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Beware: Toxic House Plants!

notsafesago-palm.jpgOwning a pet, especially those kept indoors, means being diligent about what they're to eat...and what they're not supposed to eat. Our cats had the habit of chewing on indoor ferns and palm leaves until we sprayed them with lemon juice; we lost a few plants, but we'd rather lose them than our feline family members. We've recently added another household hazard to the list: the Sago Palm (not even a real palm, but a relative of the spruce and douglas fir) contains an extremely toxic seed that can cause seizures, coma and death in both humans and animals alike!

The ornamental plant's seeds contain cycasin, as well as a related compound called neocycasin, which both release cyanide upon ingestion. Best to keep the Sago Palm out of homes with either pets or small children. And here's a more definitive list of poisonous plants, provided by the Humane Society, worth perusing for safety's sake.

Comments (12)

I'll say it's always good to be safe but that I've never had a cat try to eat a plant that's toxic. I've had sago palms around my cats forever and they've never gone for it. Maybe it's because they're indoor/outdoor but their instincts tell them: no!

posted by laure on 2007-10-10 17:39:21
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this is why i still have only one sad plant. i just wouldn't feel safe chancing it.

posted by jennifer in sf on 2007-10-10 17:41:30
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Some animals go for houseplants, some can't be bothered, but you never know when they might change their minds (it does happen, unfortunately). If you don't want to take chances with your pets' health, the ASPCA website has an extensive list of plants that are known to be poisonous to animals, as well as a long list of plants that are known to be safe. Hope this is helpful.

posted by nantarea on 2007-10-11 02:37:37
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Put the bad plants high up or hang them, so the kitties are not even tempted.

posted by olga on 2007-10-11 02:58:44
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Putting plants up high or hanging them just makes my cats see them as a more tempting challenge. Luckily, all they wanted to eat were the spider plants, which are not toxic (note: spider lilies ARE toxic, spider plants are not) but once the cats got through with them, they weren't really plants anymore - just little nubs of stem. I've had to choose more substantial, not frond-y, plants, these don't tempt my kitties at all, luckily.

posted by lizb on 2007-10-11 11:03:18
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I used to sprout grass seeds every week and the cats liked to nibble that. Use untreated grass seeds or oat grass just for cats.
I have a wardian case for some plants that kept the plants and cats separated, not because the plants are dangerous but because they looked awful after the cats eat the blossoms off.

Nothing I have ever grown hurt my pets but the poisoned pet food, some of which is STILL on store shelves, killed several of my pets and cost me thousands in vet bills and cremation expenses.
Testing paid for by private pet owners is finding horrific toxins in pet food.

http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/

posted by witchdoc on 2007-10-11 14:39:55
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Good info! I once had to rush my Jack Russell puppy to the animal hospital in Boston after he ate some yew berries in my parents' backyard - they were right next to the raspberries, which he'd already figured out were edible. Fortunately, after lots of activated charcoal and vet bills, he was fine, but I've definitely been careful about my choice of flora since then.

posted by SisterRae on 2007-10-16 14:25:11
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What about other plants that are poisonous for humans (ie little curious babies)?

posted by Katie K on 2007-10-16 14:57:56
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I saw that same plant at a restaurant this weekend & I was wondering if they know it's poisonous! It wasn't sitting near any food or tables, but still there's the chance something could happen. I'll mention it to them next time I'm there.

posted by Jenochka on 2007-10-16 14:59:00
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My parents have a sago palm in the backyard... our 17-year-old cat has never attempted to eat it...

posted by shani-o on 2007-10-16 15:38:56
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Yew is poisonous to people too. It played a role in at least one of Agatha Christie's novels.

My cat turns up his nose at most everything I put in his dish but put out a vase of flowers or a potted plant and he's right there chowing down, so I'm very careful about what I leave around.

posted by Deborah on 2007-10-16 15:55:23
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http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807E5DE1631F934A2575BC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print
Oliver Sacks (the well-known neurologist) has a thing for cycads, the family of plants that includes Sago palms. One of his books goes into great detail about them as well as focusing on colour blindness.

The above linked article from the NYTimes talks about cycads.

posted by sciencegeek on 2007-10-17 08:40:20
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