Cats have taken over our lives and hearts. People worldwide watch cat videos and get fancy cat trees, toys, and food for their little cat of royalty. They love us or maybe just tolerate us. Either way, we want to make our homes as comfortable as possible for our cats, and that includes cat-proofing and making sure there isn’t anything toxic in their environment that can hurt them. This includes aloe and bamboo plants. Let’s find out if they are safe to have around your fur child.
Is Aloe Safe for Cats?
Aloe, a popular succulent, is a common plant in households and can be used for many things. Its pulp has excellent burn-soothing properties and is used as a laxative. It can also be found in numerous skincare products. Drinking juice also has many health benefits for humans. The question remains if this is a safe plant for cats to live with. Unfortunately, you’ll need to find a safer place to keep your aloe plants because they are highly toxic to cats.
The two dangers in the aloe plant are saponins and anthraquinones. Saponins are an irritant, and once inside your cat’s mouth, they cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat. One of the first signs that your cat has spent some time with your aloe plant is foaming at the mouth or drooling. They may also paw at their mouths to eliminate what’s hurting them. They may also vomit severely and have diarrhea, drowsiness, and depression of the central nervous system. The saponins are a defense mechanism for the aloe plant to ward off predators and insects.
Anthraquinones are a potent laxative, which is why humans use them as a constipation cure. They can cause your cat to have increased water in its colon and elevated mucus production. Too much vomiting and diarrhea can cause vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, red urine, tremors, and severe dehydration. It is unlikely that the result will be fatal unless your cat is already suffering from health issues. Another concern with aloe plants is the latex found within the skin. This can also cause sometimes severe gastrointestinal issues in cats and dogs.
If you suspect your cat has eaten some of your aloe plants, immediately get them to the vet. Sometimes, it can take 12 hours before the noticeable symptoms set in. By then, your cat may have been feeling bad for hours. Your vet will be able to give your cat what it needs to stabilize it and stop the vomiting and diarrhea. Intervenous fluids are helpful when a cat is suffering from severe dehydration from diarrhea or vomiting. With severe poisoning, your vet may keep your cat overnight to remain on fluids.
Is Bamboo Safe for Cats?
Bamboo grows wild and can be found as decorative plants in our homes. Several “imposter bamboo plants” are sold as such, but in reality, they are not in the bamboo family. They are in the lily family and can cause severe side effects. These bamboo plants are called Sacred Bamboo (Nandina domestica) and Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana). Sacred bamboo has cyanide within it and is sometimes deadly to cats. Lucky bamboo is very common as a house plant. It has bamboo-like stalks and leaves, typically twisted into shapes and used as desk displays. It can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, unsteady gait, and stomach pain.
True bamboo (Bambusoideae) has over 1200 species and is mainly found in large outdoor potted plants and in the wild. It is the most prominent member of the grass family. It is invasive and can multiply, spreading across the land. It’s unlikely you will ever see true bamboo growing indoors. It needs soil and direct sunlight and can grow three feet a day! Genuine bamboo is non-toxic to cats and dogs, but knowing the difference between ornamental lucky bamboo and genuine bamboo is crucial. True bamboo contains a whopping 22% protein and is a healthy snack for your cat to chew on.
True bamboo (Bambusoideae), an evergreen perennial with hard hollow shoots, is safe and tasty to cats. It is crucial to ensure it is Bambusoideae bamboo and not the dangerous types. Cats can snack on the stalks or foliage and get a dose of protein. The older leaves tend to pack the most protein. However, the new growth shoots and leaves contain taxiphyllin, which is not a fun chemical. Once ingested, it turns into cyanide and can be dangerous to cats.
The only concern with true bamboo is whether it’s been treated with insecticides or chemical fertilizers. Typically, bamboo found growing wild will not have been treated with anything except natural soil, sun, and rain and is, therefore, basically safe.
Living with Cats and Bamboo
Bamboo is a healthy choice for a snack for your cat, as long as they aren’t eating new shoots. The new shoots contain taxiphyllin which as discussed earlier, becomes cyanide in the stomach. Of course, too much of anything new will upset your cat’s stomach. As you would with any household hazard to your cat, move the lucky bamboo to a room cats cannot enter or simply keep it at work. Otherwise, you could face a poisoned cat and an expensive vet bill.
Bring your indoor cat a stalk from the wild bamboo outdoors and remove the leaves. It can be used as an occasional treat. Another safe option for keeping your cat happy with their own plant is to buy them some cat grass from a pet store. It is free of chemicals and harmful fertilizers. They can safely snack as they wish on the fine grass, and you won’t need to worry about toxins or issues that may arise after they eat it. Having a happy cat is vital to a happy home.
