Even if there are one or more pets in the household, many residents do not want to do without plants and flowers in their own four walls or on the balcony or in the garden. In principle, it is not a problem to have beautiful green and flowering plants despite the presence of a dog, cat, or rabbit. When choosing the plants, however, it is important to ensure that they are harmless to four-legged friends and do not pose a risk even if they are accidentally eaten.
Indoor plants and pets are not fully compatible
Anyone who has ever tried to stop their cat or parrot from nibbling on house plants knows that sometimes this is almost impossible. Green plants or flowers often exert an irresistible attraction on pets, and since the feathered or furry friends are not constantly supervised, incidents such as nibbled leaves or chewed flowers are limited.
It is all the more important that the selected indoor plants are non-toxic for dogs, cats, and Co.: Poisoning can not only lead to gastrointestinal complaints and circulatory problems but in the worst case to organ failure and thus death. Pet owners who do not want to do without attractive planting in the house and on the balcony or terrace should make sure before buying that the plants, flowers, and herbs are chosen are harmless to their animals.
These houseplants are taboo when there are animals in the household
If a dog lives in the house or apartment, it can quickly happen that the four-legged friend comes into contact with the indoor plants. That is why it is important to know which plants should not be ingested by dogs. In the area of ​​indoor plants, these include the following:
- orchids
- lilies
- rubber trees
- christmasstars
- geraniums
- anthurium flowers
- azaleas
It’s the same with cats: Often the velvet paws show great interest in the indoor plants and start to lick them or chew on them. Then toxins can get into the body, which sometimes causes severe symptoms of poisoning. This is the case with these plants:
- ivy
- cacti
- hyacinths
- crocuses
- primroses
In addition to the plants themselves, pet owners should also pay attention to the associated plant pots: These are not eaten but can be licked and nibbled on. Toxic coatings can then pose a health risk. Flower pots made of natural materials that are as untreated as possible can be used in households with animals. But be careful with wood or plastic: These materials can splinter and cause injuries in the mouth area.
Non-toxic plants and herbs are not dangerous to pets
Of course, there are plenty of alternatives when it comes to pet-safe plants. In this context, the following plants are suitable for house and apartment, and they do not cause any health problems even if they are eaten accidentally:
- mountain palm
- lucky chestnut
- olive trees
- spleenwort
- yucca
- indoor fir
There are also plants that are specially bred for pets and can be used without hesitation. An example of this is cat grass, which many velvet paws love to eat, but bird owners also use to keep their feathered friends occupied.
