Is the yucca palm poisonous? What to do if cat ate palm tree

In addition to the indoor yucca found in many households, there are also some outdoor yuccas that thrive in the garden even in the local climatic conditions. But whether in the living room or in the garden: cat owners should exercise extreme caution with yucca.

Yucca palm contains blood-breakdown saponins

Experts still disagree as to whether or not the yucca – no matter what species – is actually poisonous to cats. Some experts consider the palm lily to be completely harmless, while others refer to known cases of poisoning. In fact, no substances are known to date that confirm their toxicity to cats - however, no detailed research has yet been carried out in this regard. It is only known that the plants contain saponins. Although these are basically harmless, if they get into the bloodstream of the four-legged friends, they can break down the red blood cells.

Some cats are very sensitive to the yucca palm

It is well known that cats like to nibble on indoor and garden plants. They do this, even if the house tigers are pure carnivores, in order to cover their need for fiber and important vitamins such as folic acid. Another reason for this behavior is that the greens make it easier to regurgitate hair swallowed while grooming. Ergo, this is a behavior typical of cats that cannot be trained away from the animals - and of course should not, because it is used for health care.

Now, however, there is the common problem that our domesticated house cats can no longer distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous Plants can distinguish and therefore fundamentally, also because of their immense curiosity, first of all everything nibble. While the yucca is not necessarily considered poisonous, it can still cause mild to severe symptoms of poisoning in some cats.

Beware of the sharp-edged leaves of the yucca palm!

However, the yucca is not only dangerous for cats because of its possible toxicity, but also and above all because of its sharp-edged leaves. The hard foliage of the yucca has a saw edge that can seriously injure not only human but also animal skin. If your cat has chosen the yucca as a scratching post, it is particularly at risk. Therefore, position the indoor tree in such a way that the house tiger cannot even be tempted to sharpen its claws on the exotic plant of all things. In addition, offer your cat a real scratching post - otherwise it could happen that it not only lays hands on the yucca, but also on your furniture.

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 – Common Garden Yuccas Also Potentially Dangerous –

In addition to the Yucca elephantipes, which is cultivated exclusively as a houseplant, there are in German gardens to find some other yucca species, but most of them have no stem or only a short stem grow. But these outdoor yuccas inspire with a delightful inflorescence that is over two meters high and reminiscent of lily of the valley in terms of scent and shape. Just like the native early bloomer, the thready palm lily (Yucca filamentosa) is also considered poisonous. Apart from that, their leaves are also very sharp and can therefore cause serious injuries.

Other potentially dangerous outdoor yucca species for cats are:

• Candle palm lily (Yucca gloriosa)
• Blue Yucca (Yucca baccata)
• Blue-green Yucca (Yucca glauca)
• Big Bend Yucca (Yucca rostrata)
• Yucca thompsoniana

Garden owners with outdoor cats should consider before planting one of these species that even experienced outdoor cats are basically interested in everything nibble on - they no longer have the experience and instinct of their ancestors, who learned this knowledge from their mothers as kittens have.

What to do if the cat ate the yucca palm?

If your cat doesn't resist the temptation and tastes the yucca palm, don't panic right away. In most cases, nothing happens at all - unless your cat is one of the sensitive specimens and reacts with the typical symptoms of poisoning. However, if your house tiger has injured itself on the sharp leaves, a visit to the veterinarian may be necessary immediately. You should definitely disinfect and bandage the injury, it may even need stitches because of the better chances of healing.

symptoms of poisoning

You should also see your vet if your cat shows one or more symptoms of poisoning after nibbling on parts of the yucca palm:

• Cat is visibly uncomfortable, is atypically dull and/or aggressive
• has tendencies to want to hide
• has difficulty breathing
• trembles and/or cramps
• vomits and/or has diarrhea
• urinates remarkably often
• has increased salivation
• shows dilated pupils
• coughs and/or sniffles strangely

Be sure to tell the veterinarian that the cat nibbled on the yucca palm and then developed the symptoms of poisoning. This facilitates the diagnosis so that your darling can be helped faster and more effectively.

First aid measures in case of poisoning

In the event of poisoning by the yucca palm, do not try to cure your cat with all sorts of home remedies. Do not give the animal milk, tea, oil, salt or any other medication (possibly from your own medicine cabinet) or natural remedies. Such unprofessional treatments do more harm than good. Your pet is actually better off with a specialist who can treat it appropriately. Also, keep in mind that a cat is not a human and medicines and remedies intended for humans can most likely even be toxic to the four-legged friend.

This is how you can prevent poisoning by the yucca palm

The only way to prevent poisoning is to keep the potential toxins (in this case the potentially poisonous yucca palm) away from the cat. So do not cultivate yuccas in rooms where cats are often present - especially not if they are meowing furry friends are more likely to be found there, even when you're not there, and therefore greater chances for even more mischief have.

Conclusion

Basically, the yucca or palm lily is considered non-toxic for cats. However, there are many cases in which the animals suddenly showed mild to even severe symptoms of poisoning after nibbling on plant parts. The exact cause of this is not yet known, but saponins are suspected as possible culprits. If they get into the bloodstream, they can break down the red blood cells. Care should also be taken of the very sharp-edged, saw-toothed and hard leaves of the yucca, on which the animals can seriously injure themselves, for example when scratching or eating.

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