Here is a list of the toxic plants that should be avoided if you are a cat owner.
If you own a cat, then you've probably already experienced this. You bring a new plant into the house, and the next time you look at it, there are little teeth marks, and half eaten leaves. For a lot of people this is just a nuisance, but for others who were unfortunate enough to have accidentally purchased a toxic plant, the results can be devastating.
I have had some experience with my cat eating a toxic plant. Fortunately it was just toxic, and not poisonous. My cat only experienced vomiting, and loss of appetite, and the symptoms passed after a day or so. It could have been worse. After that I started keeping a list of toxic plants to avoid in the future. Before I buy a plant for indoors or out, I check the list to make sure I don't bring home anything harmful to my cats, or even the neighborhood cats that go around the community garden I plant in.
Some plants are toxic and can cause illness or even death if consumed in large quantities. Some are poisonous, and will result in death if consumed. It's very important that a cat owner checks the list of poisonous and toxic plants before starting a garden, or buying houseplants. Here is the list of various toxic and poisonous plants that should be avoided listed by common name and the correct name.
"Almond" Prunus spp.
"American Mistletoe" Phoradendron spp.
"Arrowgrass" Triglochin maritimun
"Autumn Crocus" Colchicum autumnale
"Baneberry" Actea spp.
"Bittersweet" Celastrus spp.
"Black Cherry" Prunus spp.
"Black Locust" Robinia pseudoacaria
"Bleeding Heart" D. spectabilis
"Bloodroot" Sanguinaria canadensis
"Bluebonnet" Lupinus spp.
"Boston Ivy" Ampelopsis quinquefolia
"Boxwood" Buxus spp.
"Buttercup" Ranunculus spp.
"Caladiums" Alocasia spp.
"Castor Bean" Ricinus communis
"Chestnut (Horse)" Aesculus hippocastanum
"Chinaberry" Melia azedarach
"Chives" Allium spp.
"Chokeberry" Prunus spp.
"Christmas Rose" Helleborus niger
"Creeping Fig" Azalea spp. or Rhododendron Ficus spp.
"Crown of Thorns" Euphorbia milii
"Daphne" Daphne mezereum
"Deadly Nightshade" Atropa belladonna or Solanum spp.
"Dumb Cane" Dieffenbachia spp.
"Dutchman's Breeches" Dicentra cucullaria
"Elderberry" Sambucus spp.
"False Hellebore" Veratum viride
"Foxglove" Digitalis purpurea
"Ground Cherries" Physalis spp.
"Hemlock (poison)" Conium maculatum
"Holly" Ilex spp.
"Horse Chestnut" Aesculus hippocastanum
"Indian Tobacco" Lobelia spp.
"Jack-in-the-Pulpit" Arisaema triphyllum
"Japanese Euonymus" Euonymus japonicus
"Japonicum'texanum'" Ligustrum spp.
"Jasmine (Night-blooming)" Cestrum nocturnum
"Jimson Weed" Datura spp.
"Jerusalem Cherry" Solanum pseudocapsicum
"Lantana" Lantana camara
"Larkspur" Delphinium
"Lily of the Valley" Convallaria majalis
"Locoweed" Laburnum spp.
"Lupine" Lupinus spp.
"Mistletoe" Phoradendron spp.
"Mistletoe Fig" Azalea spp. or Rhododendron Ficus spp.
"Monkshood" Aconitum spp.
"Morning Glory" Ipomoea purpurea
"Mountain Laurel" Kalmia latifolia
"Night-blooming Jasmine" Cestrum nocturnum
"Nightshade (Deadly)" Atropa belladonna
"Onion" Allium spp.
"Oleander" Nerium Oleander
"Ornamental Tobacco" Nicotiana spp.
"Paperwhites" and other winter forced bulbs Narcissus spp.
"Poinsettia" (only toxic when consumed in large quantities) E. pulcherrima
"Poison Hemlock" Conium maculatum
"Poison Ivy" Toxicodendron
"Poison Oak" Toxicodendron
"Pokeberry" Phytolacca americana
"Poppy" Papaver spp.
"Potato" (including vines, green spots, and tubers) Solanum spp.
"Privet" Ligustrum vulgare
"Rosary Pea" Abrus precatorius
"Rhubarb" (only the leaves are toxic) Rheum rhaponticium
"Rubber Plant" Azalea spp. or Rhododendron Ficus spp.
"Stinging Nettle" Urtica spp.
"Sweetpea" Lathyrus spp.
"Tansy Mustard" Descurainia pinnata
"Thorn Apple" Datura spp.
"Tomato"(only the vine is toxic) Lycopersicon esculentum
"Virginia Creeper" Parthenocissus quinquefolia
"Weeping Fig" Azalea spp.
"Weeping Fig" Rhododendron Ficus spp.
"Wild Apricot" Prunus spp.
"Wild Cherry" Prunus spp.
"Wild Peach" Prunus spp.
"Yews"(especially the berries) Taxus spp.
"Hyacinth"
"Iris"
"Star of Bethlehem"
"Tulip" Amaryllis spp.
Chrysanthemum spp.
Clematis viginiana
Cyclamen spp.
Hedera helix spp.
Hydrangea spp.
Lily spp.
Philodendron spp.
Wisteria spp.
Some of the signs and symptoms of plant ingestion are: 1.continual vomiting 2.diarrhea 3.refusal of food 4.pale gums or tongue 5.swollen tongue 6.abdominal pain 7.convulsions
If you know your cat has ingested a toxic plant, the first thing to do is to take your cat to the vet, and make sure you have the plants common and scientific name so the Vet can treat your cat as quickly as possible. Plant poisoning is a serious condition, and should be treated as such. Acting quickly can save your pets life.
