Pretty Deadly for Your Cat: 8 Toxic Plants

Houseplants and gorgeous gardens are the pride of many homeowners. We spend hours and lots of money selecting the perfect plant, tilling the soil and helping them to flourish. Plants inside the home have been shown to reduce indoor pollutants and freshen the air. Cut flowers from the florist can show someone that you care and can brighten up the room. But all of this beauty can be deadly... if you have a cat.

Many houseplants are toxic to both cats and dogs. Some can cause mild digestive upset while others can cause irreversible organ damage and death. It is important for all pet owners to be aware of these toxic plants and avoid having them in your home. Cats are especially at risk for poisoning, as they are very curious creatures and can jump up high to reach almost any plant for tasting.

8 Common Toxic Plants:

Lily

Lilies are beautiful and many varieties make beautiful bouquets and houseplants. Easter lilies are popular during the spring and Tiger lilies make their debut in the gardens all summer long. If your own a cat, think again before introducing any variety of lily into your home or garden. All parts of the lily are deadly if eaten by cats, including the pollen! Pollen from cut lilies in floral arrangements has been known to cause death in cats. The toxic principle is still unknown to science but something in the lily causes acute kidney failure in cats. If you have lilies nearby and your cat begins to show signs such as vomiting, anorexia, lethargy and less urination - seek veterinary medical care immediately.

Amaryllis

The amaryllis plant has large, showy blooms in red, white and other colors. It is a common gift around Christmas and Easter each year and bloom indoors and outdoors. The leaves and blooms are toxic to both cats and dogs, causing diarrhea, depression, vomiting, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, anorexia and seizures.

Oleander

Oleander plants are common in subtropical and tropical areas as outdoor ornamentals. They have long, slender leaves and pink to purple blooms. Outdoor cats and dogs can be exposed to oleander poisoning if they decide to take a quick bite of a bright bloom or clippings from landscaping crews. Signs of toxicity include heart arrhythmias, lethargy, hypothermia, vomiting, diarrhea and even sudden death.

Aloe Vera

Aloe is a popular plant to keep at home as a remedy for minor cuts and burns. Just snip off a portion of the plant and rub it on your skin... if you're a human! Aloe plants are toxic to cats and dogs, causing vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures and change in urine color.

Baby's Breath

A popular tiny white flower often used in floral arrangements, baby's breath is bite-sized for your curious kitten. Baby's breath's toxic principle causes vomiting, diarrhea and possibly dehydration in cats and dogs.

Diffenbachia

Diffenbachia, also known as "dumb-cane" is a popular houseplant. It is easy to care for and grows attractive tall, slender and sometimes striped leaves. It also contains a very irritating substances called calcium oxalate. Cats and small children often like to nibble on the leaves, causing numbness of the mouth and ulcerations if a large quantity is eaten. Other signs include excessive salivation, pawing at the mouth, difficulty swallowing, anorexia and vomiting.

Mistletoe

Christmas just isn't Christmas without hanging mistletoe. Even if it hangs high in your home, leaves can fall to the floor where dogs and cats can take a nibble. Kissing under the mistletoe may make your heart race, but it can cause just the opposite when eaten by your pets. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, low heart rate, erratic behavior, diarrhea, low blood pressure and difficulty breathing.

Cyclamen

These hardy potted plants are common gifts and are easy to care for. Their bright blooms, leaves and especially roots are toxic to dogs and cats. After ingestion, intense vomiting and diarrhea occur and some deaths have been reported.

"Curiosity killed the cat" and that is often what happens when cats are around the wrong plants. Taking a nibble here and there is annoying but can also be deadly. 

Do your pets a favor by doing a quick inventory of plants in your house and garden - it could save their life!

Credit: Deborah Shores

Things You Didn't Know About Your Cat

Your cat may be wiser than you can imagine.

You can tell that cats are exceptionally smart by simply observing them for a short time. They learn fast, and their abilities to observe, as well as make intellectual decisions based on their senses, are backed by thousands of years of evolution. When you try to understand their thoughts, you will be able to deepen your bond with them. Here are 3 unique traits:

What can I get out of this?

