Like dogs, cats are animals that tend to eat plants to purify their bodies or acquire certain vitamins that their usual diet does not provides you. Although it may seem normal and harmless to us, the truth is that we must be very careful with the plants that we acquire to decorate our home or garden, as there are many that are very toxic to them.
These plants can cause dermatological, digestive, neurological, cardiac, renal damage to our feline or even death. To prevent this from happening, on our site we detail what are the most common toxic plants for cats and what causes their ingestion in our pet.
What causes plant poisoning in cats?
Depending on the type of toxic plant that our cat has ingested or touched, it will develop a series of symptoms or others. The most common disorders and he alth problems that occur in the feline are the following:
1. Digestive disorders
They usually cause gastrointestinal problems that cause acute diarrhea, vomiting and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis; liver failure with loss of appetite and low mood (as well as diarrhea and vomiting); and acute gastritis, mainly.
two. Neurological disorders
Plants that affect the nervous system can cause convulsions, spasms, excessive salivation, lack of coordination, hallucinations and even eye damage or dilation of the pupils.
3. Cardiac disorders
They can increase the animal's heart rate, produce arrhythmias, respiratory difficulties and, in the most serious cases, cardiac arrest.
4. Kidney failure
It usually shows the first symptoms a few hours after intoxication, the main one being vomiting, so it can be confused with a gastrointestinal disorder. As the days go by and the kidney failure becomes more extensive, the vomiting subsides and other signs appear, such as weight loss (anorexia), dehydration and depression.
5. Allergic dermatitis
This type of condition appears due to direct contact with the toxic plant and develops irritation in the affected area, inflammation, itching and intense pain, itching, redness and even hair loss.
Depending on the type of intoxication and the plant, the cat may develop one type of disorder or several. Below we show you the most common toxic plants depending on the type of damage that their consumption or friction cause in our cat.
Toxic plants for cats that cause digestive, neurological or cardiac disorders
The most common toxic plants that cause cardiac disorders, damage to the digestive or nervous system of our cat are the following:
- Oleander. It mainly develops gastrointestinal problems, but, depending on the amount ingested, it can also present respiratory distress, arrhythmias and cardiac arrest in the most extreme cases. May cause fever and drowsiness.
- Azalea Although it mainly affects the digestive system, producing diarrhoea, vomiting and excessive salivation. In small amounts, you can also develop a lack of coordination accompanied by hallucinations. Ingesting larger amounts can cause acute digestive damage, respiratory distress, heart rhythm disturbances, seizures, high blood pressure, coma, and even death in the most severe cases.
- Diefenbaquia All parts of this plant are toxic to cats, so it can be damaged after ingestion or simply by direct contact. By contact the plant produces dermatological disorders, such as irritation, inflammation of the area, redness or blisters. By ingestion, it produces mouth burning instantly, so the most usual thing is that the cat stops eating it immediately. In addition, it causes inflammation of the throat, pain, swelling of the neck, stomach and esophagus, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, vomiting, difficulty breathing and, in the most serious cases, suffocation.
- Eucalyptus This is one of the easiest plants to find in woods and public landscaped areas, so if your cat tends to escape or you give him total freedom to go for a walk, you must be very careful. Ingesting it causes gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea and vomiting.
- Ivy All parts of this plant are poisonous, especially its fruits are highly dangerous. Its intake produces both gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea and vomiting, as well as spasms and accelerated heart rate. In addition, simple contact with the skin develops dermatitis and rashes in our cat. In the most serious cases in which a greater quantity of this plant is consumed, it can cause death.
- Hydrangea Both the leaves and the flowers are toxic, and the most common symptoms of intoxication by this plant are typical of gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain). Depending on the amount ingested, it can affect the nervous system causing motor problems, such as lack of coordination.
- Hyacinth. Although the flowers are toxic, the most dangerous part for cats is the bulb. Causes digestive disorders such as gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea and vomiting.
- Lily. Ingesting this toxic plant for cats mainly produces digestive disorders, such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and general discomfort. In the most serious cases, it can cause hypertension and an increase in the feline's blood pressure.
- Marihuana Although it is illegal to have this plant in the home, you should know that eating it is highly toxic to cats. Symptoms will include lack of coordination, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, seizures, increased heart rate and, in the worst cases, coma.
- Mistletoe The most toxic part of this plant is the fruit, and rather large amounts are required to produce serious intoxication. They produce gastrointestinal damage that will develop vomiting, diarrhea and general malaise in the feline. It can also cause dilated pupils and excessive salivation. In cases where a large quantity of fruits is ingested, the damage produced will be neurological and cardiovascular, causing respiratory distress, suffocation, increased heart rate, tachycardia, lack of coordination, seizures, coma and even cardiac arrest.
- Poinsettia One of the most common plants in homes during the winter and, at the same time, one of the most toxic for cats. If ingested, it can cause digestive disorders that will cause diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In case of direct contact with the sap of the plant, it will cause irritation to the feline's skin and eyes, itching and rashes.
- Daffodil All daffodil varieties are toxic to cats as a whole. On contact, the plant develops irritation on the skin, while ingested it produces serious gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and acute diarrhea, inflammation and abdominal pain, and cardiac disorders that can lead to the death of the animal.
- Tulip. All parts of the tulip are toxic, its ingestion can cause gastrointestinal irritation in cats accompanied by vomiting and diarrhoea.
In addition to these toxic plants, there are others that are highly dangerous for cats that also cause digestive, nervous or cardiac problems: garlic, apple and apricot trees (the seeds and pits of the fruits are toxic), aconite, privet, lupin, aloe, cotton wool, buttercup, horse chestnut, onion, colchic, foxglove, blackthorn, jimson weed, yellow jasmine, laurel, hedge plant, rhododendron, elder and yew.
If you have any of these plants at home, you should make sure that it stays out of your cat's reach. Likewise, if you suspect that your feline has been poisoned by ingestion or direct contact with any of them, don't hesitate and Take him to the vet as soon as possible Remember that gravity of the symptoms is tied to the amount ingested of the plant and that some are even fatal.
Toxic plants for cats that damage kidney function
The most common plants that cause renal system dysfunction in cats are lilyaceae (such as tulips, lilies and lilies) and hemerocallis (better known as day lilies). All parts of both plants are highly toxic, such is its toxicity that it is enough to ingest a simple leaf to develop symptoms.
In case of nibbling or ingesting one of the two plants, the cat will vomit, lose appetite and become decayed. As the damage to the renal system progresses, the feline will reduce vomiting until it completely disappears, will begin to cause anorexia due to lack of food and may even stop producing urine.
The symptoms are not immediate, the first signs usually appear after two hours after ingesting the plant. If we are not aware of them, kidney failure becomes acute after three days after intoxication. Therefore, it is essential to go to the vet, since only medical treatment can save our cat's life.
Toxic plants for cats that cause allergic dermatitis
In addition to the previous plants that cause dermatological disorders added to the gastrointestinal ones, there are others that mainly cause this type of problem in our cat. The most common are the following:
- Water Lily
- Daisy flower
- Nettle
- Poto
- Primula
During direct contact with any of these plants, the cat will develop skin irritation, rashes, redness, inflammation, itching, intense pain, stinging, blisters and even localized alopecia. If ingested, it can cause burning in the mouth and gastrointestinal problems.
In mild cases due to contact, we can treat the damage with anti-inflammatory ointments containing cortisone, always prescribed by veterinary experts, and cover the affected area with cold compresses to calm itching. However, in the most serious cases it is essential to go to the vet so that the most appropriate anti-allergy treatment can be administered intravenously to the feline.
