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Plants
and Other Substances
Toxic to Cats
Please note:
The
information provided here is meant to supplement that provided by your
veterinarian.
Nothing can replace a complete history and physical examination
performed by your veterinarian.
We use to keep various substances at
our homes and we are often not aware of their potential threat to the
cat's heath or even life. Many plants we grow and many materials we
use everyday may be poisonous for our pets. Even if we do not want to
get rid of these items, it is good to know where the risk comes from.
Common Household Poisons:
- acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- antifreeze, coolants
- bleach
- boric acid
- brake fluid
- carbon monoxide
- carburator clearer
- cleaning fluid
- deodorants, deodorizers
- diet pills
- disinfectants
- drain cleaner
- dye
- fungicides
- furniture polish
- gasoline
- hair colouring
- herbicides
- insecticides
- kerosene
- laxatives
- lead
- lye
- matches
- metal polish
- mineral spirits
- mothballs
- nail polish and remover
- permanent wave lotion
- phenol
- photographic developers
- rat poison
- rubbing alcohol
- shoe polish
- sleeping pills
- snail or slug bait
- soaps and detergents
- suntan lotion
- tar
- turpentine
- windshield washer fluid
- wood preservatives
Poisonous Plants:
Holiday and Seasonal Decorative
Plants
- Amaryllis spp.
- Celastrus spp.
Bittersweet
- Chrysanthemum spp.
- Colchicum autumnale
Autumn Crocus
- Euonymus japonicus
Japanese Euonymus
- Euphorbia milii Crown of
Thorns
- E. pulcherrima Poinsettia
- Helleborus niger
Christmas Rose
- Ilex spp. Holly
- Phoradendron spp.
American Mistletoe
- Solanum pseudocapsicum Jerusalem
Cherry
Common House Plants
- Alocasia spp. Caladiums
- Azalea spp. Weeping Fig,
Creeping Fig, Mistletoe Fig, Rubber Plant
- Dieffenbachia spp. Dumb
Cane
- Hydrangea spp.
- Hedera helix spp. (many
indoor ivies)
- Ligustrum spp. Japonicum
texanum
- Narcissus spp.
Paperwhites and other winter forced bulbs
- Nicotiana spp. Ornamental
Tobacco
- Philodendron spp.
- Rhododendron Ficus spp.
Weeping Fig, Creeping Fig, Mistletoe Fig, Rubber Plant
Common Outdoor Plants
- Abrus precatorius Rosary
Pea
- Actea spp. Baneberry
- Allium spp. Onions,
Chives, other related plants
- Ampelopsis quinquefolia Boston
Ivy
- Atropa belladonna Deadly
Nightshade
- Aconitum spp. Monkshood
- Aesculus hippocastanum Horse
Chestnut
- Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-Pulpit
- Bulb Flowers: Star of Bethlehem,
Tulip, Hyacinth, Iris
- Buxus spp. Boxwood
- Cestrum nocturnum Night-blooming
Jasmine
- Clematis viginiana
- Conium maculatum Poison
Hemlock
- Convallaria majalis Lily
of the Valley
- Cyclamen spp.
- Daphne mezereum Daphne
- Datura spp. Jimson Weed,
Thorn Apple
- Delphinium Larkspur
- Descurainia pinnata Tansy
Mustard
- Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove
- Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman's
Breeches
- D. spectabilis Bleeding
Heart
- Ipomoea purpurea Morning
Glory
- Hydrangea spp.
- Kalmia latifolia Mountain
Laurel
- Laburnum spp. Locoweed
- Lantana camara Lantana
- Lathyrus spp. Sweetpea
- Ligustrum vulgare Privet
- Lily spp.
- Lobelia spp. Indian
Tobacco
- Lupinus spp. Lupine
Bluebonnet
- Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato(only
the vine is toxic)
- Melia azedarach
Chinaberry
- Mushrooms (all outdoor varieties
have potential of being toxic)
- Narcissus spp.
- Nerium Oleander Oleander
- Papaver spp. Poppy
- Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia
Creeper
- Physalis spp. Ground
Cherries
- Phytolacca americana Pokeberry
- Prunus spp. Wild Cherry,
Wild Peach, Wild Apricot, Chokeberry Almond, Black Cherry
- Ranunculus spp. Buttercup
- Rheum rhaponticium Rhubarb
(only the leaves are toxic)
- Ricinus communis Castor
Bean
- Robinia pseudoacaria Black
Locust
- Sambucus spp. Elderberry
- Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot
- Solanum spp. Deadly
Nightshades (including potato vines, green spots, and tubers)
- Taxus spp. Yews
(especially the berries)
- Triglochin maritimun Arrowgrass
- Toxicodendron Poison Oak,
Poison Ivy
- Urtica spp. Stinging
Nettle
- Veratum viride False
Hellebore
- Wisteria spp.
Symptoms of Poisoning
Some signs of poisoning are:
- continual vomiting
- diarrhea
- refusal of food
- pale gums or tongue
- swollen tongue
- abdominal pain
- convulsions
What To Do
If your cat is displaying any one or
combination of these symptoms it is possible it has injested a
poisonous plant or other toxic substance. Poisoning is dangerous and
medical attention should be sought immediately. Try to identify the
poison. This information will provide for a quicker diagnosis and
treatment of your pet.
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