Is Bird of Paradise Toxic to Cats? Should You Grow These Flowers in Your Yard?
- Abi
- September 19, 2022
- 1:46 pm
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Is bird of paradise toxic to cats? The bird of paradise plant is mildly toxic to cats and most other animals. Although the flowers are beautiful, it’s best not to grow them in a pet-friendly yard.
Bird of paradise flowers, stems, and foliage are toxic to animals, including cats, dogs, and horses. That being said, it is only mildly toxic when ingested, which means that it should not cause your pet any severe symptoms or harm in general. Despite this, it is still not the best idea to nurture this particular plant in a home where cats or other pets reside.
This article will answer the question, ‘is the bird of paradise toxic to cats?’ We’ll discuss why these plants are toxic, the symptoms they cause, and look at which other plants you should avoid.
What is a Bird of Paradise plant?
The bird of paradise plant is an extremely beautiful and vibrant piece of greenery that can bring any garden or home a touch of life. It is a perennial plant that is known to be native to the southern parts of Africa. This particular genus is native to the Strelitziaceae plant family and is named after Queen Charlotte, who used to be a ruler of the United Kingdom.
This plant has a dark green spathe, a collection of vibrant orange sepals, and some dark blue petals at its base. The plant gets its name because of its particularly close resemblance to the Bird of Paradise. It is also sometimes called a crane flower in its native land because it can be said to look like the head of a crowned crane.
Is Bird of Paradise Toxic to Cats?
Many would consider the bird of paradise plant the perfect houseplant for all homes as it is a hardy and low-maintenance plant. However, it is not recommended that you grow or have this plant in a household that you want to be considered pet friendly. This is because it is mildly toxic to cats and most other pets. Moreover, all parts of this plant have pretty much the same level of toxicity.
The bird of paradise plant is toxic due to the chemicals that it contains. The chemical that this plant possesses is called tannin. This chemical has a bitter taste that should put your pet off from ingesting it more than once, but it is still best if you try to prevent your pet from eating this piece of greenery at all. This is because although the Bird of Paradise plant is not known to have the ability or the toxicity level to seriously damage or kill domestic animals, it can still cause some pretty severely irritating symptoms.
Symptoms
The symptoms that your cat is likely to experience after ingesting the bird of paradise plant include:
- Nausea and possible vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and disorientation
- Lack of ability to drink water and possibly even ingest food
If you see your cat experiencing these symptoms or acting in any way that is unusual to them and seems to be harming them, consult a vet immediately. If your local vet isn’t open at the time that you notice the symptoms, then you should try and call a 24-hour vet hotline.
Other toxic plants
Other popular spring plants that are toxic or poisonous to cats and other domestic pets include:
- Azaleas
- Irises
- Dahlias
- Lilies
- Chrysanthemums
- Hydrangeas
- Lotus flowers
Is Bird of Paradise Toxic to Cats? Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the bird of paradise plant is a toxic plant that is not worth keeping around for its beauty as it can cause your beloved pets some quite irritating symptoms and harm. If you decide to place this plant in a pet-friendly home, try to ensure that it is in a place your cat possibly can’t reach and ingest it.
Written by Victoriya Litovchenko
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