Cat safe succulents
Many people are interested in growing their own succulents, but how do you know if your cat will like them too? Some succulents can be toxic to cats and cat owners should know what are cat safe succulents?.
Cats are drawn to the succulent’s smells and colors, however, these plants contain toxins that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other issues.
Ingesting too many of these plants is also fatal for your cat as they contain a neurotoxin that affects the central nervous system.
If you suspect that your cat has eaten any of these plants, call your vet immediately!
If you’re concerned about which types of succulents are safe for cats check out this list below:
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The following cat safe succulents.
Keep in mind that cats may still ingest these succulents so it’s best to keep an eye on them while they’re playing around with them.
- Adromischus
- Aeonium
- Air Plants (Tillandsia)
- Anacampseros
- Delosperma
- Dudleya
- Echeveria
- Faucaria
- Gasteria
- Graptopetalum
- Haworthia
- Lithops
- Pachyphytum
- Peperomia
- Portulaca
- Portulacaria
- Rosularia
- Sedum (both tender and hardy)
- Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks)
The below listed are not cat safe succulents
It should also be noted that research into the toxicity of substances is an ongoing process. There may be additional types that cause a negative response, in addition to those mentioned below.
- Adenium
- Agave
- Albuca
- Aloe
- Cactus
- Cotyledon
- Crassula (Jade)
- Euphorbia
- Kalanchoe
- Ledebouria
- Pachypodium
- Sansevieria
- Senecio
Adenium is not Safe for cats
Adenium is toxic to your succulents. It contains a neurotoxin that affects the central nervous system. This plant is more toxic for cats than dogs. Signs of toxicity are depression, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors, and seizures.
If you suspect that your cat has eaten this succulent call your vet immediately!
Some agaves are toxic to the following pets: cats, dogs, horses & birds.
Agave is not safe for cats
Agave is toxic to your succulents. Ingesting the leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
In general, succulents from the Crassula family are safe for cats. They contain no toxins and will not cause any type of poisoning in your cat if eaten. However, there is a risk that your cat may uproot these plants while they’re playing and accidentally ingest some soil. Make sure to sweep up any loose dirt and dispose of it immediately.
Albuca is not safe for cats
Albuca is one of the succulents that can be toxic to your cat. Albuca contains toxins that cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other issues. The most worrying part about Albuca is that ingesting too many of them will also be fatal for the cat. Albuca’s neurotoxin affects the central nervous system when ingested.
If you suspect that your cat has ingested any of these plants, call your vet immediately!
is toxic to your succulents
Aloe is not safe for cats
Aloe is toxic to your succulents, but is the house plant safe for cats? The short answer: no.
Aloe is a popular household succulent that helps us care for our skin, however, it’s a dangerous choice for your cat to munch on. It contains a neurotoxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your pet which usually manifests about 12 hours after consumption. The neurotoxin can cause muscle tremors, heart rate decrease, decreased breathing rate, and even seizures. This will leave your cat extremely dehydrated which is why it’s important to seek immediate veterinary care if you notice your cat has consumed an aloe plant.
Cactus is not safe for cats
Cacti are toxic to your succulents, and the larger, more dangerous ones may even be fatal for your cat. If you suspect your cat has eaten any of these plants, call your vet immediately!
Cats are drawn to the succulent’s smells and colors because they contain a neurotoxin that affects the central nervous system. Ingesting too many of these plants is also fatal for your cat.
Cotyledon is not safe for cats
Cotyledon is toxic to your succulents and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and respiratory issues in cats.
Kalanchoe is also poisonous to your cat’s health due to the presence of bufadienolide cardiac glycosides, which are found in all parts of the plant. If ingested by your cat, this succulent can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in heart rate as well as cardiac arrest.
Crassula (Jade) is not safe for cats
Crassula (Jade) is a succulent that has been known to be toxic to other succulents. Crassula contains toxins, such as oxalate and raphides, which are known to cause vomiting, diarrhea, and death in cats.
