If you love filling your home with plants, you are in good company. Succulents have become one of the most popular houseplants around, easy to care for, beautiful to look at, and they thrive even when you forget to water them.
But if you share your home with a cat, there is something worth knowing before you add another one to the windowsill.
Most Succulents Are Fine. A Few Are Not.
According to the Pet Poison Helpline Veterinarian Team, most succulents are not considered poisonous. For cat owners who love plants, that is genuinely good news.
That said, if a cat does chew on one, even the safer varieties can cause stomach upset: vomiting, diarrhea, or drooling. In some cases, those symptoms can be severe enough to need a vet visit.
Cats are naturally curious. Trailing succulents — like string of pearls, donkey’s tail, and trailing jade — are especially tempting. Their dangling tendrils and tiny leaves look exactly like something worth batting around.
The Ones to Watch Out For
The Pet Poison Helpline Veterinarian Team lists these succulents as the most common ones poisonous to cats:
- Kalanchoe the most serious on the list. Can cause cardiovascular and neurologic problems in addition to stomach upset.
- Aloe vera
- Euphorbia (this family includes poinsettias)
- Jade
- String of pearls
- Cacti thorns can cause skin wounds, redness, and rashes on top of other symptoms
Kalanchoe deserves special mention. While most succulents cause digestive discomfort, this one can affect the heart and nervous system. It is the one to keep well out of reach, or out of the house entirely.
Signs That Something Is Wrong
If your cat has gotten into a succulent, the Pet Poison Helpline Veterinarian Team says symptoms can include:
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive drooling
- Weakness or lethargy
- Depression
- Abnormal heart rate or rhythm
- Muscle tremors
- Changes in urine color
- Skin or eye irritation
What to Do If Your Cat Eats One
First, remove the plant so your cat cannot get any more of it. Then call for help right away. The Pet Poison Helpline says there are no at-home treatments; this is one situation where you need expert guidance.
- If you know the plant’s name, call Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 or your veterinarian.
- If you are not sure what kind of succulent it is, take a photo of the plant and call the helpline or your vet. They can help identify it and tell you what to expect.
If your cat has any skin wounds from thorns, the Pet Poison Helpline recommends cleaning the area with warm water only.
The Safe Ones Worth Knowing
The good news is there are plenty of cat-friendly succulents you can enjoy without worry. The Pet Poison Helpline Veterinarian Team lists these as nonpoisonous:
- Echeveria
- Sedum (also called burro’s tail or donkey’s tail)
- Haworthia
- Sempervivum (also called hens and chicks)
Other safe choices include the American rubber plant, Christmas or Easter cactus, and the friendship plant.
Even the safe varieties can cause some stomach upset if your cat eats a lot of them. The best approach, according to the Pet Poison Helpline, is to keep any plant, safe or not, out of your cat’s reach when possible.
A quick swap to cat-friendly varieties lets you keep your home green and your companion safe. That is a good deal for everyone.