The Five Most Toxic Houseplants for Cats

Although they may seem innocuous, there are a number of common houseplant that are actually dangerous to cats. These plants some of which can be found indoors, some outdoors can cause vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, respiratory failure, convulsions and other serious and potentially fatal illnesses if ingested by your favorite feline.

One of the most dangerous and toxic plants is the lily. There are a wide variety of lilies, including the Tiger lily, Easter lily, Rubrum lily, Stargazer lily, Day lily and Spider lily all of which are potentially fatal for your cat. Most of these plants grow outdoors, but may be included in mixed flower arrangements or brought inside in a pot, as is the case with Easter lilies.

If your cat ingests even a small amount of the lily plant, get help immediately. Symptoms will show up quickly, only a few hours after ingestion. These include vomiting, lethargy and a lack of appetite. Symptoms worsen quickly and complete kidney failure can occur in as little as 36 to 72 hours. Clearly, time is of the essence when it comes to lily exposure.

Next up is the Lily of the Valley plant, which isnt a lily in the same way that the plants above are. These are small, bell-shaped, sweet-smelling flowers that usually grow outside. If your cat ingests this plant, she may develop serious irregularities in her heart rhythm, known as dysrhythmias. A cat who has ingested Lily of the Valley may show signs of weakness and confusion, and may also have vomiting and diarrhea. With this plant, its safe to induce vomiting and use activated charcoal to help your pet. As soon as this is done, contact your veterinarian right away.

Foxglove, or digitalis, is another toxic plant to watch out. Not only is it dangerous and potentially fatal to cats when eaten, the water from the vase its in also becomes toxic if the plant is brought indoors. Foxglove is used to make the medication Digitalis, which affects the rhythm of the heart. Logically then, ingesting Foxglove can cause problems with your cats heart that can lead to shock, low blood pressure, collapse and even death. And while you can provide some treatment at home, youll need to take your cat to your veterinarian as quickly as possible to help her heart return to its normal rhythm and rate and to ensure that all of the Foxglove gets out of her system.

And just like the Foxglove plant, the Monkshood plant is so toxic that you have to be cautious even with the water in its vase. But rather than affecting the heart, Monkshood affects the nervous system. Excessive salivation and vomiting are common, as Monkshood also irritates the mucous membranes. In addition, your can may appear to have become suddenly blind if shes ingested Monkshood. If you suspect Monkshood poisoning, see your veterinarian immediately.

Finally, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is a major risk to a cat that ingests Anemone. The Anemone plant will irritate the mucous membranes and may cause convulsions, shock and death. If you suspect poisoning by Anemone plant, give your pet activated charcoal and contact your veterinarian immediately.