The succulents are one of the most wanted breeds of plants when they come to indoor gardening. But having a pet in your house is perhaps making you halt and think are succulents poisonous to cats?
Living in a household with pets and succulents together demands a lot of attention to the dos and don’ts. You need to ensure that both get their space and safety. In such circumstances, it is quite natural to think about succulent toxicity?
Just like you, every other pet owner is haunted by this thought are succulents poisonous to pets.
You don’t need to sacrifice your love for succulents and with the right information regarding the poisonous nature of cactus and succulents, you will easily make your choice.
To answer queries like are cactus poisonous to dogs or are cactus poisonous to cats, we need to pinpoint the perilous ones.
Do succulent plants harm?
Succulents are one of the favorites to home gardens being tagged as ornamental plants. But when it comes to planting them for your indoor garden, you might have questions in your mind like are succulents poisonous?
Well, let me clear you out on the query – are succulents poisonous to cats? Not all of its kind are poisonous and only a few can be categorized as toxic.
Although not all are toxic to your pets, it is good to know about the toxic ones before you purchase one from the marketplace.
How can pets be affected by succulents?
If you own a cat and wondering are succulents harmful to cats then you first need to know how a succulent can harm your pet. It has been observed in the nature of pets that they tend to chew or uproot, most of the time for fun.
Most of the problems arise on ingestion of these succulents by the pets leading to stomach infection.
Having known this you would certainly like to figure out which succulents are poisonous to cats or the pet you own. Let me help you providing by listing some toxic succulents for you.
Some poisonous cacti plants
Planning to own a succulent to decorate your home garden? Obviously, you can have it in your home garden.
The desire for owning one has always been high for plant lovers but you need to do full research on are succulents poisonous to dogs and cats?
In case you have a pet cat, you might wonder what succulents are poisonous to cats. To answer this, let’s straight away hit the list below.
1. Aloe (Aloe Vera)
Aloe Vera is treated like a celebrity in terms of herbal healthcare but it also raises eyebrows for pet owners thinking are Aloe Vera plants poisonous to cats and other pets.
The plant with its thick greenish leaves gives a magnificent look and is always luring people to the plantation.
Shocking but true, this is indeed a poisonous cactus and can affect your pet.
What makes it dangerous?
It is the Aloin found in the plant’s stems, a substance highly capable of putting excess water into your pet’s colon if consumed.
Symptoms
- Urine coloration change
- Tremors & Lethargy
- Diarrhoea &Vomiting
If you observe such signs visit a veterinarian. Don’t forget to alarm your friends for Aloe Vera is one of them which are succulents poisonous to cats and other pets.
2. Fiddle Leaf (Panda Plant)
Can you imagine the Panda Plant being poisonous succulents for your pet? Not at least by its cute name.
The plants are long-lasting shrubs with greenish leaves having a tinge of grey. The margins and the tips have a spot in brown and also white hairs.
Talking of how much are succulents poisonous to cats and other pets, Fiddle Leaf needs a prominent mention.
What makes it dangerous?
The quotient that makes it fall under the category of succulents that are poisonous to cats is the presence of calcium oxalate which causes irritation to the body tissues.
Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Facial Irritation
- Problems in swallowing food
The above symptoms indicate a possibility for your pet consuming succulents toxic to cats and dogs.
3. Kalanchoe Delagnoesis
Having nicknamed Mother of Millions, it produces sparkling blossoms with oozing colors which makes it very popular among succulent houseplants. They are very beautiful and require very low maintenance.
This is why most succulent lovers end up doubting are succulents kalanchoe poisonous to cats or not, but sadly they are.
What makes it dangerous?
It subdues bufadienolides cardiac glycoside making kalanchoe poisonous to cats a threat as it is considered as one of the most dangerous succulents poisonous to cats and dogs.
Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Irregular heart rate
If you are having these succulents and cats, mark Kalanchoe Delagnoesis as one which is succulents poisonous to dogs and cats.
4. Kalanchoe Diagremonteana
Another from the Kalanchoe family, known as Alligator Plant, deserves a mention in the list for your query – are succulents poisonous to dogs?
The plants start growing at any place wherever they are landed because of their fast-growing nature and tolerance to heat.
It grows easily everywhere and causes a fatal reaction to your pets if consumed.
What makes it dangerous?
A kind of steroid, diagremonteanin, is present in the plant which is not at all friendly to your pet.
Symptoms
- Weakness
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea & Vomiting
In worst cases, your dog might start having irregular heartbeats or even seizures.
5. Euphorbia Milii
The cacti having biblical relations, also known as Crown of Thorns, are succulent plants poisonous for pets. However, despite being toxic they are highly adaptable towards indoor plantations.
The flowers of this plant are reddish, pinkish or whitish in shade giving it a colorful outlook.
Found in attractive colors and is a descendent of Madagascar, might bluff you to think that they are succulents safe for dogs and cats, but they are not.
What makes it dangerous?
If you ask can cats eat cinnamon, I must say not always or maybe up to a certain limit. But for this plant, its milky sap contains toxic latex which is very toxic and induces irritation, so containing it’s a big NO from me to have these around your pets.
Symptoms
- Nausea &Vomiting
- Skin irritation
- Blisters & mouth swelling (for dogs)
They are succulents poisonous to cats as well as dogs and can be fatal if consumed.
6. Euphorbia Tiruacalli
This pencil cactus, for its slim & short outlook, is a favorite to modern house decors. They are mainly descendants of Africa and Madagascar.
