Meet Chester, the charming feline who strolled into our lives nearly a year ago and quickly became an irreplaceable part of our family. This playful and affectionate kitty has a penchant for mischief, particularly when it comes to our beloved plants.
I’ve shared my home with cats and houseplants for years without encountering any issues. Chester, however, dances to his own tune. His fascination with plants involves nuzzling, brushing leaves against his face, and, of course, munching.
Chester and the Desert Rose: Last week, my husband caught Chester in the act as he placed a desert rose leaf in his mouth, leading to an unexpected frothing episode. The desert rose, a striking succulent with thick leaves and a blossoming flower, graces our yard thanks to our mild winter climate. However, a recent squirrel-induced incident prompted my husband to bring one indoors for replanting.
Since Chester was frothing, my husband googled desert rose poisoning and uncovered a worrisome fact. All parts of the desert rose are highly poisonous. In fact, the sap has been used for arrow poisoning for hunting large game throughout Africa. The plant contains cardiac glycosides. When ingested, these cardiac glycosides can alter the electrical activity in the heart, which can be life-threatening.
My husband must have come into the room at just the right time as Chester suffered no ill effects; we are grateful that he continues to be his usual lively self.
First 5 Top Poisonous Houseplants: I realized it was high time to investigate the safety of the plants in my home for my plant-loving pet, Chester. In the next two posts, I’ll be highlighting the Top 10 Poisonous Houseplants in Florida. The plants under discussion today include Dieffenbachia, Swiss Cheese Plant, Heartleaf Philodendron, Arrowhead, and ZZ Plant – all belonging to the Araceae family.
Common Name: Dumbcane Botanical Name: Dieffenbachia spp. Family: Araceae
Dieffenbachia is native to tropical South America, the Caribbean, and the West Indies. Their natural habitat is shadowed by the canopy of the rainforest, making them an ideal low-light indoor plant. The leaves are broad and paddle-shaped. They are green with spots of cream, yellow or white.
It’s poisonous to both dogs and cats. This plant’s harmful toxins can result in burning/swelling of the mouth and tongue as well as difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, and increased salivation. In some cases it can cause breathing difficulties and even death.
Common Name: Swiss Cheese Plant Botanical Name: Monstera deliciosa Family: Araceae
Monstera are evergreen tropical vines and shrubs that are native to Central America. They are famous for their natural leaf-holes, which has led to the rise of their nickname, Swiss Cheese Plant. The Monstera’s leaf-holes are called fenestrations.
All Monstrera species and their plant parts are toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. While it has edible fruit, the unripe fruit is still toxic. The main toxic agent present is needle-like, insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Ingestion causes irritation and inflammation of the mouth, throat, eyes, and digestive tract. The crystals can penetrate the membranes of the mouth and cause burning and irritation.
Common Name: Heartleaf Philodendron Botanical Name: Philodendron hederaceum Family: Araceae
Philodendron is native to Mexico, West Indies and Brazil. It I a climbing evergreen vine that grows up to 10 to 15 feet tall in its natural habitat. The leaves are loosing, heart-shaped and dark green.
Enzymes that breakdown protein and calcium oxalate are present in the sap of heartleaf philodendron. All parts of the plant contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals. The symptoms range from oral irritation, pain, and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lips. It can also severely affect the digestive tract, skin, kidneys, and lungs. It can result in lethal poisoning in cats.
Common Name: Arrowhead Botanical Name: Syngonium podophyllum Family: Araceae
The Arrowhead is also known as the green-gold naphthysis. Arrowhead refers to the arrow-shaped leaves that can grow up to 12 inches long. In cultivation, the leaves vary in shades of green with variegation, while in the wild they are mostly light green without any white spots.
Arrowhead vine has become highly invasive in Florida, escaping cultivation, and is now considered a Category I invasive by the Florida Invasive Species Council.
All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals. If ingested, it can cause severe mouth pain and swelling. The plant sap can also cause severe skin burning and eye damage. Other symptoms such as gastric irritation, salivation, burning sensation of lips, mouth, tongue, and throat, and difficulty in speaking can also occur.
Common Name: ZZ Plant Botanical Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia Family: Araceae
The ZZ Plant is also know as the Zuzu plant or Zanzibar gem. It is a tropical perennial plant native to Africa. The plant has compound leaves (feather-like) that are smooth, glossy, dark green, and up to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. Each leaf has a pair of six to eight glossy green leaflets.
The ZZ plant also contains high levels of calcium oxalates. If chewed or ingested, it can result in immediate pain or a burning sensation in the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat. Other symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting can also be observed.
In the event that you suspect your pet (or child) has chewed on a potentially toxic plant, swift action is crucial. Immediately remove the plant from their mouth and gently rinse their mouth with water. It’s essential to identify the specific plant your pet ingested. Promptly contact the poison control center or reach out to your veterinarian for guidance. They can provide valuable advice on what symptoms to monitor and recommend appropriate actions.
I want to emphasize that this information is not intended to induce panic but to serve as a call to action in case of an incident. Adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach can be risky, and timely intervention can make a significant difference in your pet’s well-being.
Taking proactive measures, such as placing potentially harmful plants out of reach of curious pets and children, is one of the best steps you can take to create a safer environment. Prevention plays a key role in ensuring the well-being of our beloved companions.
Very Nice Blog Cindi and very well written.
Thank you, Marc!