Are Pearls and Jade Pothos Toxic To Cats? (+ 9 Others)
If you have pearls and jade pothos plants at home you may be wondering if this is toxic or dangerous for your cat.
Are pearls and jade pothos toxic to cats?
Pearl and Jade Pothos is toxic to cats. It is also known to be toxic to dogs and children. For that reason, it should be kept away from cats way out of reach. It may look harmless but must be avoided by cats.
So, now you know it is. But, how can you prevent your cat from touching or eating it? Are there any other plants that should be avoided? Keep reading for these answers, and so much more…
What is Pearl and Jade Pothos?
Pearl and Jade Pothos is a variety of the Epipremnum aureum species of plants. They are similar to the Marble Queen plant but have a slightly different look. You can usually pick them apart visually by their white-edged leaves.
They are a popular houseplant which makes them easy to be overlooked. Especially if you are a new cat owner who has never understood that they could be dangerous to a cat.
How can you prevent your cat from eating pearls and jade pothos?
Now that you know that your cat should avoid this plant you may be looking for some clever ways to keep it away from the plant. Here are some suggestions:
01. Using Citrus
Citrus is a deterrent for cats. So, for your plants, it is an advantage. You can keep your cat away by using peelings from citrus-based fruits such as oranges, lemons, etc. Simply peel the fruit and lay it around the plant soil and see how if this works.
02. Using Pepper
Another more controversial method that some cat owners use is pepper. Cayenne is the pepper in question. I say controversial because some cat owners do not agree with this method. Basically, these owners shake it around the plant leaves to repel their cats.
03. Spray the leaves
Following on with using citrus as a deterrent, that I mentioned earlier. Instead of using fruit peelings you can get some lemon juice or even oil from orange and spray this onto the leaves to fend off your cat.
Why is my cat eating my indoor plants?
Your cat may be eating plants out of curiosity or it just likes the texture. But, there is a chance that it is lacking some key nutrients in its diet and seeking them in other places. To be sure it’s best to check in with your vet.
9 Other Dangerous plants that cats should avoid
It’s awful to think any form of greenery can harm your cat, but there are quite a few plants that can seriously hurt your furry friend. These are very different from helpful natural cat sedatives. Here are 9 others to look out for that could be at home, or out traveling, such as camping:
1. Lilies
Although they may smell great, lilies can be dangerous to your cat. Lilies are members of the Lilium family and considered toxic to your cat, even in small doses. In fact, other types of lily plants, such as Asian, Easter, Casa Blanca, and Tiger can all cause kidney failure in cats but are not toxic to dogs.
2. Yew
Leaves and bark of the yew tree can be seriously dangerous to your cat. Although this evergreen is commonly used in cancer treatments, it can be dangerous for animals to consume.
Cats can experience a lack of coordination, breathing problems, central nervous system problems, cardiac failure, gastrointestinal irritation, and even death if exposed to yew.
3. Ivy
Ivy is a dangerous plant for both dogs and cats. Ivy’s such as branching ivy, needlepoint ivy, and English ivy, among others, can cause your pet to vomit and have diarrhea, abdominal pain, and hypersalivation.
So, if you see your pet trying to approach an ivy plan, it’s best to try to get them out of the area as quickly as possible.
4. Chrysanthemum
Even though chrysanthemum has a bad smell, your pets may still be attracted to the plant. If exposed or consumed, it won’t necessarily cause death to your pet, but it will leave them in discomfort.
In most cases, pets have been noted to suffer from loss of coordination, depression, vomiting, hypersalivation, and dermatitis after eating the plant.
5. Sago Palm
Sago palm plants grow in temperate regions and are commonly used in landscaping. Although your cat may love the taste of them, they’re incredibly poisonous to pets, especially their seeds.
Some side effects of consuming the plant include bruising, liver damage, liver failure, vomiting, melena, extreme thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, and even death.
6. Morning Glory
Morning Glory can cause hallucinations in your pets. Although this may seem normal for your cat, especially on catnip, it’s much less pleasant once your dog starts tripping. Consumption of morning glory by your pets can lead to tremors, upset stomach, anorexia, hallucinations, and agitation.
7. Castor Bean
Castor bean plant is commonly used in landscaping and is popularly found in public areas and parks. If you let your cat out of the house, make sure you don’t live in an area where there’s a lot of this plant growing.
If your cat does consume castor bean, it can experience drooling, diarrhea, extreme thirst, weakness, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. In some cases, severe poisoning from the plant can lead to seizures, tremors, dehydration, coma, and death.
8. Tomato Plant
Although tomatoes may taste great to you, they’re less healthy for your cat or dog. Now, it’s not necessarily lethal for your pet to consume, but it will give them discomfort.
Other symptoms of your pet consuming tomato plant include upset stomach, diarrhea, drowsiness, depression, dilated pupils, slower heart rate, behavioral change, confusion, and weakness.
9. Poinsettia
Poinsettia is toxic to your pets, especially your cats. If consumed, your cat can experience mild vomiting and irritation to its stomach and mouth. Although it’s not as fatal as some pet owners may claim, it’s best to steer clear of this plant.
Symptoms of Pearl & Jade Pothos (or other) contamination
In most cases, plants are irritants to your pets, which will usually lead to inflammation, such as red or itchy skin. However, if a plant is toxic to a certain organ in your pet, the symptoms usually relate to that organ, such as:
- Difficulty breathing: airways are affected
- Vomiting: intestines and stomach are affected
- Diarrhea: colon and intestines are affected
- Irregular heartbeat: the heart is affected
- Excessive urinating or drinking: kidneys are affected
Here is a YouTube video that clearly explains all the symptoms of plant poisoning in cats:
If Your Pet Needs Immediate Care
If you notice your cat trying to eat a plant that may or may not be poisonous, it’s best to take your pet straight to the veterinarian. First, however, make sure you remove any plant from their mouth, hair, and skin.
If you think it’s necessary, you should also bathe your cat in warm water and non-irritating soap. One of the most important things to do before reaching your veterinarian is to identify the plant for proper treatment.
If you are unsure what kind of plant it is, bring it with you. Although your veterinarian probably isn’t a plant expert, they can do everything they can to identify the plant that’s affecting your cat.
Diagnosis of Pearls and Jade Pothos Contamination
Your pet can get the best diagnosis once the plant that’s affected them is identified. To do so, your veterinarian will most likely give your cat a physical exam and other tests to determine an effective treatment method.
These tests are also helpful to determine whether the plant will target other organs in your pet as well.
Treatment for cats who have eaten a Toxic plant
After the veterinarian gets your cat to vomit up the plant, they will also give your pet activated charcoal to absorb any other toxins in the gut. In some cases, your veterinarian will also administer sucralfate, which will help protect your pet’s stomach.
Having plants at home can seem fun. And being out and about camping, around other plants, may seem safe enough to bring your pets along, even your cat, for instance. However, there are dozens of dangerous plants (Are plastic plants dangerous? Click here) out there that can harm or even kill your pet. And remember, your cat tends to follow you (click here to see why cats follow you around like crazy).
It’s important to know what plants you may before coming into contact with on your camping trip before leaving and take necessary precautions from needing to get your pet’s stomach pumped.
Hopefully, with the help of this guide, you can learn a little more about the potential plants can do to harm your pet, along with the symptoms you should be on the lookout for. Remember, if you notice anything out of the ordinary with your pet, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact your local veterinarian.
