ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512260067
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Claws & Paws
SOURCE: JILL BOWEN
Q: Several times a year I send cut flowers to my daughter who lives in a condominium with two inside cats. What flowers or plants should I not send to someone with house pets? I know some are toxic.
A: Cases of poisoning in cats are comparatively rare. Cats, while they may destroy your beautiful flower arrangement out of pure devilment, seldom eat the flowers. They are rather fastidious eaters and highly suspicious of anything new.
House plants are probably a more likely source of poisoning than are cut flowers from the florist. There are a large number of plants that can be considered potentially poisonous to cats, although cats, being pretty smart, do not usually eat enough of any one plant to cause a problem. They are much more likely to be merely destructive, biting the heads off roses and carnations or plucking the stems out of the vase, to scatter on the carpet.
There are commonly two types of plant poisons: irritant salts which cause irritation in the mouth and swelling of the mouth, lips and tongue; and systemic toxins which can cause damage to the stomach, heart, kidney and the nervous system.
Some of the common house plants to be avoided where there are indoor cats and small children are:
Irritant plants: Boston ivy, chrysanthemum species, dieffenbachia species, philodendron species, arrowhead vine, caladium, creeping fig, scindapsus (marble queen), syngonium pothos, weeping fig, poinsettia, umbrella plant, parlor ivy and gold-toothed aloe.
Systemic plants: Azalea, asparagus fern, avocado, strelitzia (bird of paradise), glecoma (creeping Charlie), crown of thorns, hedera species (glacier ivy), Jerusalem cherry, chrysanthemum species, cherry laurel, sprengeri fern.
There are of course other plants that may be poisonous, so if you think that your pet has eaten something dangerous, consult your veterinarian immediately and take a sample of the plant with you to the clinic.
If you have a question for Jill Bowen, please write to her in care of the New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or send e-mail to Currentbev.net.
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