Are African Violets Poisonous to Cats? Common Houseplants Examined

African Violets are widespread houseplants which can be comparatively straightforward to look after. They’ve tender and fuzzy leaves, and so they produce fairly and dainty flowers. Fortuitously, African Violets aren’t poisonous to cats, so cat homeowners can have as lots of them of their properties as they need. Proceed studying to be taught extra.

In regards to the African Violet

The African Violet, or Saintpaulia ionantha, is one in all six members of the Gesneriaceae family. Vegetation of this household, together with Cyrtuderias and Candycorn Vegetation, are protected for cats and aren’t recognized to be poisonous.

Apart from their quaint look and distinctive leaves, African Violets are additionally well-liked as a result of they’re fairly hardy if you know the way to look after them. Whereas they’re not fairly for freshmen, they supply simply sufficient of a problem for plant homeowners that need to develop their information and degree of care to the following step.

African Violet
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Maintaining Cats Away from African Violets

African Violets may be engaging for cats due to their tender leaves. Whereas they’re not poisonous to cats, it might probably nonetheless be an inconvenience to seek out bitten leaves or a turned-over pot brought on by a curious cat. Listed below are some issues you are able to do to maintain your cat away from a pot of African Violets.

Make The African Violet Laborious To Attain

Top-of-the-line methods to guard an African Violet is to position it in a spot that’s tough to succeed in. This generally is a problem as many cats are agile and in a position to squeeze into tight areas. Attempt to place the plant on a slender floor that doesn’t present sufficient room to your cat to face on. Maintain it away from different surfaces that cats can use to leap off of to succeed in it.

You probably have a very decided cat, you’ll have to position the plant in a room with a door that your cat can’t entry, equivalent to a bed room or workplace.

african violet near window
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Use a Deterrent

There are a number of completely different sorts of cat-safe deterrents that you should utilize to discourage your cat from taking part in with crops.

One deterrent is cat tape. Cats don’t like the sensation of this tape on their paws, nevertheless it doesn’t do any harm to them. Surrounding the plant pot with cat tape can discourage your cat from choosing at it.

Cats even have delicate noses and have sure scents that they don’t get pleasure from. For instance, they don’t just like the odor of citrus fruits or coffee grounds. You possibly can place a small quantity of important oils or precise fruit and low grounds close to the plant to maintain your cat away from it.

Convey Residence Cat Grass

In case your cat simply likes chewing on all types of crops, you may attempt rising some cat grass. Cat grass is definitely helpful and can assist cats with digestion, cut back hairballs, and alleviate constipation.

cat eat young wheatgrass
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Different Widespread Houseplants That Are Secure for Cats

Houseplants can add extra shade and liveliness to a room. Whereas they add a pleasant contact to a room and may be enjoyable to look after, it’s necessary to deliver residence non-toxic crops to maintain your cat protected:

  • Chicken’s Nest Fern
  • Boston Fern
  • Bromeliad
  • Calathea Orbifolia
  • Parlor Palm
  • Peperomia Ginny
  • Rattlesnake Plant
  • Spider Plant
  • Staghorn fern
  • Tillandsia
ginger cat on wood table with air purify house plants_Foto2rich_shutterstock
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Widespread Home Vegetation That Are Toxic for Cats

Totally different sorts of crops carry quite a lot of toxins that may be dangerous for cats. Your cat’s signs will differ relying on the kind of toxin it ingests. For instance, ingesting a small quantity of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals could cause pores and skin irritation and an upset abdomen, whereas any a part of lilies may be fatally poisonous to cats.

It’s finest to keep away from these kinds of widespread houseplants:

  • Any sort of Lily
  • Cyclamen
  • Daffodils
  • English Ivy
  • Hyacinth
  • Kalanchoe
  • Philodendron
  • Pothos
  • Rhododendrons
  • Sago Palm

cat paw divider

Conclusion

You generally is a cat lover and plant lover on the similar time. Whereas many widespread houseplants may be toxic to cats, there are lots of non-toxic choices, together with the African Violet. African Violets received’t hurt cats, and so they additionally add enjoyable colours to your own home.

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