The following Crassula species are known to be toxic:
-Crassula alba
-Crassula capitella
-Crassula corymbulosa var. columnaris
-Crassula falcata
-Crassula lycopodioides
-Crassula moschata
-Crassula ovata
-Crassula perforata subsp. falcata
-Crassula portulacea
-Crassula pubescens
-Crassula sarcocaulis var. sarcocaulis
-Crassula sarmentosa
-Crassula tetragona
-Crassula tetragona subsp. marnieriana
-Crassula thyrsiflora Crassulaceae (synonym: Bryophyllum) also contains toxins, such as oxalate and raphides. The following Bryophyllum species are known to be toxic:
-Bryophyllum pinnatum
-Bryophyllum daigremontianum
However, there are some Bryophyllum species that are safe for cats. As with most plants, it is best to be cautious and simply avoid having your cat ingest the plant.
If you knowingly allow your cat to eat these plants, you will need to monitor your cat for symptoms. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea/bloody stool, drooling, increased frequency of urination (due to pain), seizures, coma, or death.
Euphorbia is not safe for cats
Euphorbia is one of the succulents that are toxic to cats. Cats often like to chew on euphorbia because it has a pleasant smell and taste. Euphorbia is also easy for them to reach with their paws due to its location near the ground.
Euphorbia contains an alkaloid called saponin, which is highly neurotoxic. It affects the cat’s liver, kidneys, heart, and nervous system. If you suspect that your cat has eaten euphorbia, call your vet immediately!
There are a few succulents that are safe to have around your cat. For instance, Crassula ovata, Jade Plant, is one of those.
It contains a sapogenin called cymarin, which can be slightly toxic to cats and dogs, however, it doesn’t contain saponin. Crassula ovata is also easy for cats to reach with their paws because of its location on the ground and only has a faint smell and taste to cats.
Kalanchoe is not safe for cats
Kalanchoe is toxic to your succulents. This plant contains a neurotoxin that will affect the central nervous system. When ingested, this toxin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other adverse reactions. The ingestion of too many of these plants is also fatal for the cat. If you know that your cat has eaten any of these plants, contact your vet immediately.
Ledebouria is not safe for cats
The succulent Ledebouria is also considered to be toxic to your cat. These succulents are found in Southern Africa. The color of the succulents ranges from white, pink, yellow, and close to white. The size of the plant is up to six inches tall. There are no records of any major incidents where these plants would cause death.
Ledebourias contain neurotoxins that affect the central nervous system which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or other health complications. If you suspect that your cat has eaten any Ledebourias call your vet immediately!
Pachypodium is not safe for cats
Pachypodium is toxic to your succulents, too!
Though it is less common, some succulents are toxic to cats. For example, the Pachypodium flower contains toxins that can cause vomiting and other digestive issues in your cat. This plant is toxic to both cats and dogs, so be sure to keep all pet flowers away from pets. Some customers have emailed us saying that their cat ate one of our succulents and is doing fine, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Sansevieria is not safe for cats
Sansevieria is toxic to your succulents, causing vomiting and diarrhea in them. It also contains a neurotoxin that can affect your cat’s central nervous system, leading to death.
A succulent is any type of plant that stores water in its leaves or stems to use during dry periods when there is insufficient access to water in the ground.
Succulents are able to survive in such conditions by slowing their growth and curbing their needs for water. Succulents not only survive but thrive because of this adaptation, making them popular houseplants.
Some succulents are toxic to cats. There is no antidote if your cat ingests these poisonous plants, so you need to take immediate action and call your veterinarian.
Senecio is not safe for cats
Senecio is toxic to your succulents but is great for lazy pets. There are so many different types of succulents that it’s impossible to list them all, however, researchers have done a good job at naming the most common ones.
Senecio Rowleyanus is not safe for cats
One of the more popular indoor plants also referred to as string or thread aloe, can be dangerous to your cats. String aloe is reportedly toxic to dogs and horses as well but more research is needed for this claim.
How dangerous are string aloes for my cat?
Although there aren’t any clinical studies on how to string aloe affects cats, some users have reported their cats suffering from vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors, and skin irritation. If these symptoms are observed, call your veterinarian immediately!
How to keep your cat safe succulents around them
While succulents are a beautiful addition to any home, they also pose a risk to cats. Cats can be drawn to succulents for a variety of reasons, but the most common is their curiosity around the plants’ leaves and stems. This can lead cats to get burnt by succulents, especially those with needle-sharp spines.
