The plant is toxic but the gel is safe. That seems odd but it’s actually the yellow sap that comes from just under the skin that is toxic. It contains anthraquinone and saponins which are strong laxatives and gastrointestinal irritants.

This is a common ornamental and houseplant. I’m more cautious about houseplants because I’ve found my cats will randomly chew on my houseplants out of boredom or wanting attention.

Or they’ll chew on them to get my attention (when they know I don’t want them to kill my plant is especially enticing to them).

So relaxing for humans, drink as a tea or use in a compress. Just because it’s good for human consumption doesn’t make it safe for our pets. That said, I’ve heard it used externally to ease itchy skin.

And some herbalists prepare it in tinctures, but always consult with your veterinarian. Warnings are contact dermatitis, vomitting, diarrhea, anorexia, allergic reactions and long term can lead to bleeding tendencies.

It’s definitely stinky, but cats like stinky, even stinky feet. That doesn’t mean they will try to eat your toes… or your garlic. Ginger is my garden kitty and she doesn’t care about the garlic growing in my raised beds.

There are a number of fairly serious symptoms like anemia, vomiting, blood in urine, high heart rate. If your furry friend is exhibiting any of these symptoms you should be taking them to get veterinary assistance immediately anyway.

Great shade-loving plants, that look beautiful. Some Hostas have a pleasant scent that may draw the curiosity of your kitty. But the leaves are thick and furry, known to be deer-resistant for that reason.

Either figure out a way to keep your cat(s) away or watch to see how much they actually interact with them. Look for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea and depression.

Mildly toxic. Look for symptoms like mild vomiting and/or diarrhea.

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Either figure out a way to keep your cat(s) away or watch to see how much they actually interact with them. Look for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea and depression.

Calendula can be used on cats for ear mites and it’s on the ASPCA list but if you click on it, you’ll find it’s actually non-toxic. That list includes both so it’s a little deceiving. Made you look!

This is actually non-toxic but I’ve recently come across it in a recipe for cat food and I want to say my piece about it. Cats are obligate carnivores, they have to eat meat to get all the nutrients they need.

I recently did some research to find out if I could just share the chicken thighs we cook for ourselves to satisfy nutrient needs and the answer was no. It would also take chicken gizzards, hearts and liver in various quantities and even then I would like need supplement taurine, omega 3’s and calcium (unless I included the ground up bones).

I can’t emphasize enough how toxic this family of plants is for cats and it’s not just this particular type of lily. If you go to the ASPCA website I shared above and searched the page (ctrl-F or command-F) for Lily, you would see there are 143 results.

Your sweet kitty doesn’t even have to eat the plant, if they just brush against it and get the pollen on their fur and then clean themselves, that’s enough.

Symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, kidney failure, and death is possible. The most dangerous list I found is: Easter lily, Tiger lily, Japanese show lily, Stargazer lily, and Daylilies.

Till next time,