Though dogs may succeed in finding ways to please you, it is a different case with cats. Most of their motivation comes from discovering opportunities that would work to their personal benefit. They make decisions based on the things they get in return. For instance, they respond when called, not out of obedience, but due to the rewards they receive like the pieces of cat food that you give as a treat.

They have mastered the art of imitation.

In general, they are too smart that they can benefit from your routines and habits. They can manipulate you at every opportunity they get. If your pet cat finds out that you are always eager to rise from the bed to feed her every time she makes sounds, you can expect her to make noise each night.

Manipulation maneuvers.

When your present pet, especially if it is a cat, shows a healthy interest towards a new cat, allow them to get closer to one another.

Why do cats catch mice?

Cats are known to catch mice and they are naturally good at it. However, they do not do this because of hunger, but from a natural instinct. While this may not cause any problems, it would be best to discourage your pet cat from disturbing nature. It would help to use a collar that comes with a bell to warn unsuspecting birds to give them a chance to fly before your pet cat gets very close.

Why do they leave unwanted gifts behind?

There are some occasions when your cat might leave an unwanted surprise on your doorstep like a little mouse or something that's bigger. Researches are not 100% sure why they sometimes leave dead prey for their owners to see, but it must be one of these two reasons:

They want to show affection to their owner. Since they love to chase, kill and play with dead mice, they feel that you should too.

They do it because of their parenting instinct. Cats tend to supply food for their family.

Another factor to consider is the manner by which cats do their hunting. Cats like to stalk and chase their prey until the latter are exhausted and worn out. In addition to this, they like to do this in their territory.

Prevention

The most effective way to prevent your pet cat from hunting is to see to it that she stays indoors. This may not be practical, especially when she is used to the outdoors. Nevertheless, you can try to motivate her to stay home by having more play time with her. Activities like playing with other cats and chasing toys can give them the stimulation they need to keep them from going out of the house and hunting.

 Credit: Karina Popa

Cat Psychology - Is My Cat Frightened?

Fear in cats and anger have a few elements in common and both come from the same set of instincts - the ones that tell them to fight, flee or freeze. These instincts are used by most animals to judge a situation and their reaction to it. But what other signs are there that a cat is frightened and what can be done to calm them down?

Signs of fear

A frightened cat will often show signs associated with anger because this is better than showing fear. They will hiss, spit and growl at the cause of their fear while making themselves look big and fearsome by standing their fur on end, called piloerection. If the cause of the fear comes closer to them, they will scratch, swipe or bite the object to try to get it to leave them alone and this can be nasty if your hand is the object in question.

A frightened cat is most likely to retreat to a hiding spot, often behind a sofa, under a bed or other dark and sheltered spot. This is where they feel safe and that they defend the position against an attacker. Alternatively, if the cat is caught out in the open it is likely to freeze as many predators work by motion and cannot detect prey that stays perfectly still as easily as moving prey.

Another sign of fear is losing control of their bladder or bowels outside the litter box. This is particularly common in younger cats who have less control of their waterworks and in older cats for the same reason. This may accompany freezing in one place as the fear causes the reaction and their instinct tells them to stay perfectly still.

Causes of fear

Lots of things can cause a fear reaction in a cat, some seem natural and other completely irrational. Cats can even suffer from phobias, often beginning when they are young and have negative experiences that form into a phobia of the stimulus involved.

Cats can be afraid of another animal, especially one seen as a predator such as a dog. They can also be frightened by people they don't know or even a specific person they do know if they have negative connections in their mind. Kids often frightened cats because they move quickly and make loud, random noises that the cats can't understand. Loud noises also cause fear, which is why if you drop something, the cat will often flee even if the falling item doesn't touch them. This is why fireworks are particularly stressful for cats even without seeing the lights - the loud bang makes them jump and they cannot see anything causing it.

Dealing with a frightened cat

The most important thing to remember when dealing with a frightened cat is that you can't talk them down, calm them down or force them to stop being frightened. If you approach them in this state, you are likely to receive an injury. Give them space, try to keep everything relatively calm and quiet and leave them in their hiding place until they have calmed down.

Credit: Angela Tempest