Are Snake Plants Really Toxic to Cats?
My cousin asked to me Are Snake Plants Really Toxic to Cats? I had no answer so, I did a research and prepared a detailed article if snake plants really toxic to cats and dogs.
Let’s learn more about if snake plants are toxic to cats and how to keep your cat safe. That way, you can make sure your furry friend stays healthy and happy.
Are Snake Plants Really Toxic to Cats?
Snake plants are a special kind of houseplant that people really like to have in their homes. They’re tough and don’t need a lot of care, but the snake plants flowers can attract your cats . So here’s the important thing – if you have a pet cat or dog, you need to be careful! Snake plants can be toxic to cats and dogs.
See, snake plants have something in them called toxin. Toxins help the plant stay safe from things like germs, fungi, and bugs that could hurt it. This toxin is called saponin, and it’s not good for cats or dogs if they eat it. So, if you have a pet at home, it’s best to keep snake plants out of their reach.
You must ensure your cat doesn’t eat your snake plants as they can be really toxic.
So, yes snake plants are really toxic to cats and dogs.
What is Snake Plant Poisoning?
The snake plant is not safe for cats to be around. The plant has toxic chemicals called saponins that can make cats sick if they eat them.
The saponins are like a natural bug spray and fungus killer for the plant. Usually, if a cat eats a snake plant, it will only have a mild reaction.
But the saponins are in all parts of the plant, even the juice, so they can also irritate a cat’s skin.
The most serious problem with the snake plant is that it can cause a bad allergic reaction in some cats, swelling their mouth and throat.
The snake plant is a plant that people often keep in their homes because it helps clean the air. It’s called the snake plant because of its long, blade-like leaves that look like a snake’s tongue.
It’s also called Dracaena Trifasciata aka mother-in-law’s tongue, magic sword, or good luck plant, depending on where you live. This plant is easy to take care of and can grow very tall, up to 3 feet. You can propagate a snake plant very easily.
It’s not frost-hardy, so it’s better to keep it in a pot instead of planting it outside in the ground. The snake plant’s leaves are green or yellow and come in different patterns.
But you should be careful if you have a cat because the snake plant is toxic to cats and could make them sick.
PRO TIP: Saponins present in snake plants make it toxic to cats and dogs, so keep your pets away from the snake plants.
What If My Cat Eat a Snake Plant?
If a cat takes a small bite of a snake plant, it can be harmful to them. The plant releases a toxic substance called saponin when its leaves are broken, and this can make the cat feel sick.
If the cat eats more of the plant, it may experience some symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea. So it’s important to make sure your cat doesn’t eat any parts of the snake plant.
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Loss of appetite
- Swollen mouth or throat
If your kitty has a sickness that is always there, there is a bigger chance that it will feel worse. We hope your cat won’t try to eat any of the snake plants because it will taste really bad and yucky because of its harmful stuff.
If they take a bite, they probably won’t eat much because of the bad taste and will try to spit it out immediately.
Don’t worry; if your cat eats a bit of saponin, it won’t kill them. It should only last for a day or two if they start feeling sick. But it’s still important to call the vet and tell them what happened so they can check on your cat.
Even if your cat didn’t eat a lot of the harmful stuff, it’s still a good idea to take them to the vet just to make sure they are okay.
If your cat ate a lot of the snake plant, it might feel much worse and have more serious symptoms. If you see your cat swelling or scratching a lot, go to the vet immediately.
It’s important to make sure your cat is comfortable and not in pain.
The vet will take a look at your cat and decide what to do next. If your cat needs it, the vet might give them medicine to help with allergies or an upset stomach.
These medicines will make your cat feel better and help their tummy and digestive system stop hurting.
PRO TIP: Use the best soil for snake plants to keep them healthy and grow faster.
Why Snake Plant is Toxic For Cats
The snake plant is a popular houseplant that’s often grown in pots or containers both inside and outside. Some cats, especially curious ones or young kittens, may try to taste the plant.
But because the snake plant tastes bitter and causes a burning sensation in the mouth, most cats don’t eat it again.
