Are succulents poisonous to cats?

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Cats and Succulents

Are succulents poisonous to cats? You decided to decorate your home, or garden, and agreed on some lovely succulents. But have you ever wondered if they can pose danger for your pets?

are succulents poisonous to cats

Having succulents at home is a growing trend because they are very easy to take care of. They come in all shapes and sizes, are very easy to maintain, have a wide range of colors, and some of them even bloom. They are perfect for almost any space in your home.

Because of the rising trend of having succulents in our home, it is very important for veterinarians to be able to warn their clients about the potential danger these plants can bring to their pets. It is true that most succulents are harmless to pets, but there are few species that can cause problems.

Succulents That Aren’t Poisonous to Cats

Despite the reputation they have as being dangerous to cats, there are a number of types of succulents that are actually safe for felines!

If you’ve read our blog before, you may remember that we wrote about how your home could be full of household items that can poison your cat — but you may not suspect that even plants might be harmful to Fluffy.

That’s right: although cats may seem to rule the roost, there are actually a few plants that shouldn’t be brought into the house for your feline friends!

You might already know that cats love to munch on grass, and they associate this with good feelings — but did you know that for some cat owners, this can cause trouble?

One study found that up to 90% of cats will consume grass at some point in their lives, as they are likely doing so because.

This causes health problems in approximately five percent of cats, according to experts at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

In fact, grass is a very dangerous type of plant for cats that we mistakenly thought were safe!

Some cat owners may also be convinced that their cat won’t go near poison ivy — but this isn’t true either. Studies have found that cats can be poisoned by two different types of plant life: Poison Ivy and Rue.

poison ivy

Both types of plants contain urushiol, which is one of the ingredients in poison ivy and Rue, while both plants also contain oils that can cause an allergic reaction in cats.

We prepared this infographic to educate veterinarians, future veterinarians, and pet owners about which succulent plants can be harmful to cats.

Are succulents poisonous to cats
  • ALOE VERA
    – Saponins and anthraquinones found in aloe vera can cause lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting if ingested.
    Anthraquinones, anthracene, and glycosides found in true aloe can cause vomiting and a change in urine color (red).
  • EUPHORBIA TIRUCALLI
    – Euphorbias contain a white sap in their leaves that can irritate the skin. For cats, coming into contact with the sap can cause a rash. Ingesting this succulent can irritate the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting.
  • KALANCHOES
    – Kalanchoes can cause cats to become ill.
    If ingested, the cat may show signs of vomiting or diarrhea, and sometimes (rarely) an abnormal heart rhythm.
  • CRASSULA OVATA (JADE PLANT)
    – The toxic principles of this specific succulent are unknown, ingesting this plant can cause clinical signs such as vomiting, depression, and incoordination in cats.
  • SANSEVIERIA TRIFASCIATA
    – The chemical compound in snake plants that can cause irritation is saponin, which is also found in various other plant species.
    The symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when ingested.

All information about the succulents poisonous to cats was collected from “The Poison Potential of Succulents” and “9 succulent plants poisonous to cats, dogs, or pets”.

If you want to learn about more houseplants poisonous to cats, read “Poisonous plants for cats” on our blog.

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