What is it about cats and house plants? No one really understands why cats want to eat grass, although there are many theories. This urge to eat green leafy grass is certainly part of a cat's attraction to our house plants, but "sheer cussedness" seems to be the major factor. Why else will a cat ignore a particular plant for years, only to one afternoon up and decide to knock the whole thing over, eat half of it, and roll around grinding the soil into your carpet?
Unfortunately, many common house plants are quite toxic. I learned this lesson the hard way years ago when I came home to find my cat Frankie lying flat out on the floor, lethargic and drooling, with an alarming wheeze. A quick glance around the room showed that he had eaten half of the Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) which had been quietly growing on my windowsill unmolested for months.
Luckily I phoned the SPCA's animal poison control line, and they were able to save Frankie's life with no long-term consequences. But there are plenty of other poisonous house plants which are toxic to cats, and the story might not have ended as well if Frankie had noshed on a Mother-in-law's-tongue plant (Sanseveria) or Kalanchoe.
Before you buy any house plant, be sure to check it against the ASPCA's Toxic/Non-Toxic House Plant List. You can ctrl-F to search the list for the plant you're planning to buy. Be sure to search by both the scientific and the common name. Only search by the first scientific name (i.e. kalanchoe) and not the full scientific name (kalanchoe pinnata).
The list of non-toxic house plants is long and confusing. Here are some of the easiest non-toxic house plants you can buy:
Unfortunately, many common house plants are quite toxic. I learned this lesson the hard way years ago when I came home to find my cat Frankie lying flat out on the floor, lethargic and drooling, with an alarming wheeze. A quick glance around the room showed that he had eaten half of the Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) which had been quietly growing on my windowsill unmolested for months.
Luckily I phoned the SPCA's animal poison control line, and they were able to save Frankie's life with no long-term consequences. But there are plenty of other poisonous house plants which are toxic to cats, and the story might not have ended as well if Frankie had noshed on a Mother-in-law's-tongue plant (Sanseveria) or Kalanchoe.
Before you buy any house plant, be sure to check it against the ASPCA's Toxic/Non-Toxic House Plant List. You can ctrl-F to search the list for the plant you're planning to buy. Be sure to search by both the scientific and the common name. Only search by the first scientific name (i.e. kalanchoe) and not the full scientific name (kalanchoe pinnata).
The list of non-toxic house plants is long and confusing. Here are some of the easiest non-toxic house plants you can buy:
1. Spider plant
This ubiquitous plant is a hardy keeper and a fast grower. It can be tempting to cats, with its long grass-like leaves, so you will want to keep it out of their reach for the plant's sake. Spider plants are also one of the best plants for cleaning your home's air, according to NASA!
2. Peperomias
Peperomias come in a bewildering variety, but most of them have a vining habit and small, round leaves, many of which have a decorative texture or veined color.
3. Lipstick plant
This is a slow-growing but tough plant. Keep it well, and every year it will grow pretty red tubular flowers!
4. Begonias
All begonias are non-toxic, which makes them an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor plantings.