Is Dracaena Toxic to Cats? Vet-Reviewed Houseplants Examined
Having live houseplants adds a nice touch to your home and helps to keep your air clean, but our feline companions do enjoy playing with leaves and flowers. While many plants are safe, some common houseplants, like dracaena, are toxic to cats.
Dracaena has 37 varieties, all of which are toxic to cats, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.
About Dracaena Plants
Dracaena plants are popular plants for indoor and outdoor use. They come from Madagascar and other islands in the Indian Ocean. With the right care, dracaena plants can grow slender, palm-like leaves that grow 10 or 20 feet.
Homeowners tend to love dracaena because they’re hardy and easy to care for. They can subsist in different light levels and purify the air, helping to filter out pollutants.
Is Dracaena Toxic to Cats?
Yes, dracaena plants are toxic to cats and other pets. They have a chemical compound in their leaves called saponin, part of a large family of toxic compounds.
If your cat chews on or eats leaves of Dracaena plant, here are symptoms:
In most cases, owners don’t realize their cats ate dracaena until they see symptoms. If that happens, contact your vet’s office or clinic immediately. These symptoms can quickly lead to severe dehydration and complications. It’s best to avoid keeping dracaena plants in your home. If you must, keep them out of reach or in a separate room that your cat can’t access.
Here are some common types of Dracaena plants:
These are just the most common types of dracaena that are sold as houseplants or garden plants, but there are plenty more varieties.
Here are other plants usually confused with Dracaena :
Conclusion
Many houseplants are perfectly safe for your cat, but unfortunately, dracaena isn’t one of them. It’s best to avoid keeping dracaena in your home or garden or at least keep them out of reach of your cat. If your cat does ingest some dracaena, err on the side of caution and get in contact with your vet immediately.
Featured Image Credit: webentwicklerin, Pixabay
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Christian started writing for a local newspaper as a teenager, and he's been involved in the publishing industry for most of his adult life. Combining his love of writing with a passion for animals, he is currently the Director of Editorial at Pangolia and the Editor-in-Chief at Catster.
Christian lives in the Philippines with his wife, son, and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
