Warning: These popular houseplants are poisonous to cats

Plants make our apartment cozy, add colorful accents and also offer indoor cats some greenery. But what many people forget when buying houseplants:Most plants are poisonous to cats.

The problem is that many cats don't just see our plants as decorations, but like to play with them or nibble on the leaves. This can be fatal, especially with highly poisonous plants.

What to do if you love both cats and plants? Luckily, you don't have to do without house and balcony plants entirely. There are plants that are completely harmless to cats, as well as plants that pose no danger if they are not eaten in large quantities.

We explain how to recognize poisonous plants and symptoms of poisoning in cats. Below are lists of poisonous and cat-friendly houseplants.

If you take a closer look at the topic of poisonous plants for cats, you quickly realize that there are many different and contradictory opinions about it. While some say that orchids are harmless, others believe that orchids are poisonous to cats.

The question of whether a plant is poisonous or non-toxic to cats cannot always be answered in general terms. The cat's age, health and size play a role, as does the type of plant and the amount a cat ingests - the dose makes the poison.

However, certain plants such as poinsettias, Christmas roses or lilies are highly toxic to cats, dogs and most other household members, including humans.

But how do you tell if a plant is poisonous to cats? There are some characteristics that many poisonous plants have in common:

If you can see directly which plant your cat has eaten, it's best to drive awaygo to the vet immediatelyand take a leaf of the plant with you.

But most of the time we are not directly present when our cat gets into mischief again. To make matters worse, many poisons only take effect after 12 to 24 hours. So if your cat is showing signs of poisoning, it may have been a while since he nibbled on a poisonous plant.

If you are unsure about a plant, it is best to contact a veterinarian or seek advice from a garden center before purchasing. You can find even more information about poisonous plants for cats in the book “Cat Plants” by Sabine Ruthenfranz(here at Amazon*).

List of poisonous plants for cats:

Luckily, there are many plants that are safe for your cats. Even if they are nibbled on by your cats, poisoning cannot occur. Our overview does not claim to be complete, but contains the most popular plants that are not only non-toxic but also beautiful.

List of non-toxic plants for cats:

To ensure that cats and plants can live together peacefully, there are a few things to consider. Of course, the safest thing to do is not to bring any poisonous plants into your house. But if you have a favorite plant that you don't want to part with even though it is poisonous to cats, the following tips can help you:

1. Place poisonous plants out of reach of cats
Hang your plants in hanging baskets or place them on wall shelves that your cat can't reach.

2. Place the plants in cat-free rooms
In many apartments there are rooms such as the guest room or the bathroom that the cat is not allowed to enter. Otherwise, the hallway may also be suitable. The poisonous plants can grow here without posing a danger to your cat.

3. Offer your cat alternatives
Even in the wild, cats love to nibble on grass and herbs because, among other things, this helps them regurgitate swallowed hair. Indoor cats also follow this natural need! That's why you should always provide your indoor cat with cat grass. This has the practical side effect that your cat will be less interested in the rest of your plants. Unfortunately, this is not a guarantee that your cat will not nibble on other plants.

4. Provides enough employment
If indoor cats don't get enough variety and activity, they quickly get bored and start doing stupid things. And the plants often have to believe in it too. But if your cats get enough other stimuli and opportunities, they will have less interest in your plants.