Paw Pals Pet Sitting

Dog Walking & Pet Sitting in Northern VA

Client Portal
(703) 345-1695
Schedule Services
  • About Us
    • Client Reviews
    • Common Questions
    • Team Bios
    • Join Our Team
    • Policies & Service Agreement
    • Who We Support
  • Pricing
    • Dog Walking
    • Dog Sitting
    • Cat Sitting
    • Pet Sitting
    • Additional Services
    • Holiday Fee Service Schedule
  • Dog Sitting
  • Dog Walking
  • Cat Sitting
  • Pet Sitting
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Top 7 Common House Plants Poisonous To Cats

September 10, 2018 by Mary Telesz

Cat playing with house plant that is poisonousFilling your home with beautiful plants can create a serene and peaceful aura, but if you have a cat, these peaceful plants can become extremely harmful. There are many plants that are toxic to your cat, but listed below are the top seven common house plants. The best thing you can do is to avoid bringing these plants into your home. However, that doesn’t mean that your cat still won’t accidentally stumble upon some and eat it.

In case this happens, you need to be aware of the symptoms and signs that your cat is experiencing plant poisoning so you can seek help for them immediately.

Which Plants Are Poisonous To Cats?

Knowing which plant they have ingested is also extremely important in allowing your cat to have a successful recovery. Because there are so many plants that are harmful to cats, you can’t trust just anyone with your cat’s care while you are away. Hire a professional cat sitter as they highly trained in the plants and their effects they can have on cats. You can trust them in your absence to keep your cat healthy and safe.

1. Asparagus Fern

The asparagus fern is toxic to cats. It is also called an emerald feather, emerald fern, sprengeri fern, plumosa fern, or lace fern. The reason this plant is poisonous to cats is that it contains a toxic agent known as a sapogenin. Sapogenin is a steroid that is found in a variety of plants and if ingested, it can cause your cat to experience vomiting, diarrhea and/or abdominal pain. Allergic dermatitis or skin inflammation can also occur if your cat is repeatedly exposed.

2. Lilies

Picture of lilies that among the top house plants poisonous to catsWhite lilies are a beautiful flower, but they are toxic to cats. Many plants of the lily family are actually toxic to cats, including the Easter, stargazer, and Mauna Loa lilies. Often times, a cat’s first reaction to this plant is going to include vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite. If this is left untreated, kidney failure and even death can quickly follow. Ingestion of the peace lily or calla lily can cause your cat to experience irritation of the tongue and lips, increased salivation, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting.

3. Aloe Plant

Aloe can offer many healing properties for humans, but for cats, it is a poisonous plant. Aloe plants can also be known as medicine plant or Barbados aloe. The reason also is toxic to cats is because it contains the toxic agent aloin. Aloin is a bitter yellow substance that is found in most aloe species, and if your cat is exposed to it, your cat may experience vomiting and/or red urine.

4. Jade Plant

The jade plant is another plant that is poisonous to cats. The jade plant also goes by the names baby jade, dwarf rubber plant, jade tree, Chinese rubber plant, Japanese rubber plant, and friendship tree. What makes this plant toxic to cats is currently unknown, but if it is ingested it can cause vomiting, depression, ataxia (incoordination), and bradycardia (slow heart rate).

5. Corn Plant

Picture of corn plant that among the top house plants poisonous to catsThe corn plant is known to be toxic to cats. It also can be referred to as cornstalk plant, dracaena, dragon tree, or ribbon plant. Saponin is the toxic agent that is found in this plant. If your cat ingests it, they may experience vomiting with or without blood, appetite loss, depression, dilated pupils and/or increased salivation.

6. Cyclamen

Cyclamen, or sowbread, is another flowering plant that is beautiful but can be very harmful to cats. If this plant is ingested it can cause increased salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your cat injects a large number of the plant’s tubers (which are found at the root, generally below the soil), heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, and even death can occur.

7. Heartleaf Philodendron

Heartleaf Philodendron is a common houseplant that is easy-to-grow. This plant also goes by the names horsehead philodendron, cordatum, fiddle leaf, panda plant, split-leaf philodendron, fruit salad plant, red emerald, red princess, or saddle leaf. The toxic agent in this plant can cause your cat to experience irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips. Other symptoms can include increased salivation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

What to Watch For

Though only the top seven houseplants that are poisonous to cats is listed above, the reality is that there are many other plants that are toxic to your cat. The most common symptoms that your cat has ingested a toxic plant are redness, swelling, and itchiness of the skin and mouth. However, some toxic plants can directly affect particular organs, so you need to keep an eye on the following symptoms as well; your cat will have difficulty breathing if it’s airways are affected; drooling or difficulty swallowing if the mouth, throat, or esophagus is affected, vomiting if the stomach or intestines are affected, diarrhea is the intestines or colon are affected, excessive drinking and urinating if the kidneys are affected; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat if the heart is affected.

Immediate Care

If you suspect your cat has ingested a poisonous houseplant, acting quickly is the best thing you can do. Your first step should be to remove any plant material from the hair and skin to help ensure that further irritation does not occur. If it is necessary, wash your cat with some warm water and non-irritating dish soap to fully cleanse their skin of the toxin. Then, you should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately. A big part of your cat’s treatment is going to depend on what kind of plant they ingested. If you are unsure of what the plant is, bring a sample of it with you to the vet. If you cannot locate the plant and your cat has vomited, bring a sample of that with you. Every effort should be made to identify the plant that was consumed because it can drastically help with making the treatment more effective. If you have to go out of town, be sure to trust the care of your cat to a professional cat sitter who has had special training to deal with situations like this.

Filed Under: Pet Safety

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

Have a Question?

Certifications & Associations

PetTech-logo

PUPS-logo

Kennel Pro

Best of NOVA award 2022

Best of NOVA award 2021

Best of NOVA award 2020

Northern Virginia Magazine - Best Pet Care 2019 Award

Powered By

Pet Sitter Plus logo

Office Location

Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

professional dog walking software

Office Hours

Monday
9am - 5pm
Tuesday
9am - 5pm
Wednesday
9am - 5pm
Thursday
9am - 5pm
Friday
9am - 5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Areas Served

Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

Google Rating
4.9
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
laceyrt
laceyrt
18:03 08 Mar 23
The folks at Paw Pals pet sitting are fantastic to work with. This review includes a bit of a long story but goes to show how dedicated they are to their job and the care they have for the animals they watch over. I reached out to Paw Pals, even though I live outside their service area, in a bit of a panic because our scheduled dog sitter for our family vacation suddenly wasn't available. The local sitters we've used in the past seemed like they wouldn't be able to accommodate us on such late notice and so we were scouring the internet for other options.When I submitted a request to Paw Pals, I expected to get a polite no thank you - you're out of our service area. Instead I got a call from Jen, who was so kind, helpful and accommodating and essentially bent over backwards to help set up a sitter for us. We met the sitter at her home and it was more of the same. So friendly and welcoming to our dog and fully prepared to watch her for two weeks.We ultimately didn't end up booking with Paw Pals, only because our local sitter had an opening that allowed someone to stay in home with our dog (who is a very anxious senior shepherd-collie mix). But just based on the limited experience I had with them, I would highly recommend Paw Pals. These folks are fantastic and I only wish we lived closer so we could utilize their other services on a regular basis. Five stars all the way!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Next Reviews Write a review
powered by Google

© 2023 · Paw Pals Pet Sitters, LLC · Website Design by 321 Web Marketing