Cats love a good challenge, and your houseplants are among the best. They spend all day and night walking around and snoozing in your home. Like everyone else, cats get bored from time to time. When they get bored, it’s much like when a toddler gets bored, starts making messes, and then morphs into full-blown destruction. Your cat isn’t much different. Let’s talk about Hoya Carnosa and Silver Queen plants and if they are safe around your furball.
How Toxic is Hoya Carnosa Tricolor to Cats?
With so many hazards in our homes and yards, it can be challenging to kitty-proof everything. No one wants to spend all their time trying to chase away the culprit from your plants. However, your cat may not have a problem constantly trying to snatch your plant up. In the case of the Hoya Carnosa tricolor or wax plant, sometimes called wax, you can rest at ease knowing it will not harm your cat.
The twisted vines and leaves make for an exciting houseplant you can train to grow in specific ways with time. Even though the plant is nontoxic to your cat, keeping it out of your cat’s reach is wise. The Hoya Carnosa Tricolor can cause some irritation to your cat’s mouth and throat and cause drooling. It may also give them an upset stomach with vomiting and diarrhea. This is not serious and will pass. If you are concerned with your cat’s behavior, get to your vet to be safe and put your plant out of reach. It is a good idea to bring a photo or piece of your plant along for identification purposes.
The sap the plant oozes is an irritant and is there to fend off predators like your cat. It can be unpleasant if they get it on their skin. Wash it off as best as possible with cat-safe soap and warm water. Gently combing out the rest must also occur once it’s hardened. Either way, it isn’t going to be the end of your cat.
Pesticides or fertilizers may be present and can be toxic to your cats. It’s best to repot in organic soil to avoid your cat getting into it. Chemicals like those can kill your cat or put it in extreme distress.
Is the Silver Queen Plant Toxic to Cats?
The lovely and common Silver Queen or Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) is another houseplant your cat might stumble across. This bulky and leafy plant is a favorite because of its simple care and it’s forgiveness for mistakes. The leaves look unusually inviting to your cat, and they might not be able to resist taking a nibble, digging in the potting soil, or even using it as a bathroom.
It’s best to keep this plant out of reach of cats because it is somewhat toxic. It is not fatal like some and will not affect the heart or kidneys, but caution should still be used. If your cat munches on some of the Silver Queen, it might have a sore mouth and throat. Like many other plants, the plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and can irritate your cat’s mouth and throat with its prickly texture. Most cats stop trying to steal a bite after they experience the burning pain from the crystals.
Will Eating Silver Queen Result in a Trip to the Vet for Your Cat?
Although the plant will not seriously harm most cats, some cats might react more severely if they have other health issues. The Silver Queen will immediately cause a burning sensation when bitten, followed by pain. Other possible symptoms may be excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth, foaming at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, throat swelling, and issues breathing or swallowing. These symptoms can be scary but are very rarely fatal.
The more severe cases should be brought to your vet immediately. If you believe your cat’s throat has swollen or that it is having issues breathing (you will notice short, fast breaths, much like hyperventilating), get it to the vet as soon as possible. They can give your cat some medicine to relieve the scary swelling and get them feeling back to normal quickly. Delaying this could result in your cat choking or being unable to breathe correctly. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your sweet purrbaby.
What Kind Of Plants Are Safest for Your Cat?
It can seem like the world is filled with dangers just waiting to take your sweet cat from you. However, you can do a few things to help your bored, plant-obsessed kitty get their way and live to tell about it. In many pet stores and boutiques, cat grass and catnip plants are being sold free of chemicals and ready for your cat to do some serious snacking.
Cat grass is an excellent alternative to eating your plants because it is very fine and easily digestible; it has tons of fiber to help aid with digestion. Grass also helps kitty cough up that hairball, so if you have one prone to hairball issues, this may help! You can also grow your very own cat grass at home. The best grasses are oats, alfalfa, wheat, orchard, or rye. Taking care of your cat grass is also easy. It requires only a small amount of water weekly and should do fine growing anywhere inside your house. Cat grass can keep your cat safe and healthy while allowing your plants to thrive.
