Dangerous Blooms: A Summer Guide to Cat-Safe (and Toxic) Plants
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by shay hu
1 min reading time
Many common houseplants are highly toxic to cats, especially lilies. Choose cat-safe plants and keep all greenery out of reach to prevent accidental poisoning.
Summer is the peak season for plant growth, and many cat owners like to buy fresh flowers or potted plants to decorate their homes. Cats are naturally curious and tend to paw at and nibble on plants when they see them, so it’s essential to be on the lookout for plants that are highly toxic to cats—some of which can be fatal even if ingested in small amounts.
List of Highly Toxic Plants (Stay Away) Liliaceae (Lily Family): Includes lilies, lily of the valley, tulips, hyacinths, and others. The entire plant is highly toxic—including the pollen, petals, leaves, and even the water in a vase. If ingested, it can cause acute kidney failure within 24–72 hours, with an extremely high mortality rate.
Araceae (Arum) Family: Includes pothos, monstera, peace lily, caladium, calla lily, and dieffenbachia. The sap contains calcium oxalate crystals; chewing on these plants can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, excessive salivation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. In severe cases, it may cause kidney damage. Other Highly Toxic Plants: Plants in the Apocynaceae family, plants in the Ericaceae family, daffodils, hyacinths (the bulbs are the most toxic), cycads (the seeds are the most toxic), ivy, hydrangeas, cyclamen (the tubers are highly toxic), aloe vera (the sap causes diarrhea), and others.
Recommended Cat-Safe Plants If you’d like to keep houseplants, consider the following varieties that are non-toxic to cats: Spider Plant: Highly resilient, purifies the air, thrives in indirect light, and is drought-tolerant. Boston Fern: Soft leaves; listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats; requires a humid environment and indirect light. Cat Grass: Can be actively provided to cats to help them expel hairballs; can be grown in water or soil.
Finally, even non-toxic plants may cause vomiting and lethargy if ingested by cats. If your kitten likes to chew on plants, it’s best to keep them out of the kitten’s reach.
