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Hello friends! Do you ever get so far thrown off your routine that something that was once so simple suddenly seems like a giant task? These past few weeks have been hectic. I was on vacation (lots of socially distant activities) and then came home for a little bit only to lose power for five days due to Hurricane Isaias. I feel like I’ve been working at half capacity and it seemed like an impossible task to get back into my writing and posting routine.
This is a very long way of saying SORRY FOR THE LATE POST! I was thinking of what I wanted to write about in this post and decided this would be an important topic since I haven’t covered it yet. It’s also a good excuse to show off my pets 🙂
In this post, we’ll discuss houseplants and pets and keeping your furry friends safe. I’m going to start with the bottom line first because I think it’s so important.
The Bottom Line
It’s best practice to keep all of your plants out of your pets’ reach, regardless of toxicity level. I say this from experience with one of my cats who has a sensitive tummy and is very naturally curious when it comes to plants—not a good combination. Even if the side effects aren’t necessarily deadly, your pet might still experience negative side effects.
If you won’t take my word for it, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) says, “Also, be advised that the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats.”
Having a plant in an easily accessible spot is just an open invitation for pets to go sniffing around. We can’t read their minds (unfortunately!) and we won’t know if they’ll one day decide that a plant looks like a yummy snack. Not only does this make an unhappy animal, but an unhappy plant, too! It’s best to avoid the situation altogether and keep both happy and healthy.
Many times, loving plants and loving animals go hand in hand, and for those of us who own both, this isn’t the information we want to hear.
Below are some tips to help your plants and animals coexist peacefully.
- Get creative with your plant displays.
- You might need to hang your plants from the ceiling or a wall, install high shelves that can’t be reached, or use tall plant stands.
- In general, make sure your plants are on surfaces that are either too high to jump on, or if they can be jumped on, that there’s not enough space for your pet to actually land and sit on the surface.
- Consider removing extremely toxic plants from your home altogether.
Those first three bullets should be the first line of defense. These are so important, especially for toxic plants. Below are a few additional suggestions, but remember, at the end of the day if your pet really wants to get to something they will probably find a way.
- Use a deterrent spray
- You can buy deterrent sprays to use on your plants which can help ward off your pets. Many of these sprays are citrus smelling because cats and dogs typically don’t like the smell of citrus.
- Use a motion-activated sprayer
- You can also purchase a motion-activated spray can to place near your plants, which will release a harmless spray if your pet walks in front of the sensor. We actually used to have one of these, but we would forget that it was there so it kept spraying US! I’m sure the cats were secretly laughing to themselves. It might be worth a try for you, though!
- Provide your pet with lots of activities
- Often a curious pet is a bored pet. Keep your pet stimulated and distracted with toys and activities. You can also give your pet other things to nibble on that aren’t your houseplants, like cat grass (yes, dogs can eat cat grass, too!). Keep in mind this is for nibbling only, ingesting large quantities of cat grass can still be harmful.
There are different levels of toxicity when it comes to plants. Some may be non-toxic, some mildly toxic, and some deadly. In this post, I’ve listed some common houseplants that are toxic to cats and dogs, and some common houseplants that are non-toxic to cats and dogs, from the ASPCA’s list..
There are hundreds of indoor and outdoor plants on the ASPCA’s list, so please check their website for their complete list along with more details, the most up-to-date information, and the ASPCA animal poison control center phone number in case of an emergency.
ASPCA Full Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List
What common houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs?
- Alocasia – Causes oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
- Aloe vera – Causes comiting, lethargy, diarrhea.
- Arrowhead vine – Causes oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
- Caladium – Causes oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
- Pothos – Causes oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
- Dracaena – Causes vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats).
- Dumbcane – Causes oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth , tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
- English ivy – Causes vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea.
- Jade plant – Causes vomiting, depression, incoordination.
- Peace lily – Causes oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
- Chinese evergreen – Causes oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
- Monstera – Causes oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
- Snake plant – Causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
- Philodendron – Causes oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
What common houseplants are non-toxic to cats and dogs?
- African violet
- Aluminum plant
- Peperomia obtusifolia
- Bamboo (this is for “fishpole” bamboo. Some other types of bamboo are listed as toxic)
- Echeveria
- Burro’s Tail
- Calathea
- Cast iron plant
- Living stones
- Hoya
- Maranta
- Nerve plant
- Ponytail palm
- Venus fly trap
- Watermelon peperomia
And remember, “non-toxic” doesn’t mean you should have it on the floor easily accessible for your pets to much on!
Chris O. says
Informative post! Awesome cats!
Julie says
Hey, I think I know you! 😄 Thanks, Chris!