Do you know which plants are toxic to cats?

Cats love catnip, but some cats also enjoy chewing on other plants if they have the chance. However, be careful because some plants are toxic, and might even end up killing the cat.

Many of the plants we keep around the house are toxic or contains sap that can be irritant to the skin or mucosal membranes in the mouth and throat. If you have a cat who likes to nipple on your plants, here are some of the plants to be aware of:

• Lilies
• Christmas Rose
• Oleander
• Azalea
• Broom Plants
• Hydrangeas
  
  

If you keep some of these plants around the house, you could place them out of reach for the cat. If an accident occurs and the cat starts to show symptoms of poisoning, e.g. excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea or change in behaviour you should always contact your vet, and if you know which plant the cat has been eating make sure to inform your vet so that the correct treatment is commenced.

Plants and flowers are nice to keep around, but keep an eye out if you want to avoid an acute visit to the vet.

By Therese G. Hosbjerg, DVM and Technical manager at Bacterfield GMBH