However, shockingly, this is another member of the Euphorbia family to be tagged as one of those which are succulents poisonous to cats and other pets.
What makes it dangerous?
It is the plant’s sap that makes these succulents poisonous to cats causing a lot of irritation to your pet if consumed or touched.
Symptoms
- Mild stomach irritation
- Facial irritation
In comparison to others which are succulents poisonous to cats, these plants are dangerous but not fatal.
7. Jade Plant
A Jade Plant is often found in our neighborhood and is commonly known as Crassula Ovata. Is the jade plant poisonous to cats? Yes, they are toxic in nature.
You might be wondering what makes the jade plant toxic to cats? You will be shocked to find the jade plant or money tree poisonous to cats.
What makes it dangerous?
It is quite mysterious as to what makes it fall in the category of cacti which are succulents poisonous to cats, maybe because of its rubber-like stems.
Symptoms
- Inactivity
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
However, as already said are jade plants poisonous to dogs or not is still unclear.
8. Silver Jade Plant
Also known as Crassula Arborensces, the cactus is recognized by its silvery-greenish round leaves & bloody edges.
The plants are descendants from South Africa and have attractive silver dollar leaves.
It is a bitter truth to know that these beautiful plants are succulents poisonous to cats.
What makes it dangerous?
It is still not deciphered as to why these plants are termed poisonous cacti, but this imparity of the toxic substance makes it more dangerous.
Symptoms
- Nausea
- Vomiting
So, if your friend asks are any succulents poisonous to cats? You can suggest them too.
9. Senecio Rowleyanus
Also known as the String of Pearls, this deserves a mention for your question – are succulents poisonous to birds?
The star-like appearance makes them a perfect choice for your interiors and looks good in hanging pots.
But then there is a high chance that your canary will fly from its cage, if open, and bite its leaves causing some health issues to itself.
It is also a threat to anyone with any other pets or even visiting you with their pet.
What makes it dangerous?
The University of California states its sap as the main contributor to its toxicity causing skin problems in cats and dogs.
Symptoms
- Diarrhoea &Vomiting
- Lethargy & Irregular body movement
- Dermatitis or mild irritation
If you spot these symptoms, give your pet treatment.
10. Snake Plant
Sansevieria or the Snake plant, with an intimidating name, is truly harmful to your pets. The plants are often found in houses for their ability to filtrate formaldehyde and toxic benzene from the air.
You might be wondering that when it is sounding beneficial, what makes the snake plants toxic to cats.
What makes it dangerous?
It has designer yellow bordered leaves that contain Aponins, causing mild toxicity to your housemate if engulfed.
Symptoms
- Gastrointestinal issues like diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
Now that you have adequate knowledge about toxic succulent plants, you can gift yourself one from the market, provided you know how to keep your pets safe.
Let me guide you on the preventions and measures you can take.
How to deter your pet from a toxic cactus?
If you already own a cactus plant and wondering are succulents poisonous to cats or if you are strong wish to have one from the above-mentioned list, you need to cautious about few things.
As the saying goes “where there is a will there is a way”, indeed there are so many precautionary steps that you can follow to keep your pet away from hazardous cacti plants.
Here are some helpful recommendations for you.
1. Separate Manually
This will require some manual efforts from you and interventions to your pet’s playful attitude. You can stop your cat by taking it away once you find it approaching the plant.
As you know the answer to your question are succulents poisonous to cats, is affirmative you need to be a strong observant of your cat’s behavior.
You can also make a separate arrangement for both of them. Maybe the room of the place where you have decided to keep your succulent, you have to be careful and take measures so that your pet does not reach that spot.
2. Keep them Entertained
Well, the nature of your pet to find your succulent plant is because of its playing habits. It needs some regular attention and entertainment.
Since you now know the responses to your query are succulents poisonous to cats, you must also know that cats are very curious about things that are around.
In case they do not have a thing to grab onto, they will surely poke your toxic cactus plant.
If you have a cat you can give it some cat grass and for dogs, soft bones will be a good choice.
3. Pet Repellent Sprays
On getting clarification for your thought – are succulents poisonous to dogs, you want to more careful. You want something which will be effective to keep away your cat from the succulent.
No need to worry, as you can opt for pet repellent sprays which are readily available in the market. You need to spray them on the surrounding of the plant and its strong pungent odor will surely help to keep your pet away.
If you think these manufactured repellents can be harmful to your pet, you can try some homemade remedies too by preparing a repellent in your kitchen.
What if my pet gets poisoned?
Apart from your query are succulents poisonous to cats, you might also be worried thinking if your pet engulfs a portion from your plant.
Well, to be honest, if both succulents and your pets coexist, then there are chances that they can get poisoned despite your precautions and carefulness.
But don’t panic in such situations and you need to take up some quick measures to restore it back to health.
If you find any symptoms straight away ring down your veterinary doctor. But before you call your vet, be ready with the below details.
Your pet’s breed, age, gender.
The kind of plants you have – if it’s a succulent, remember to tell its name.
The time since when you observed the symptoms.
The symptoms that you observed.
Summary
This brings us to the end of today’s discussion. As I already mentioned that even if you have the thought of succulent toxicity, remember very few succulents are actually toxic.
Succulents can be easily potted and planted at home and with fewer efforts, you can conserve and grow one of them. Now that you know about the toxic succulents you will easily be able to overcome your fears and buy your first succulent houseplant.
To know more about a succulent plant’s nature or whether it is toxic to your pet you can call the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Poison Control Center or give a ring to the Pet Poison helpline.
Here is a list of 10 safe plants for cats, dogs, and pets.