Are Monsteras Dangerous for Cats?
There’s good news that the monstera plant isn’t usually a threat to cats (or dogs, or even humans).
If your cat takes a bite of a portion of your monstera, it could irritate the mouth, throat, and stomach lining. It could also result in vomiting or drooling, but your pet’s health will not be in danger if it has consumed massive amounts of this plant. It isn’t common, however, since the irritation will likely start almost as soon as the cat has taken a bite from the monstera, which should stop it from consuming further.
What Makes Monsteras Unsafe for Cats?
What is the reason that monstera plants are such an issue when they are ingested?
The answer is in the calcium oxalate crystals found in all the parts of the Monstera plant.
Calcium Oxalate Crystals
These tiny particles are made up of calcium and oxalate. They can be sharp and pointy like needles. They may irritate by cutting within the tissues of the throat, mouth, and digestive tract and can even be stuck in these tissues. They can also irritate your skin. This is why putting on gloves while cutting the beast is essential.
The crystals focus on providing benefits to the plant monstera because they stop it from being consumed by animals.
The only component of the plant designed to be consumed is the fruit. This is safe to eat when fully ripe. It allows the plant to spread its seeds broadly through animals and the digestive system.
What Part of Monstera Contains Calcium Oxalate Crystals?
Calcium oxalate crystals are everywhere sap flows, so they are found in all areas of your monstera, such as the stems and leaves, the roots, and the unripe fruits.
For the record, all parts of the plant can be harmful to cats, so you should be sure to protect them from plants that threaten your cat!
Symptoms of Calcium Oxalate Crystal Poisoning
If your cat ate a portion of the monstera plant, the initial warning signal you’ll notice would be your cat’s claws being pushed against the mouth or face because of irritation from its mouth.
There may also be swelling of the mouth and lips. Or the tongue.
If it gets to the point, your cat’s throat could become swollen, making it hard for the cat to breathe. (If this happens, bring your cat to the vet immediately.)
Other signs to watch out for include vomiting, drooling, and a loss of appetite.
Could Monstera Toxins Kill My Cat?
In the majority of cases, the answer is no.
Consuming the parts of a vast plant isn’t likely to harm a cat except if consumed in huge quantities.
Massive amounts of calcium oxalate crystals within your cat’s body could harm the kidneys. However, it’s doubtful because these crystals can cause immediate irritation, typically preventing pets from eating much more of the herb.
If your cat is eating any portion of the plant you’ve got, It’s best to see a veterinarian as soon as you notice it.
What to Do if Your Cat Has Been Poisoned
If you suspect that your cat has consumed the entire Monstera plant and you’re experiencing indications of irritation or poisoning, consult your vet immediately or call Animal Poison Control at 1-888-426-4436. (Note the service might cost you a consult fee.)
Also, you should use clean water to wash the eyes, mouths of your cat, and paws, as well as any other parts of the body that have come into contact with the sap. Encourage your cat to drink a glass of water. This will likely benefit you by flushing as much of the crystals as possible out of the digestive tract.
How to Prevent Cats From Eating Monsteras
But how do you prevent your family pets from consuming your plant?
An excellent method combines restricting access to the plant with avoiding distractions and repellents.
Here are some tips to keep your pet and the monster secure and happy.
Keep Plants Out of Reach
It is, of course, the most secure method to keep your pet and your boss apart. However, it can be challenging, mainly when your cat is agile and can climb higher locations!
Keep the plant away from a shelf the cat cannot reach and inside a hanging basket (for smaller creatures).
A chicken wire fence, gate, or any other barrier can hinder your garden’s access if your cat cannot climb over or pass behind it.
Another choice is to keep the plant in a space your cat can’t access.
Also, washing the fallen leaves promptly is crucial so your cat won’t be tempted to eat leaves!
Cat Deterrents
Dissuasive agents can make your plant less attractive to cats. They may help by making your monstera stink for your cat (but perfectly acceptable for you) or training your pet to think of the plants with unwelcome results.
Water
Infusing cats with water using a squirt bottle is a safe, easy, and efficient method of making them aware of specific things or actions.
If you see your cat being too affectionate with the plant you have planted and notice it, immediately spray it with a blast of water. If you keep doing this regularly and consistently, your cat will start to think of the plant as the water, avoiding this space.