Growing succulents near windows or in places where your cat may be able to reach them is never a good idea because cats can easily jump from high places onto succulents, which will hurt them.
In addition, succulents have been known to cause choking hazards when eaten by cats that are not used to eating plants. Because succulents are commonly made up of hard leaves and spines, succulents have the potential to damage or tear the insides of a cat’s throat.
When succulents are eaten by cats they can start to cause dehydration, which in turn creates more serious issues that require immediate veterinarian assistance.
If you’re concerned about your cat ingesting succulents, here’s what you should look for:
– If your succulents have been chewed on or crushed, then there’s a chance that your cat has been playing with them.
– Spotting broken succulent leaves is the first indication that your cat may be interested in succulents.
– If succulents begin to smell like urine, then your cat may have been using succulents as a litter box.
– If the succulents start to look wilted or brown, then your cat may already be showing signs of dehydration from eating succulents.
As long as you keep succulents out of reach for cats and other pets, you can enjoy succulents with your furry friends.
For succulents to be safe around cats, they must be kept in places that are inaccessible to cats and other pets. Keeping cat safe succulents out of reach will keep your cat from getting a hold of them and ingesting the succulent leaves or plants inside.
While this may seem like a pretty easy fix, succulents can be extremely dangerous for cats and other pets if ingested.
Why do cats like to eat succulents?
Cats eat succulents because succulents are a variation of a feline’s natural diet. Cats instinctively hunt small prey that scurries under the ground and succulents provide this type of hunting relief. In addition, succulents can also release water when ruptured, which cats desire due to their thirst-driven nature from living in desert climates.
The dangers of eating too many succulents
Succulents are a variety of plants that have succulent leaves, stems, and roots. Some succulents also have spines or needles on their surface. These succulents include succulents from the family of cacti.
In some cases, succulents can be poisonous to cats and other pets if ingested. They may cause vomiting and/or diarrhea in cats and dogs as a result of ingestion. Avoid succulents that are not known to be non-toxic to pets as an essential measure of precaution for your pet’s safety.
If you want to know how succulents might affect your pet or you want more information about succulent toxicity, contact your veterinarian for assistance with medical concerns and information.
Signs that your cat has eaten a toxic plant
Some of the signs that your cat has eaten a toxic plant are when they are drooling, vomiting, and exhibiting signs of poisoning.
If the place where they ingested the succulent is known, it may be helpful to take a picture of it for identification purposes.
If you believe that your cat has eaten a succulent and is exhibiting any signs of poisoning, please seek veterinary assistance immediately.
If the succulent was ingested within 30 minutes, induce vomiting by applying hydrogen peroxide to a cotton ball and placing it as far as possible into the cat’s mouth.
Cats will often swallow objects that could be poisonous, such as succulents, so if they have ingested succulents or any other harmful substance, monitor their behavior for signs of poisoning.
If your cat is drooling more than usual or has vomited, the succulent may have been poisonous. When succulents are eaten, they can cause cats to become very sick or be extremely toxic.
If you suspect your cat has eaten succulents, it is best to monitor their behavior and see if they are exhibiting any of these signs of poisoning:
Conclusion on cat safe succulents
Succulents are popular plants for succulent enthusiasts. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including snake plants, aloe vera succulents, jade succulents, dragon tree succulents, bird’s nest succulents, and Echeveria succulents.
The list goes on! But what if you have cats? Do they eat these too? The answer is yes… but not all succulent varieties are safe for cats to ingest.
If your cat has eaten any type of succulent that isn’t listed below as being okay or poisonous to them then it may be time to call your vet immediately:
– Jade Succulent
– Dragon Tree Succulent
– Aloe Vera Succulent
– Snake Plant Succulent
– Bird Nest Succulent.
If you suspect that your cat has eaten succulents, then please seek veterinary assistance immediately. Understanding the signs of succulent poisoning can help you provide better care for your cats.
How succulents are poisonous to cats differs depending on the succulent type. If possible, it’s best to keep succulents out of reach from cats.