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You probably have seen ornamental coleus plants in homes and gardens, even if you don’t know it. These colorful plants are common staples due to their beauty, but that does not mean they are completely safe for cats. Active oils in the leaves of coleus can, in fact, be dangerous to cats, and it is important to monitor your cats to make sure poisoning does not occur.
Coleus amboinicus is probably one of the most widespread house and outdoor plants. It is a plant that derives most of its distinction from bright showy teardrop-shaped or almond-shaped serrated leaves. Most of the varieties have outstanding patterns of purple, yellow, and green on the leaves which make them so special in the garden.
They can also survive indoors or outdoors and happen to be either perennials or annuals, depending on the given placement of your house, as well as your climate. The plants can also often be “overwintered,” outdoors in the ground for much of the year but moved into indoor pots to be brought through the coldest months.
The coleus plant is famous for its beautiful leaves but possesses an irritating essential oil that is capable of causing poisoning in people, cats, and dogs. The contact poisoning of coleus occurs upon contact of the skin with this plant. While this rarely happens in cats, as their fur coats act as a protective agent, it can still happen once in a while.
This includes a rash, redness, irritation, and skin that may be itchy or painful. You may also notice the signs on your cat’s tongue, gums, and lips if your cat nibbles on the coleus, along with excessive drooling in pets that groom after getting the oils on their fur.
Other symptoms of your cat ingesting coleus are gastrointestinal irritation: This results from irritating action of the oils from the plant to the digestive system. These may include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and sometimes bloody stool or vomiting.
Essential oils are toxic to cats whether they act as an irritant or do not, as cats are unable to metabolize them. Several sources suggest liver failure, respiratory issues, or seizures may be potential symptoms. While all types of essential oil exposure are harmful to cats.
If you have indoor coleus plants, make sure they are well out of reach of cats. Because most cats aren’t particularly interested in coleus when given the choice, outdoor plants usually are not in danger unless your cat has an especial taste for this plant.
Most of the signs of coleus poisoning are mild, and most gastrointestinal reactions and skin irritations can be monitored at home. However, if your cat eats several leaves of the plant or shows severe poisoning signs, you need to consult a vet immediately. They include bloody stools or vomit, seizures, difficulty breathing, or difficulty moving.
Let’s face it: we all love a touch of greenery in our home. But when you become a cat parent, the plants that enter your home can be a matter of life and death. Beautiful as it may be, the coleus does pose a real threat to our feline friends. So how do you find a balance between your love for the plants and keeping your cat safe? Easily-replace with nontoxic alternatives.
There’s a whole world of cat-friendly plants one can introduce into the home. Let’s start with Hoya, which is not just a pretty face: harmless to your feline companions. So is Pellionia, also known as Watermelon Begonia. Let’s get things straight, though: not all Begonias are safe for your cat.
Another safe bet is the Calathea plants. They’re so beautiful, and there are a number of species available. And then of course, let us not forget Orchids, more specifically Phalaenopsis orchids: they are safe for your kitties, and quite frankly they are just eye candy.
When it comes to ferns and succulents, the situation is half-and-half. Ferns too aren’t all safety-approved. For instance, the Asparagus fern is to be avoided. On the succulent side, Echeveria, Haworthia, and Sedum Morganianum, aka Burro’s Tail, are completely good to go. But you should know not all succulents are good for your cat.
Ivy plants can be a bit deceiving. This Swedish Ivy is non-toxic to cats, while all other types, such as English Ivy, are. Always make sure to check first before bringing an Ivy plant into your home.
Another old favorite for feline-friendly homes is the Spider Plant. It is totally safe for your cats, but you might want to put it out of reach because curious pets won’t hesitate to harm this wonderful plant.
The coleus plant is very beautiful but should be treated with a lot of care due to the toxic oils present. Skin and intestinal irritation upon contact with coleus is painful, even dangerous side effects; thus, your cat needs your protection against these dangers.