Diagnosis of Snake Plant Poisoning in Cats
If your cat shows signs of being sick after eating a plant, it’s important to take them to the vet immediately.
You might see pieces of the plant in their mouth or bite marks on the leaves, which can be a sign that they’ve been eating the plant.
When you go to the vet, make sure you bring along your cat’s health history, which will help the doctor figure out what could be causing your cat to be sick.
The doctor might also ask you about the types of plants you have in your house and if your cat goes outside, which can help them understand what might have happened.
If your cat is feeling sick or is reacting to a plant, it’s important to take them to the vet for a check-up. The vet will carefully examine your cat and look for any signs of illness or problems.
They’ll also take some measurements, like the cat’s temperature and blood pressure, to see if everything is working okay.
The vet might also take some of the cat’s blood and run some tests to find out if anything is wrong. This could include a blood count, biochemistry, or urine test.
All these tests will help the vet understand your cat’s health and see if they have an allergic reaction to something.
Snake Plant Toxicity in Cats Treatment
When a person eats something that is toxic to the snake plant, it is called snake plant poisoning. There is no one right way to treat this kind of poisoning. Instead, doctors will help the person feel better by taking care of each problem as it happens.
Sometimes people with snake plant poisoning do not need any special treatment and can get better on their own. But in other cases, they may need to stay in the hospital for a short time to get better.
Remove the Plant Pieces From the Cat’s Mouth if You See
When someone eats something toxic from a snake plant, the doctor may want to get rid of any leftover bits of the plant from the person’s mouth.
To do this, the doctor might have the person rinse their mouth with water. If the person has swallowed a lot of the toxic plant, the doctor might make the person throw up to get it out of their stomach.
This is called “vomit induction” or “emesis.” Another way the doctor might remove the toxic plant from the person’s stomach is by “pumping” it out. This is called “gastric lavage.” The goal is to make sure the toxic plant doesn’t stay in the person’s body and cause more harm.
Support and The Care
If a cat gets sick from eating something toxic from a snake plant, there are some things the vet can do to help the cat get better. If the cat is throwing up or has diarrhea a lot, it might become dehydrated.
In that case, the vet might give the cat fluids through a vein to help them stay hydrated. The vet might also give the cat medicines to help soothe their upset stomach or to reduce swelling.
Some cats might have trouble eating, so the vet might have to help the cat eat. The vet might also give the cat a special kind of soft and easy food.
Recovery From The Snake Plant Toxicity in Cats
If a cat eats something toxic from a snake plant, it’s usually not a big deal, and it will get better in just one or two days. It’s very rare for a cat to die from eating this plant.
To keep your cat safe from the snake plant toxicity, it’s important to put the snake plant in a place where your cat can’t get to it.
Some people might even choose to take the snake plant out of their homes just to be extra careful.
If you keep your cat inside your home all the time, you can ensure they’re not around any toxic plants growing outside. This way, you can keep your cat safe and healthy.
If a cat gets sick from eating something toxic from a snake plant, it can be expensive to take the cat to the vet and get them treated.
You can get pet insurance to make sure you don’t have to spend a lot of money if your cat gets sick. Pet insurance is like a special kind of protection for your pet.
The sooner you get it, the better because then you’ll have more protection from unexpected vet bills. So, if you want to be prepared, get pet insurance for your cat today.
How To Stop Your Cat From Eating The Snake Plants?
The only way to make sure your cat doesn’t eat a houseplant is to take it away. But some people like having plants in their homes and also love their cats.
Here are some things you can try to stop your cat from playing with or eating the snake plant:
1. Keep the Plant Out of the Reach
Instead of getting rid of your plant, try to find a new place for it where your cat can’t get to it. This might be tough because cats are really good at getting to things, but try putting the plant somewhere far away from where your cat eats, sleeps, and uses the bathroom.
The best solution is to put the snake plant in a room where you can close the door and keep your cat away from it when you’re not around to watch it.
Fortunately, snake plants don’t need a lot of sunlight, so you can even put them in a room that doesn’t have a lot of natural light, and it will still be okay.
