Please see the Poison Control emergency phone number below.

The “good” of plants is the roughage they provide. Instinctively, the Outdoor Cat chews on grass. The Indoor Cat, on the other hand, needs to be provided with plant roughage in a safe form, namely Grass, instead of potentially dangerous house plants.

There are suggested reasons why grass is important to a cat:

• Cats use grass as a laxative to enable them to pass hairballs lodged in their intestines.
• Cats eat grass to make them vomit up hairballs.
• Cats eat grass to add roughage to their diets.

You can grow your own container of fresh grass for your cat, and insure that you are not adding any herbicides or pesticides to your cat’s diet. They are available at many pet stores, including PetHealthStore. Available in its own growing container, and very inexpensive, just add water. It rapidly grows, and will be available to your cat within a few days.

The Dangerous

Some common houseplants can be harmful or fatal depending on the quantity swallowed. Also, cats that chew plants are exposed to any chemical pesticides or fertilizers that may have been applied directly to the plants or through the soil. You can prevent your cat from chewing on plants by misting the leaves, then sprinkling them with cayenne pepper. You might want to consider buying a small container of “Kitty Grass” for them, which also has added health benefits. If your cats are digging in your pots, go to a hobby or crafts store and buy a few pieces of plastic needlepoint canvas. Trim it to the shape of the pot, cut a slit in it to shape around the plant base, and rest it on top of the soil. Your cat will be unable to dig. Some of the plants that are toxic to cats are Aloe Vera, Ivy, Lily of the Valley, Tulips, Poinsettia, Daffodils, and Easter Lilies.

IF YOU THINK YOUR CAT HAS EATEN A TOXIC SUBSTANCE, AND A VETERINARIAN IS UNAVAILABLE, contact The ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center, staffed 24 hours by licensed veterinarians and toxicologists, at 1-800-548-2423.