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Cats and Plants

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Indoor plants have made another comeback; and we understand why. Multiple studies have shown the many benefits having indoor plants can have on you, but what about your pets? 


Quite a few indoor plants can be toxic to your animals so it's important to know which ones will need to be moved prior to bringing your kitten home.


Some common house plants that are toxic to your cats, at a glance: 

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  • Monstera 

  • Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)

  • Fiddle leaf fig

  • Philodendron

  • Pothos (Devil’s ivy)

  • English Ivy

  • Snake plant

  • String of pearls

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We recommend you grow bowls of cat grass around your home, this helps with digestion and fur balls and may also give them a plant 'fix' without compromising their health.


Bringing cut flowers into your home also needs to be given some thought as the ever popular Lily (Lilium and Hemerocallis) in bouquets are beautiful, but deadly to cats. Ingestion causes nephrotoxicity (acute kidney failure). All parts of the plant are toxic, including any water they've been sitting in. If you suspect your cat has come into contact with a Lily, IMMEDIATE veterinary attention is required. 

The following are some of the lilies that are toxic to cats to help you with identification if you end up receiving a bouquet as a gift:

Cats and Plants: About
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Cats and Plants: Image

Recommended resources:

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Australian Animal Poisons Hotline
1300 869 738
The Animal Poisons Helpline is a registered animal charity that provides a FREE service to pet owners.  The helpline is staffed by Poisons Specialists and specialist Veterinarians. It currently operates from 9am - 7pm Western Australian Time. 

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Another great resource online is the Pet Poison Hotline website. This is a US based site but the search function is excellent if you believe your cat has ingested something and want to quickly check toxicity and see what you should do.

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Our go to website when looking for plant toxicity prior to bringing one home is the ASPCA website. We recommend you take a look at this site if you're wondering about any plants you may already have in your home. 

An incredible resource for which we are very grateful is the Illinois University Library website. Here you can look up plants by scientific or common name. 

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