2. Put The Plant Pot Higher
Another idea is to put the snake plant up high where your cat can’t easily reach it, like on a shelf or stand. This makes it harder for your cat to get to the plant, so it’s less likely to try.
Some cats can be very determined, so make sure there’s nothing nearby that your cat could use to climb up and reach the plant.
3. Add Foul Smell to The Plant
Another way to keep your cat away from the snake plant is to make it smell yucky to them. Even though the snake plant is toxic to cats, they won’t want to go near it if it smells like something they don’t like.
Don’t worry; this won’t make your home smell bad. Most cats don’t like the smell of citrus fruits, like lemons, limes, and oranges, so that you can put some of their juice or zest near the plant. This will only smell bad to your cat and give your home a fresh scent.
using citrus to keep your cat away from the plant can also help get rid of pesky insects like aphids. Aphids are tiny bugs that can get inside and quickly become a problem for your plants.
Since there’s no one to stop them from multiplying, they can quickly become a big problem. But if you make a spray from citrus peels, it will kill the bugs and it’s safe to use around your home and pets. The only downside is that your pets probably won’t like the smell.
4. Use a Pet Spray on The Plant
Pet sprays are special sprays that you can buy to stop your cat from chewing on your snake plant. There are many different kinds of pet sprays available. They are designed to make your cat not want to chew on things like your snake plant.
For kitties, most of the sprays’ flavors can taste yucky and bitter. But don’t worry; they won’t hurt your cat. You can choose from sprays that taste like sour apples or sour lemons.
Every cat is unique and may have different likes and dislikes when it comes to tastes, so it might take some experimenting to find the spray that your cat hates the most.
When choosing a spray for your plants, it’s important to ensure it’s safe for the leaves. You can try spraying a tiny spot on one of the leaves to test this.
Wait a bit and see if the spray hurts the plant. If it doesn’t, you can go ahead and spray the rest of the plant, following the instructions on the bottle.
If you want a more realistic option, you can mix together vinegar and water. Use one part vinegar and three parts water.
5. Get Your Pet Cat Grass
You can give it a safer option if your cat likes to nibble on leaves. Cat grass is okay for cats to eat and is easy to grow. Plus, it has good things in it like nutrients and fiber that make it a tasty and healthy treat.
Cat grass isn’t a regular plant, it’s a mix of different kinds of grass seeds like wheat, rye, barley, or oats that are grown together. It’s not the same as the grass you see outside in your yard, so don’t let your cat eat it.
If your yard’s grass has been sprayed with chemicals, it could make your cat feel sick or even worse. That’s why it’s important to ensure your cat only eats safe grass.
Cat grass is a special type of grass that’s grown indoors just for pets like your cat. It’s different from the grass outside and is grown in a safe way.
Having cat grass at home can be good because it will give your cat something to chew on instead of your other houseplants. If your cat is busy munching on the cat grass, it’s less likely to go after plants that aren’t safe for it, like a snake plant.
6. Get Your Cat a Toy to Chew
Sometimes, when a cat chews on houseplants, it’s not because they want to eat them. It’s because they need something to chew on.
Cats love to play and when they don’t have anything to keep their minds busy, they’ll find other ways to do it. This includes biting your plants.
So, if you notice your cat chewing on your plants, it might signify that they need more toys or things to play with.
If you give your cat lots of toys to chew on, they might not be as interested in chewing on your houseplants.
They’ll be too busy playing with their favorite toy. It’s especially true if the toy has something called catnip in it. Cats love catnip, so they’ll probably want to play with it more than anything else.
Catnip is a special plant that makes cats really happy and playful. If your cat is chewing on your plants because they’re bored, giving them a toy with catnip might help.
Not only will it give them something fun to do, but it can also make them feel less anxious and more relaxed. After playing with a catnip toy for a little while, most cats become calm and sleepy.
Are Snake Plants Really Toxic to Cats?
Saponins present in snake plants make it toxic to cats and dogs, so keep your pets away from the snake plants.
So, yes snake plants are really toxic to cats and dogs.
ALSO READ: A Complete Guide to Snake Plant Care
