Crazy Plant Lady Meets Crazy Cat Lady

You fella's are inclusive in this as well!

Do you love plants? Do you love cats? Do you wish to have both in your home? Let's talk!

So you have seventy-four pins saved to your "Dream Living Room" Pinterest board. They include that mid-century record cabinet, faux fur pillows, floral accents, and plants - a lot of plants. Plants add a lot of life, green, and feel good vibes to your home, but when mixing with indoor animals, you need to be educated on which plants could potentially be a health hazard to your pets! In today's blog we are going to give you the low-down on some house plants that may cause some unfavorable outcomes if digested by your kitties (don't forget dogs need to be careful too)!

So a special day is coming up: maybe an anniversary, a celebration of a new career or expecting life, or just a thoughtful gesture, and someone gets you a beautiful bouquet of Lilies. Lilies are exquisite flowers, slightly exotic, yet soft and subtle. Lilies are also one of the top most dangerous flowers if ingested by your cat. Like we're talking potential kidney failure, and in some cases, death. Worst yet, we're not talking the entire flower but a mere one-two petals can begin this dreadful reaction (Pet Poison Hotline).

Keep in mind that throughout the duration of this, I will be listing flowers/plants most common to the Missouri area or commonly seen at nurseries/greenhouses/lawn and garden areas. It is important to do your research prior to all plant purchases! Common reactions could include nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, excessive drooling, oral irritation, and difficulty breathing.

Aloe Vera - good for our cuts, scrapes, and sunburns... not so good for kitties tummy.

Baby's Breath - Can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Branching Ivy - (also toxic to horses!) can cause a lot of unpleasant symptoms!

Carnations (personal favorite) - can cause some gastric issues! Bleh!

Chinese Jade (who DOESN'T eventually own one of these?) - But this cute plant can cause a lot of nausea in your beloved kitty.

Daffodils - Bulbs are the most poisonous part!

Mistletoe - Pucker up! Well, humans that is. Maybe something to keep away from the cats!

Poinsettia - Yet another holiday plant on the list!

Taro (also known as Elephant Ear) - While I assume most would have this outdoors, it is important to list, as several homes in the area can be seen with this plant.

Tomato Plant - Dang! These delicious plants yield delectable fruits to us, but can be pretty dangerous for your cat friends.

Tulips - Ahh, another beloved flower that would not be good if your kitty ingested!

The list could be much more extensive than mentioned, but I tried to focus on plants either native to the area, or commonly available for purchase (might also note we as C.A.R.E. employees know animals but maybe not allll things plants related!) You can also check out The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), for an extensive list of toxic plants.

When you add new life to your household, it changes the way you think about things. As you wouldn't keep electrical sockets exposed to small children, you want to make sure the plants in your home are safe in the event kitty decides to make a meal of them! Think smart, buy smart. (and make those Pinterest board dreams come true)