The Kimberly queen fern is among the indoor plants that are safe for your cats. If you are a plant and cat lover and would like to keep both in the same space, then this fern is one of the plants that you should consider growing.
This article is an information reservoir with regard to growing your Kimberly queen fern and keeping your cats at the same time.
Contents
Is the Kimberly Queen Fern Poisonous to Cats?
No, the Kimberly queen fern is not poisonous to cats and is quite safe to grow if you also own cats, just like the bird’s nest, Boston fern, and maidenhair fern. It is, however, crucial to note that queen ferns can result in some stomach concerns if they are eaten.
– Effects of Overconsumption
More importantly, the fact that the Kimberly queen is safe for your cats doesn’t necessarily mean that you should let your cats eat it without any limitations or restrictions. In the event that your cat eats large quantities of the Kimberly queen ferns, it might suffer serious symptoms that can only be addressed by veterinary services.
Some of the symptoms that you should be on the lookout for should your cat eat too much of the Kimberly queen ferns include vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. Please note that these symptoms are not severe so there is no need for panic.
In essence, the presence of these symptoms doesn’t mean that the plant is poisonous. It is just a reaction to show that a foreign object entered the cat’s digestive system.
Why Do Cats Like to Eat Kimberly Queen Ferns?
There are no specific reasons why your cat might be so fond of eating the fern house plants. Naturally, cats are carnivores so when you see them biting on your Kimberly plant, it could be out of boredom. Your cat could be simply attracted to the beautiful leaves of the fern.
Who knows, the pets might have just fallen in love with the taste of the plant!
How To Stop Your Cat From Eating the Kimberly Fern
If you want to keep your cat and still maintain the beauty of your plant, there are interventions that you can put into place to ensure that the pet stays away from your plant.
– Make Eating the Plant Unpleasant
Try to make the plant as unpleasant to eat as possible. One way of doing this is by taking advantage of the cat’s nose sensitivity. You can do this by sprinkling a little bit of cayenne pepper around the plant or placing a lemon peel on the plant’s soil.
– Use Sprays
There have been reports that spraying the Gannick’s Bitter Apple liquid on your fern’s leaves will make cats stay away from it. You can also mix vinegar and water prior to spraying this mixture onto the leaves of your plant.
– Use Grass Alternatives
Another feasible option might be to provide your cat with other plant alternatives that it can eat, just to satisfy its desire to eat plants. Pet grass is a good start because it is nontoxic to your cats.
You can also give wheatgrass to your plant as a way of derailing its attention from your fern. Be sure not to put the grass alternatives close to your Kimberly plant, otherwise, the pet might still opt for your plant.
– Monitor Your Cat
Try by all means to monitor your cat so that it does not eat your plant. You might even need to keep the plant in rooms where your cat has limited or monitored access.
In the event that you find your cat chewing your Kimberly plant, quickly remove the fern off your cat. Remove the remains of the plant from its mouth and fur. Also, consider washing the cat with soap and water.
Are Other Queen Ferns Poisonous to Cats?
Although most ferns are non-toxic to pets like cats and dogs, there are a few that you should keep an eye on — one good example of a highly poisonous queen fern is the Emerald fern, which is also called the plumosa or lace fern. This is because this plant contains a steroid that is known as a sapogenin.
Some species of ferns have the ability to form spores, which can be harmful to pets and human beings upon consumption. The extent of the effects of the fern on the cats varies depending on the type of fern. In extreme cases, be sure to rush your cat to the veterinarian for assistance.
Apart from the queen ferns, there are other plants that are also toxic to cats — this includes the rubber plant.
– Safe Plants for Cat Owners
You have many other options of plants that you can grow in your feline-friendly house apart from the Kimberly fern. These include some true ferns such as Carrot fern, Boston fern and Mother fern.
The spider plant, African violet, prayer plant, bird’s nest fern, Carmelia, areca palm, orchid, Peperomia, and parlor palm, which is also known as the bamboo palm, are also harmless to your pets. Tillandsia plants, which are also referred to as air plants, are included among the list of plants that are safe for your cat.
More Information on the Kimberly Queen Plant
The Kimberly fern, whose scientific name is Nephrolepis obliterata, has its origins in Australia. This plant belongs to the Lomariopsidaceae family. Due to its narrow leaves that are sword-shaped, this fern is also known as the sword plant.
The Kimberly fern is often confused with the button fern but there is a significant difference between the two. The leaves of the button plant are rounder in shape compared to those of the Kimberly plant.
The petioles of the plant’s leaves have red-brown hairs on their surface. Another unique characteristic of the Kimberly fern is that it grows at a much faster rate than other plants that belong to the same family as itself.
– Benefits of Growing the Kimberly Fern
For cat owners, the safety of their pets is just one of the benefits that come with growing the plant. To add to that, the Kimberly ferns have air-purifying attributes.
They can remove toxins like formaldehyde from the air, thereby allowing you to breathe fresh air at all times. The fern also improves the humidity in every space where it is grown, further freshening the air.
The air-freshening and purifying abilities of the Kimberly fern pose an additional benefit to individuals who have problems with dry skin, noses and throats.
– General Care Needs
The Kimberly queen thrives well under medium light exposure and it doesn’t tolerate direct light at all. Excessive exposure to light can cause the plant’s leaves to lose their attractive color.
The soil for growing the fern should be rich and contain peat to ensure that the drainage is good enough. This helps to avoid waterlogging conditions that lead to root rot.
Temperature ranges between 60 F and 70 F are ideal for the healthy survival of the Kimberly queen. Heat sources and conditioners should be out of sight as you take care of your plant. The amount and frequency of watering should be as minimal as possible. Don’t water the plant unless you make sure that about two inches of the topsoil have dried up.
Fertilizer addition should be at its minimal levels as this plant is a light feeder so it can survive without much help in terms of nutrients.
If you decide to add the fertilizer, do so during the summer and spring seasons. The Kimberly fern requires little maintenance so it’s unlikely to need frequent pruning. However, removing some dead leaves positively impacts the plant by promoting healthier growth.
Conclusion
From the information that has been provided in this article, we can see that it is possible to have your cats and the dazzling Kimberly queen plant under the same roof.
Here are some major points to remember:
- The Kimberly queen plant is safe for cat owners to grow.
- Overconsumption of the plant can result in symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.
- Using sprays and grass alternatives are some of the strategies for stopping your cat from eating the Kimberly plants.
- In addition to the Kimberly queen, the parlor and areca plants are some other plants that your cats are safe around.
Enjoy the peace of mind knowing that your cats are safe around your queen fern. Happy coexistence!
- Grow Mango Tree Indoors: Best Tips and Tricks For You - September 21, 2023
- Are Lilacs Deer Resistant? 10 Other Deer Resistant Plants - September 19, 2023
- 7 Plants With Red Stems To Add Color to Your Garden - September 18, 2023
