Any pet owner will be aware of the constant worry that their companion will eat something they aren’t supposed to eat.
It’s a completely understandable concern – animals are notoriously curious, and sometimes even the best will in the world can’t keep them out of trouble. These worries lead some owners to decide not to keep plants, but this doesn’t need to be the case: there are any number of plants which are not only non-toxic to pets, but which provide stimulation and enrich their environments.
Links to Lists of Non-Toxic Plants for Domestic Animals
Below are a set of links to plants which are non-toxic to most domestic animals. However, this does not mean that the plant is absolutely not dangerous: almost any plant can induce toxicity if ingested in high amounts, and animals may experience allergies just like humans – if a pet seems to be displaying unusual behaviour, contact a vet immediately and place the plant out of reach.
Dengarden: https://dengarden.com/gardening/Non-Toxic-House-Plants-For-Homes-Children-Cats-and-Dogs
This is a list of eight houseplants which are safe for children, cats, and dogs. Some of the plants on the list are safe only to children, but these are clearly marked. The article also provides a simple table of eight more common houseplants and their toxicity to cats, dogs, and children. The list towards the end also provides information on safe herbs which can be grown indoors, which is great for sourcing alternatives to the typical houseplants and adding variety to a non-toxic environment for pets.
Gulley Greenhouse: https://www.gulleygreenhouse.com/non-toxic-houseplants/
This is a fairly minimalistic article with more items, but less in the way of information than the Dengarden. It provides information about non-toxic plants with brief directions for growing. However, as it doesn’t indicate whether each plant has the potential to be toxic, owners should be very careful to research each plant themselves before introducing them to a pet’s environment.
Perfect Plants: https://perfectplants.co.uk/plants-bulbs/house-plants/non-toxic-house-plants.html
This article is a very simple selection of plants. It prefaces its list with some brief information on plant toxicity, but there is little detail on the plants themselves. This is a great article for creating shortlists of pretty plants, but each item should be carefully researched, as a plant which is non-toxic to cats – for example – may be toxic to a dog or a free-roaming rabbit, something about which the article provides little information.
How do Plants Enrich a Pet’s Environment?
Pets thrive when given stimulation, whether it be through play and attention, or simply through ensuring that the area around them is comfortable and interesting. It isn’t unusual to walk into a cat owner’s home and see a large cat tree (a tree unique for being constructed in factories, not planted or grown, and invariably non-toxic) with multiple levels and plenty of hiding places: these allow cats to climb and sharpen their claws, as well as giving them somewhere from which they can observe their habitat. A dog owner’s house or garden may contain tunnels and chew toys, which hone a dog’s need for play.
However, in spite of an owner’s best efforts, sometimes the home environment can become hostile or stressful for pets: moving home, new arrivals to the family, and departures from the household are all major stressors. A stressor doesn’t have to be major, however, to prove distressing for a pet: fireworks from outside, visits from friends, and noise from redecorating can also be stressful for animals.
Plants can prove to be a great help for pets when this occurs – a large shrub, for example, is something for a pet to hide behind, whilst a trailing vine or hanging branch can prove to be a great distraction for bored cats. This is especially important as pets get older. Ageing cats and dogs can develop arthritis, just like humans, which can hinder their mobility: a cat with arthritis may find it difficult to climb, and a dog with arthritis may not be able to walk as far to some of the plant-filled areas it loves. A strategic arrangement of plants can make a real difference to pets as they age, as a cat who can’t climb to perches and cubby holes on shelves with steep jumps will be grateful to have a selection of stimulating hiding places closer to the ground.
What if a Cat Eats Something It Shouldn’t Have?
There are any number of plants which are toxic to cats, but by far the most notorious is the lily. Any species of lily can prove fatal to cats, even in very small amounts. Other plants toxic to cats include Daffodils, Elephant Ears, and Aloe Vera. These are not the only houseplants which are toxic to cats, and it’s really important to research any plant before buying it, even if it doesn’t appear on a list of toxic plants.
When a cat consumes a toxic plant, it will usually display symptoms quite quickly. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting are the most obvious, but by no means the only symptoms. A cat may display a lack of balance (appearing ‘wobbly’), salivate a lot, or have seizures. It may also appear short of breath. Although these are common and obvious symptoms, owners know their cats: if something seems wrong, the cat should be taken to the vet, whether or not it is displaying specific symptoms of poisoning. Similarly, if a cat has consumed a toxic plant, it should be taken to a vet immediately, regardless of whether it is displaying symptoms.
In the first instance of suspicion, owners should call the vet immediately for an emergency appointment. Waiting and watching to see if symptoms improve can delay potentially life-saving treatment.
Owners should bring details of the suspected poison to the vet, and – if possible – a sample of the plant. The vet will assess the cat’s condition, and usually treat it regardless of symptoms (cats are notorious for masking their symptoms from humans). Treatment usually involves a stomach pump and intravenous fluids, particularly if the cat is vomiting. The cat may also be kept at the vet as an inpatient for a few days.
Catnip and its Alternatives
Catnip is beloved not only by domestic cats, but also lynxes, cheetahs, and – less consistently – tigers and lions. The little herb excites and stimulates cats before making them very relaxed indeed. This is due to the pheromones it releases, which bind to some of the receptors in a cat’s nose and cause a harmless chemical reaction. Catnip does not have this effect on all cats – up to a third of cats will fail to respond to it – but this doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the effects: valerian will usually induce the same reaction in cats who don’t respond to catnip!
As long as it is in an environment with plenty of light, catnip is easy to grow and doesn’t require too much watering. It can grow to be quite big, and usually grows more effectively in gardens, but can certainly be grown indoors if owners are willing to maintain it. Catnip is an extraordinarily hardy plant, growing on every continent except Africa, so – unless the climate is extreme – owners need not worry about constant temperature regulation.
Catnip blossoms (Nepeta Cataria)
Other animals aren’t known to respond to catnip, but there are alternatives out there!
Dogs are purported to love aniseed plants (not to be confused with star anise) and will display a catnip-like response to it.
It is important to regulate the amount of aniseed a dog receives because, unlike cats with catnip, dogs won’t stop eating aniseed when they have had enough, which can cause an upset stomach.
Smaller pets, especially rabbits, are very stimulated by herbs – with basil being the main recommendation.
Giving herbs to a rabbit is a great alternative to bananas and papayas, whose high sugar content can cause rabbits to experience an upset stomach if too much is given.
To Sum Up…
In all, it is absolutely possible to keep an indoor garden which is not only safe for a pet, but which provides an enriching and stimulating environment.
With due research into non-toxic plants and symptoms of toxicity (just in case), a home filled with indoor plants is no more dangerous to a pet than any other home – and can even allow a pet to thrive!