This principle can be applied for other purposes. You could, for instance, place cans on the ground near your plant, which are accessible for cats to fall over when they come too close, or place the vacuum close to the monster if your cat fears the vacuum. In time, these steps might make your plant less attractive to your cat regardless of whether you’ve removed the aversion.
Repellents
Cats don’t like the scent of citrus fruits. So you can try placing citrus peels, such as lime, lemon, or grapefruit skins, in the soil or rub the essential citrus oil around the outside of your pot.
Try spraying the plants with water that is laced with some lemon juice. Citronella and vinegar can stop your cat from playing around with the plant. However, you might not enjoy the scent!
It is believed that mustard and red pepper can also repel cats. Combine a couple of spoonfuls into the water before spraying it over the plants to keep your pet far away.
It is also possible to keep potted rosemary on your property. Cats do not like the smell; as an advantage, you can also use it to cook!
If none of the other options work, Nature’s Miracle also makes a beautiful spray to deter pets, which you can spray on the plants to keep your cat from the plant (but do not spray directly onto plants).
Mulching Top Soil
A layer of mulch on the soil’s surface, which cats aren’t keen to walk over, can stop them from tearing up your garden’s monstera.
For example, you could include stones, bark, or pine cones on the soil’s surface. In addition to acting as a barrier, making it more challenging to break the soil, cats dislike the sensation of having these items beneath their feet, and they’ll likely stay out of the dirt altogether.
Providing a Distraction
Giving your cat lots of playtime, toys, and other activities will keep them entertained and stimulated, which means they aren’t eating or digging into your pet out of anger or boredom.
Ensure you have a range of cat toys that your cat will play with and chase. Visually stimulating things like bird feeders and “kitty TV” videos you will discover on YouTube, along with tunnels or cat trees that your cat could play in and climb up.
Engaging with your cat often and showing them plenty of love is essential. If your cat is hungry to be loved, it could be prone to behaviors that will get your attention in every way feasible, even negatively.
Try rotating items to make things more interesting and exciting for your pet.
Cat-Safe Plants
If all this sounds like excessive work and hassle, then it’s possible to choose cat-friendly plants. This way, you won’t have to fear your cat taking an ounce of food from one.
There are lots of lovely and simple-to-care-for plants that are non-toxic and pet-friendly:
- African violet
- Boston fern
- The tail of Burro
- Calathea
- Cactus of Christmas
- Cast iron plant
- Echeveria
- Haworthia
- Majesty palm
- Money tree
- Nerve plant
- Parlor palm
- Peperomia
- Pilea
- Polka Dot Plant
- Ponytail palm
- Prayer plant
- Rattlesnake plant
- Spider plants
It is also possible to plant grass, lemon balm, or catnip for cats. Keep the plants in a place where cats can reach the plants. This way, your cat will stay away from the plants that are not allowed and only go for the secure and easy-to-reach ones.
Fresh Litter Tray
Most often, cats are enticed in the house plants, such as your new monstera, utilizing the soil for litter boxes. This could result in a behavior issue. However, it may also mean that your cat is not happy with the conditions of its actual litter box!
Be sure to keep the litter of your cat clean and clean. Please clean it up daily and change the litter often to prevent things from getting excessively snarky.
If your cat appears to have accidents often, consider changing the kind of litter you use or scheduling an appointment with your vet to find out if the cat has liver or bladder issues, which could cause painful urination. If your cat is averse to using the litter box to feel discomfort, they might seek out different locations to relieve themselves, just like the monstera’s litter box!
Are Monsteras Toxic to Cats? Final Thoughts
Monsteras are beautiful houseplants. However, they aren’t always able to mix perfectly with our pets.
However, it is doable!
These suggestions help ensure that your cat is safe from the monster. If one of these strategies isn’t working, don’t quit! You can try a different one. Many strategies could be efficient, so ensure you provide your pet with lots of affection and toys to keep them entertained, clean up the litter, and put deterrents on your plants.
If you can’t find a way to work it out (or you don’t wish to deal with the hassle of a giant living in a home with cats), there are numerous other options for getting gorgeous, feline-friendly plants!