Are Palm Plants Poisonous to Cats- And Everything Else to Know

‘Are palm plants poisonous to cats’ should be one of the first questions to ask before taking your palms home. Palm plants of the Cycadaceae family are cat-friendly indoor plants, but not all. Some, like the sago palm, have high toxicity levels that can be fatal.

However, Sago is not a natural palm but a cycad. Other toxic palms are Dracaenas and Yuccas. Read on for more details about palms. 

Are Palm Plants Poisonous to Cats?

⚡ No, palm plants are not poisonous to cats, however, only the sago variety of the palm tree is toxic to them. As cats ingest a single bit of this variety, it will intoxicate it and causing stomach related issues, and when ingested in larger quantities, it can lead to death.

Palm plants should be the first priority for a cat owner who wants to bring beachy aesthetics to the living room. These beautiful plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

However, you must still look into the plants you bring into your house as a cat owner. Some palms, like the sago version of the palm, are toxic plants that can even cause death. This plant also harms humans by causing skin irritation when handled with bare hands. 

– Sogo Palm

The sago palm resembles a tiny tree grown indoors, but it is not a palm. It is a slow-growing sub-tropical cycad plant containing a toxic substance called cycasin. This plant’s parts are all poisonous, including the leaves and stems.

However, the seeds, also called nuts, are the most toxic to pets because they have a higher concentration of harmful substances.

Small ingestion of the palm, that’s called sago, by cats can be fatal. The signs show 15 minutes after ingestion, although they take longer in some cats. Some symptoms you will notice when your cat chews a sago’s leaf are vomiting, bloody diarrhea, increased thirst, depression, seizures, gastrointestinal upset, and death. 

If you spot your pet munching on the sago palm tree, take them to the vet immediately. The vet will induce vomiting using hydrogen peroxide to reduce the toxins in the body. They also use activated charcoal to stop more absorption of the toxins from the stomach to the bloodstream.

What Are Types of Non-Toxic Palm Trees to Cats?

The types of non-toxic palm trees to cats are the areca palm, the parlor palm and the ponytail palm. At the same time, you can also keep the majesty palm, or the cat palm as well, because they are not toxic either. 

– Areca Palm

The Areca palm is a beautiful bushy palm grown indoors. It is a low-maintenance plant grown in warm areas with high humidity and is characterized by its smooth silver-green leaves. The stems grow in many clusters and the petioles are long and curve upwards. 

These palm plants are safe to keep indoors when you have cats because they are non-toxic plants. The leaves intrigue most cats’ curiosity, and they will do anything to reach the plant and play with it. You can protect your Areca palm by placing it on a higher shelf or spraying citrus liquid. 

– Parlor Palm

Parlor palm is another beautiful indoor plant with deep green foliage and attractive bamboo-like stems. For its plant care, parlor palm requires watering when the soil is completely dry. 

The plant produces beautiful yellow flowers during spring, although they rarely bloom indoors. As your pet comes and bites off the end of the leaf, you don’t have to worry so much, if they get playful, because this palm will not intoxicate it in any way. 

– Ponytail Palm

You can keep a ponytail palm in a house full of cats and not worry about them showing gastrointestinal signs. The plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs and also horses. Ponytail palms are one of the safest palms for your cats.

The pets like playing with the plant because of its long thin foliage resembling grass. However, although they chew and lie on the foliage, don’t let them have too much of the plant because their digestive system is not designed to digest leaves. 

If your cats are destroying your succulent ponytail palm, protect it by spraying cayenne pepper around the leaves or sprinkling some citrus. But in case they ingest it, that’s okay too, because no stomach issue will rise. 

– Majesty Palms

Are majesty palm plants poisonous to cats? Majesty palms are rare non-toxic palms to cats and dogs. They have feathery dark-green long fronds attached to a stem.

The leaves are long and curl downwards to give this plant its beauty. 

– Cat Palm

The reason why cat palms are loved is that they are non-toxic to humans and are safe for cats and dogs. These plants are beneficial because they clean the air by absorbing toxic pollutants. They also add aesthetics by introducing a summer feel to the home. 

The plant leaves and stems won’t also affect your babies when they touch them. However, you can hang it on a higher wall to prevent destruction from pets and babies.

What Are Other Plants Safe for Cats?

Other plants than palms that are safe for cats are the moth orchids, the spider plants, the cat grass, and the Boston fern are not toxic to cats. If you invest in these, and you have a cat, it is totally safe for them to be around these plants. 

– Moth Orchid

You can comfortably grow a moth orchid in your home without worrying about your cats because it is non-toxic, in addition, they also add vibrancy to your place. Moth orchids are identified by their broad, flat dark leaves growing in long stems.

The plant produces wide flat blooms of different colors depending on its specie.

– Spider Plant

Spider plants, called Chlorophytum comosum, are non-toxic to dogs and cats. They have long attractive leaves that cats confuse for grass, and they chew these leaves when hungry. 

Although spider plants are non-toxic, do not let your paw friend chew a lot of the leaves, because that will make the cat feel uncomfortable, but this is not from the sap of the plant of anything. These pets are carnivorous, so their stomachs will struggle to digest them, causing discomfort and bloating. 

– Cat Grass

Cat grass is another grass-looking plant that is attractive to cats. The pets like nibbling and feeding on the plant’s leaves, destroying it. Cat grass relieves indigestion, provides parasite prevention, and has vitamins and minerals. 

It also provides mental stimulation and is a natural laxative for cats. However, you should not let the cat have too much of it because they don’t have enough digestive enzymes to digest the plant.

– Boston Fern

You can decorate your house with the Boston fern and not worry about the cats suffering stomach upsets.

The plant has bushy sword fern leaves and mainly grows in tropical areas but can be grown indoors. 

FAQ

1. Are Palm Plants Poisonous to Dogs?

Palm plants are not poisonous to any pets, including cats and dogs. However, some, like the sago variation of palm, are poisonous. Ingesting any part of these plants can cause dogs abdominal pain, paralysis, seizures, and coma. But, you can decorate your house with other palm plants without worrying about your dog’s safety.

Conclusion

Most palm trees are non-toxic and cat friendly. However, some, like the sago palm, have a toxic substance that can be fatal when ingested by your paw friend. Sago palms cause stomach upsets, vomiting, and liver damage in cats, and failure to treat the symptoms leads to death. From this article, you will realize that:

• Most palms are non-toxic to cats, but some, like sago palms, cause liver damage and death to the pet.
• Because of their long beautiful leaves, cats like to play with the spider plant, cat grass, and ponytail palms.
• Although palms are not toxic, don’t allow the cat to ingest a lot of the leaves because their digestion system is not designed for vegetation.

Palms are not toxic to cats, and the pets are attracted to the plants, which can lead to massive destruction. Spraying citrus fruit juice on the plants keeps the cats and other pets away. 

Reference

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/spider-plant-chlorophytum-comosum/#:~:text=Spider%20plant%20helps%20clean%20indoor,plant%20to%20tolerate%20inconsistent%20watering.

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/phalaenopsis/