Poisonous plants

[KimmyMarkks]

I have a cat at home and someone mentioned to me that poinsettias are poisonous to them. Is this true?
Does anyone know what other indoor plants I should stay away from living with a cat?

 

[ChanellG]

Does your cat make it a habit of chewing on your plants? Because that is the only way you would have to worry about having a poinsettia in the house. It's not toxic via proximity; as long as your cat isn't a vegetarian and doesn't decide to make a salad you shouldn't have anything to worry about. The other option is to have a cat free zone.

 

[amelia88]

There's a good list here (albeit pretty long - but it's certainly comprehensive!) from the ASPCA about what plants are toxic to cats:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

Hopefully it's useful for you!

 

[Beth_B]

What ChanellG said. Many plants are potentially toxic to cats and other animals - but it's mostly a non-issue unless you have a cat that actually eats house plants. Cats are obligate carnivores and apart from liking some grasses and maybe catnip, they rarely eat foliage.
And of that ASPCA list, it's true but in many if not most of those cases, a cat would have to actually eat a very, very large serving of the "toxic" plants to actually get sick.
I've had cats (and dogs, and other animals) for decades and never worried about "toxic" plants because I've never had a pet that was interested in them.

 

[alexiskilgannon]

I wouldn't worry too much about poisonous plants unless your cat has a habit of getting into them. I know that my dogs would take a chomp out of anything they could get their hands on, so poisonous plants are not an option for me.

 

[Corzhens]

We have pointsettias that are usually leftover of what we buy for Christmas for the added decoration. Last year we bought 4 pots that are all red and 3 had died due to neglect and the one left doesn't look good so we might buy again to have the red flowers. We are careful with the pointsettia because there are many cases that the sap can give you an eye problem. Not exactly making you blind but it burns the eyes, said the doctors.

 

[KimmyMarkks]

Wow thanks that list really helps. Unfortunately my cat does like to eat plants and grass (then throws it back up). Otherwise I wouldn't be as nervous! She probably wouldn't eat large amounts but I still get cautious.
That's good to know about the poinsettia sap.

 

[IcyBC]

That list is very good to know, and poinsettia is one of those that I have read before. Outdoor plants are lily of the valley, nightshade, and some others that I have to keep my dog from nipping on them too!