One of the main characteristics of the cat is its independent and exploratory nature, partly because the cat is the domesticated hunter par excellence, hence people who choose to share their home with a feline should take extreme precautions to maintain the he alth of your pet.
One of the main dangers that our feline faces are toxic plants for cats since this animal, like dogs, tends to eat plants to purify its body or to entertain itself, as is the case with catnip.
In this AnimalWised article we answer a question that often confuses many owners, Is aloe vera toxic to cats?
The juice that is present inside the aloe vera stems is very rich in saponins, among other substances. Saponins are plant compounds that mainly have antiseptic and antibacterial properties, in addition, they promote skin hydration, cleaning it deeply and even reaching the deepest layers.
We can find numerous information sources where the toxicity of aloe vera for cats is related to its high content of saponins, but this cannot be certain since one of the most used remedies by holistic veterinarians is precisely this plant, both in dogs and cats.
Therefore, to address this issue in depth, the first step is to rule out any information that categorically indicates that aloe vera is toxic to cats.
Is any part of aloe vera toxic to cats?
Aloe vera pulp is the part of the plant that is used for medicinal uses, both in human he alth and in veterinary he alth and that does not present any risk of toxicity if administered properly.
It is not toxic to cats but it can cause diarrhea if they eat the pulp closest to the rind or if they eat the rind per se. But in this case we are not talking about a fatal toxicity or that it compromises the he alth status of our pet, but about an excessive laxative effect that can cause diarrhoea.
Furthermore, in the case of diarrhea in cats caused by ingestion of aloe vera bark, we must know that intestinal transit is regulated shortly after stopping taking the plant, so Therefore, there is no danger.
In other cases, if the cat is a puppy, it may be that ingesting the aloe vera bark has caused a small topical wound due to the rough and prickly partsof the plant, but in any case, no toxic reactions are observed.
We can conclude that aloe vera is not toxic for cats but consumption of the bark and the juice next to it should be avoided as it is excessively laxative.
Topically or orally?
Aloe vera is an excellent natural remedy for cats as it has numerous beneficial properties and can be used to Naturally treat various disorders, but it is also used in he althy cats precisely to keep our pet he althy and make it more resistant to multiple diseases.
When we want to treat topical conditions we can apply aloe vera locally on the skin, but when we are facing a disorder that affects our pet's entire body, then we must apply aloe vera juice via oral.
We reiterate that aloe vera is not toxic to cats, whether we apply it externally or internally. However, if the administration is carried out orally we must know the dose, in this case, it is 1 milliliter of aloe vera juice daily for each kilo of weight bodily.
Can I give my cat home-grown aloe vera juice?
If we have space to grow our own aloe vera plants, we can use their juice to administer to our pets, however, is not the most recommended option.
The reason is that there are approximately 300 species of aloe vera and the only one that can be used safely on our pets and on ourselves is the aloe vera barbadensis species.
If you are not sure if your aloe vera belongs specifically to this species, the best option is to buy pure human-grade aloe vera juice.
