Are you planning to purchase a snake plant for your home?Yes, it may bring you good luck and clean your air, but there is a drawback. It is toxic for your cat.Surprised? Don’t be, for it’s an unfortunate truth. The snake plant or Sansevieria trifasciata contains a toxic chemical known as saponin, which if ingested by cats can induce health issues. Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite, stomach pain, and depression are some common symptoms. These are mild and can be managed. The veterinarian can guide you in case the symptoms persist.Humans love the snake plant for its health benefits and low maintenance. But for your curious buddies, exposure to this plant can be dangerous. So, either you can shift the plant from your premises or adopt some clever measures to prevent your cat from chomping on its leaves.Learn about how the snake plant and other indoor plants can be toxic for your pets and also other interesting animal facts like are snake plants toxic to dogs? And are sponges animals? On Kidadl. Snake Plants Are Poisonous For CatsSnake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue is a popular house plant that is known for its air-purifying ability. Humans value them as a good luck plant that helps naturally maintain indoor air quality. However, this plant contains toxins named saponins that are considered poisonous for pets like cats.A popular indoor plant, the snake plant or Sansevieria trifasciata is toxic for your cats. The problem is that the snake plant includes saponin, a poison that can cause mild symptoms if your cat decides to eat it. Due to this, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the ASPCA has declared Sansevieria a toxic plant for both cats and dogs.The snake plant produces saponin to keep itself safe from microbes and insects. When the sap of the plant is ingested by your pet, then it can cause mild symptoms ranging from contact dermatitis to gastrointestinal issues. Some cats can also experience depression if they consume it in large quantities. You can spot if your pet has been poisoned by the sap of the snake plant by checking their mouth. Take your pets to the vet if symptoms do not go away. The vet will perform an examination before advising on a certain treatment plan.The snake plant is not exactly edible, so your cat is most likely to stay away from it. The leaves are bitter in taste due to the saponin and hence not tasty at all. However, if you have a pet at home, they may get curious and decide to try it out. Worry not, for there are ways to prevent your cat from adding this plant to their menu. Let’s find out how!How You Can Keep Your Cat Away From Snake PlantsSnake plants are known to bring good luck so humans like to keep them indoors. While they might have purifying and decorative benefits for us humans, they’re not pet-friendly. Your curious pet is bound to find a way to reach the houseplants in your room. You can keep them safe by following simple tips like spraying natural repellents or placing the plant in unreachable areas.Saponin is known to cause gastrointestinal issues and allergic reactions in pets. Though ingestion in small doses can be controlled and treated, in worst-case scenarios, saponin intake can lead to swollen tissues in the mouth or esophagus. If such issues are not attended to immediately, they may prove to be fatal. This is why pet parents should know how to keep their fur babies safe from toxic plants at home.Cats are quite athletic and can cleverly reach impossible spaces. Find areas in your home that are not frequented by your pets, like a separate room where your cats cannot enter. You can keep the door shut so that your pets are not able to sneak in when you are not paying attention. Although tricky, you can identify the areas or create high shelves where your cat can’t climb or access, and place the snake plant there.Keep your cat distracted with toys. Your pet is likely to be interested in your plants because of boredom or hunger. Instead of them chewing on toxic plants get them chewable toys in a wide variety. Make sure to introduce these toys one at a time. Also, make sure that your cat is well-fed. This will ensure that your pets don’t decide to include houseplants on their menu.A clever trick is to spray your houseplants with natural repellents of citrus fruits like lemon. You can either spray lemon juice on your plants or scatter orange and lemon peels in the plant pot. Cats will be repelled by the citrusy smell and hence, will keep away from the plants. You can also add cinnamon to the potting soil of the plant.Of course, if these tips don’t work for you, the best course of action would be to remove the snake plant from the vicinity. This is a foolproof way of preventing your cat from accidentally ingesting the leaf, sap, or any other part of the plant. You can replace this plant with other non-toxic plants such as rattlesnake plants, hibiscus, or spider plants. Ponytail palm is another safe alternative if you’re looking for a decorative or air-purifying plant.Other House Plants That Are Poisonous To CatsApart from the snake plant, other toxic houseplants for your pet include aloe vera, peace lily, jade plant, sago palm, English ivy, caladium, and ivy arum, to name a few. These plants possess varying degrees of toxicity and are dangerous for dogs and cats.Aloe vera, which belongs to the family Liliaceae is a toxic plant for your pet. It contains saponins and anthraquinones that can induce vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea if your cat ingests the plant leaf. On the other hand, peace lily contains toxic and insoluble calcium oxalates. If ingested, your pet can show signs of oral irritation, excessive drooling, and vomiting. Similarly, Monstera deliciosa also contains insoluble calcium oxalates that can burn the lips and mouth while also causing excessive drooling and vomiting if eaten.A popular succulent found in homes, jade plants are known to cause signs of depression and vomiting in your cat when eaten. However, the exact nature of the toxins present in these plants is unknown.Belonging to the Cycadaceae family, the sago palm plant is another toxic plant for your pets. The plant includes cycasin, which is a toxic component that can cause severe gastrointestinal issues in your pet.The charming English ivy has triterpenoid saponins, which is a harmful substance for your pets. Skin irritation and stomach upset are some signs of plant poisoning.Ivy arum or Epipremnum aureum is another plant best kept away from your cat. On ingestion, your cat can experience symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and oral swelling.Warneckii dracaena, also known as the Janet Craig plant belongs to the Asparagaceae family. Like the snake plant, it also contains saponins, which makes it toxic for cats. Poison signs here can be more severe like vomiting with blood, anorexia, and dilated pupils.Ingesting the berries of the Shatavari or emerald fern can result in gastrointestinal issues. Repeated exposure to the skin can cause dermatitis. This plant belongs to the Liliaceae family and includes a chemical known as sapogenins that induces an allergic reaction in animals.How many of these plants do you own? Probably, many. All the above-mentioned plants are commonly found in homes. However, if you’re a pet parent, you should steer clear of these poisonous plants containing toxins that can cause potentially mild to life-threatening symptoms in your pets.Help! My Cat Has Ingested Snake Plant LeavesNo need to panic, it is unlikely to be life-threatening. In most cases, your cat will suffer from mild symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or skin irritation.If your cat consumes a very little part of this good luck plant, it can show mild symptoms like stomach upset. This can subside on its own. However, in case you suspect your cat’s ingested a substantial amount, it may lead to serious poisoning. Consumption of large quantities of the mother-in-law’s tongue can cause depression, skin irritation, and diarrhea, among other things.So, what do you need to do in such a scenario? Take your cat immediately to the veterinarian or contact the ASPCA. The vet will ask you about your cat’s health history and check your cat’s mouth to get rid of any snake plant remnants. While the vet can physically remove the plant remnants from the mouth, they will have to use medical processes to remove any ingested contents. Your pet will undergo a physical examination where the vet will check all its vitals (blood pressure). Urinalysis and a complete blood count will be taken to check for signs of allergic reaction. If your cat’s blood report is normal, then it is likely to be a mild allergic reaction. In case of serious snake plant poisoning, you might have to keep your cat at the vet.The treatment will depend upon the degree and cause of poisoning. The primary goal of the treatment would be to remove any remnants from the mouth and stomach. After assessing the situation, the veterinarian will prescribe some medications for the speedy recovery of your pets.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are snake plants toxic to cats? How to keep them away then why not take a look at have you ever wondered how is leather made? Tanning facts to know or lynx and bobcat facts.
Are you planning to purchase a snake plant for your home?
