Table of contents
- Cats like to nibble on plants
- Why cat owners should pay attention to the harmlessness of indoor plants
- Set up problematic houseplants so that they are safe from cats
- Many orchids cause gastrointestinal problems in cats
- Beware of these poisonous species of orchids
- The garden should also be designed to be cat-safe for outdoor cats
- Conclusion
In Europe alone, around 34 million pieces of these exotic plants are sold annually by Dutch marketers - and the trend is rising. For cats, however, these or other orchids can mean death in the worst case.
Cats like to nibble on plants
Cats are immensely curious — and willingly try a bite of this houseplant, a bite of that. Outdoor cats like to roam through the garden and are not just looking for something careless birds or mice, but also nibble a little on the grass from time to time other growths. This behavior is completely normal and cannot be trained away from house tigers.
Why cat owners should pay attention to the harmlessness of indoor plants
Many a cat owner believes that their pet knows exactly which plants are poisonous and which are not. However, this is a fallacy, because how should a domesticated pet know about the toxicity or Know the non-toxicity of certain plants?
This knowledge is not innate in cats either, but is taught to the kittens by their mothers - it acts It is therefore a learned behaviour, which, however, is almost non-existent, especially in indoor cats is. No wonder, then, that so many cases of poisoning from indoor plants and other substances unsuitable for cats accumulate in veterinary waiting rooms.
Set up problematic houseplants so that they are safe from cats
If you want to spare your cat such a fate, you should make your home cat-proof. Of course, this includes avoiding indoor plants that are poisonous to cats – or at least placing them out of reach of velvet paws. Hanging baskets that hang freely from the ceiling and are not near any furniture are very suitable for this purpose.
Many orchid species can be cultivated in this way, for example planted on a piece of wood. However, chairs, armchairs or shelves must not be underneath or next to it, otherwise the cat can still get to the plant with a courageous jump. Tall cupboards or shelves or a closed room that is inaccessible to the animals are also good for problematic indoor plants.
Tip:
Chewing on indoor plants can be partially - but never entirely! – stop it by always offering your cat a pot of fresh cat grass. As a pure carnivore, the animal also needs this green stuff to cover its need for essential nutrients (such as folic acid) and fiber. In addition, the cat grass helps to make it easier to choke out hair that has been swallowed when cleaning.
Many orchids cause gastrointestinal problems in cats
Most orchids are generally considered unproblematic and therefore non-toxic for both humans and cats. However, the cases in which the house tiger ends up in the veterinary practice with clear symptoms of poisoning after nibbling on an indoor orchid are increasing. Science has not yet been able to explain why this is so and which substances in the plant are responsible for these symptoms.
The fact of the matter is that some cats are very sensitive, while others love to nibble on the orchids and don't seem to have any problems with them at all. You can only tell which group your cat belongs to if the orchid had to believe it. You should definitely be aware of these symptoms:
- Cat develops diarrhea and/or vomiting
- Mucous membranes, especially in the pharynx, are red and irritated
- Cat is sick and seems weak and listless
- Animal hides, doesn't want to play like usual
- Eyes appear cloudy, dull
In these cases, as a precaution, consult a veterinarian and take the suspected one The culprit, the nibbled orchid, preferably with a description of the species (if still available) equal to. Based on this, the veterinarian can decide which treatment and which antidote may be necessary.
Beware of these poisonous species of orchids
There are around 30,000 different types of orchids worldwide, some of which are poisonous and others – at least for most cats – completely harmless. These popular indoor orchids are definitely poisonous and therefore unsuitable for a cat household:
- Vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) and its hybrids
- Callus orchid (Oncidium cebolleta) and its varieties
- as well as the popular butterfly orchid (Phalaenopsis)
The species mentioned should be kept inaccessible to indoor cats or should always be removed from a cat's home.
Vanilla Orchid (Vanilla planifolia)
We have the vanilla orchid to thank for the real or Bourbon vanilla extracted from the seed pods of this South American species of orchid. However, contact with the plant, for example by eating individual parts of the plant or even through contact with the plant sap, symptoms of poisoning such as rashes, nausea and general malaise can occur. This even applies if the pods or pods that are actually known as spices or even medicines are the contents of which are consumed – not only humans but also cats can be allergic to it certain foods develop and result in rashes and/or swelling of the mucous membranes react.
Callus Orchid (Oncidium cebolleta)
Oncidia and their relatives come mainly from the cloud forests and mountain slopes of South America. There they are called "Lluvia de Oro" because of the many yellow flowers, which means something like "laburnum". They are used to cool temperatures in their homeland, which is why they are also known to us as cold house orchids. Oncidia are easily recognized by their mostly long leaves and strong bulbs. The flowers are very varied, colorful and bizarrely shaped. Eating this species of orchid and its flowers causes hallucinations in humans. Cats can also be subject to similar effects and the typical symptoms of poisoning.
Butterfly Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
The Phalaenopsis genus, which has a wide range of species and varieties, is probably the most popular genus of orchids in the world. At the moment it even holds a record: it is the best-selling potted plant in the world. These orchids are not only considered to be very easy to care for, they are also very floriferous and have a long flowering period. However, cat owners should refrain from keeping a butterfly orchid, because these (and their numerous hybrids that arise, for example, with the closely related genus Doritis) are considered weak poisonous. Your cat will not die immediately from eating it, but depending on its constitution, the animal can become quite uncomfortable and an expensive visit to the vet may become necessary.
The garden should also be designed to be cat-safe for outdoor cats
In addition to the numerous indoor orchids, garden lovers with outdoor cats should also pay close attention to what is actually growing in their garden. Not only exotic plants, but also native orchids like the following can be fatal for four-legged friends:
- Yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus)
- Flesh-colored orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata)
- Burnt Orchid (Orchis ustulata)
- Forest hyacinth (Platanthera bifolia)
Yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus)
The beautiful yellow lady's slipper is probably one of the most beautiful native orchids. The plant is sometimes offered in a pot, but rarely thrives as a houseplant. As beautiful as this orchid is, it contains toxic and narcotic ingredients like cypripedine and some quinones. If you find the yellow lady's slipper in the wild, be sure to leave it where it is. The very rare plant is on the Red List of Threatened Species.
orchids
There are around 40 different species of orchids in Europe, belonging either to the genus Dactylorhiza or Orchis belong and due to their close relationship to each other often hybrids, i.e. crossbreeds, form. These native orchids are also on the Red List of Threatened Species and therefore may not be picked or otherwise disposed of. In the past, some species were used as medicinal herbs to treat stomach and intestinal problems, but they can cause just such problems in cats.
Forest hyacinth (Platanthera bifolia)
There are numerous types of hyacinths, some of which can also be found in cultivated form in the home garden. However, the spring bloomer that is so pretty to look at is not only for humans, but also for Toxic to cats and can primarily cause skin irritation and swelling of the mucous membranes cause. If the cat has eaten too much, symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting are also possible.
Conclusion
Few of the orchids cultivated as houseplants are actually poisonous to cats. For currently unknown reasons, however, many velvet paws still react with typical Symptoms of poisoning such as irritation of the mucous membranes and throat as well as diarrhea and vomiting after nibbling on plant parts. For this reason, all orchids should be cultivated out of the reach of cats.
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