plan for kidney function. 

Make a Switch: Change your lilies to white orchids. They are not toxic to cats, beautiful and quite easy to take care of! 

Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) 

Toxic Components: Eucalyptol

If your cat consumes eucalyptus, they exhibit signs like drooling, vomiting, lower appetite and diarrhoea. These symptoms are minor and should go away without specific treatment in 24 hours. 

Make a Switch: Change to Rosemary! They are known for its amazing scent and it repels mosquitoes. It is an excellent replacement for eucalyptus. 

Jade (Crassula) 

They are also known as rubber plants, money plants or lucky plants.  Jade can cause serious issues such as vomiting, neurological symptoms such as incoordination. Additionally, it can cause depression in some felines. It is crucial to seek immediate veterinary care when you suspect your cat has eaten this plant. If your feline is not neurologically impaired, treatment will cause them to vomit. Helping your feline remove the toxin rapidly from the body. Further monitoring and symptomatic support will be needed to ensure your feline returns to good health. 

Make a Switch: Switch your jades to haworthia retusas. They offer the same thick and juicy leaf structure and they are not toxic to your cat. 

Aloe Vera (Liliaceae) 

Toxic Components: Saponins, Anthraquinones

The thick plant material surrounding the gel can cause gastric upset, lethargy and diarrhoea in cats. 

Make a Switch: Try swapping your aloe vera for haworthia zebra succulent. It is smaller but it offers the same aesthetics. Plus, they are succulents so it is easy to care for. 

Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum Aureum) 

Toxic Components:  Insoluble calcium oxalates 

Known as the pothos, golden pothos and taro vine. Insoluble calcium oxalates can cause mouth, throat, tongue and lip irritation. Additionally, it can cause intense burning, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. 

Make a Switch: Chinese money plants are a great substitute as they provide the same dropping aesthetic. As a bonus, they may bring good feng shui to your home.

Hydrangea

Toxic Components: Cyanogenic glycoside 

When your cat ingests enough hydrangea to get sick, symptoms such as being nauseated, drooling and vomiting may start to show. Usually these symptoms are followed by diarrhoea, and the diarrhoea may be very bloody. 

Make a Switch: Zinnias make an excellent alternative to hydrangeas. Zinnias are available in a broad range of colours which can definitely brighten your room. 

Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia) 

Toxic Components: Insoluble calcium oxalates, Proteolytic enzymes

Ingesting dumbcane can cause oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. Call the poison control hotline or your veterinarian for assistance immediately if your cat has consumed dumbcane.

Make a Switch: You can swap your dumbcane for a prayer plant as it is cat-safe and vet-approved. 

Snake plant (Sansevieria Trifasciata) 

Toxic Components: Saponins

Snake plant contains saponins which can result in nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea if consumed. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your feline has consumed a snake plant. 

Make a Switch: Swapping your snake plant for a caeroba would be good as it is a non-toxic plant. Additionally, it closely resembles a snake plant. 

Amaryllis

Toxic Components: Lycorine

When cats nibble on this type of lily, they can experience stomach pain, excess drooling, tremors, diarrhoea, vomiting and decrease in appetite. 

Make a Switch: Instead of amaryllis, you can get orchids. They offer a burst of colour to your room and are not toxic to cats. 

Azalea 

Toxic Components: Grayanotoxin

If your feline eats any part of the azalea, they can experience vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and potentially cardiac failure. 

Make a Switch: Choose red camellia instead. They have a similar splash of red colour and are not toxic for your cats. 

Tulip 

Toxic Components: Tulipalin A and B 

The entire tulip is poisonous and can cause serious issues in your cat. Those include vomiting, depression, diarrhoea and hypersalivation. Call your vet immediately if your feline has ingested tulips. 

Make a Switch: Opt for peonies instead of tulips. They are vibrant and beautiful. 

What can you do if your cat nibbles or eats toxic plants? 

If you suspect that your feline has chewed on or eaten a potentially toxic plant, it is recommended to take a picture of the plant and head down to the veterinarian immediately. Cats are very skilled at hiding their symptoms as it is a defence mechanism. Thus, it is important to take your cat to the vet even if they are not acting overly sick.