Why cats eat houseplants and how to help
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Pets love to nibble on plants and fresh bouquets, but teaching a cat to eat indoor flowers is not an easy task. Before you put a vase or a bouquet on the dining table or give cut flowers to the owner of a cat, find out which plants are poisonous to cats. You need to know how to protect flower pots from a cat and at the same time protect your furry friends from the unwanted effects of poisoning. UP.Zhyttia spoke with biologist Iryna Yezhel and veterinary anesthesiologist-reanimatologist Victoria Filshtinska-Lyalko to understand why a cat gnaws flowers and how to teach a cat to climb into a flowerpot. Why do cats eat plants? There are many reasons why a cat eats flowers: in the first place – attractive taste properties. A cat may like the taste of flowers or the movement of plants. Sometimes pets are sad, then the indoor flowerpot becomes a toy or an object of hunting. Very rarely, the consumption of parts of the plant may indicate that four-legged friends want to attract the attention of their owners or have a lack of certain vitamins. There are many reasons why a cat eats flowers: in the first place – attractive taste properties. Photo: NewAfrica/depositphotos “I do not advise you to restore nutrient deficiencies in pets yourself. Veterinary nutritionists do this by analyzing the animal’s diet. For example, the animal eats balanced dry food recommended by a nutritionist – there is no need to add anything to it. Sometimes the doctor determines which substances is not enough and, depending on the deficiency, prescribes certain vitamins,” says the veterinarian. Read also: Why do cats rule the world and how can we learn this from them – philosopher’s answers What plants attract cats? Cats like valerian and catnip, and dogs like grass. Unfortunately, it is not fully known why the cat eats flower pots, and which plant becomes especially attractive to him. “If you put crushed dried leaves of catnip on a scratching post for claws, cats will be attracted to it and they will sharpen their claws only on it, so it will do less harm,” advises biologist Iryna Yezhel. Cats like valerian and catnip the most. Photo: BiancaGrueneberg/depositphotos Animals are attracted not only to plants that are useful for them, but also to harmful and poisonous ones. Poisoning can occur as a result of eating parts of the plant or drinking water from a vase. Read also: 11 indoor plants that can be poisonous to humans and animals. PHOTO “The cut stems release their juices from the conducting tissues into the water. Over time, the vase becomes filled not only with water, but also with biologically active substances of the plant. After spilling the bouquet, the pet may be tempted to taste the contents of the vase. Therefore, it is better not to risk four-legged and prevent their access to bouquets or indoor plants, especially poisonous ones,” warns the biologist. If the poison gets into the body, the pet may even die. And it comes quickly enough. “Vomiting, convulsions, different pupil sizes, loss of consciousness, disorientation are possible symptoms of poisoning that should be paid attention to,” the veterinarian warns. If symptoms of poisoning were detected, the cat should be immediately taken to a veterinary clinic, where a team of specialists will be able to provide the necessary emergency care. List to the doctor what could be dangerous for pets in your home: household chemicals, medicines, plants. Do not forget to indicate when exactly you noticed the symptoms and how they started. If symptoms of poisoning were detected, the cat should be immediately taken to a veterinary clinic, where a team of specialists will be able to provide the necessary emergency care. Photo: NewAfrica/depositphotos Here is a list of the most common cut flowers in bouquets that are safe for four-legged pets: alyssum; alstrometry; aster; gerbera; chamomile; camellia; celosia; rose; zinnia; sunflower; marigold; freesia; petunia; lisianthus; calendula. List of flowers in bouquets that are safe for four-legged pets. Photo: AndrewLozovyi/depositphotos List of indoor plants that cat owners can have at home: orchid; violet; Chinese money tree; soleirolia; echeveria; chlorophytum; gloxinia; indoor banana tree; dioneia; areca nut; nephrolepis; Galatea; speech; Phytonia; bromeliad; Read also: Dog poisoning: how to recognize it, first aid and what to have in the first aid kit How to wean a cat from eating indoor plants? It is better to place bouquets and vases at home as far as possible from pets. This will help protect the flowers from the cat so that he cannot drop them and break the pot. “If there are plants in the house and animals like to snack on them, it is worth fencing off the plant from the animal, if it poses a danger. Small fences, toothpicks, the high location of plants can save lives,” the veterinarian emphasizes. Try to find a place in the house inaccessible to the cat. For example, a high shelf without additional space on which it could stand. The owner knows his pet best and can assess what is “out of reach” for the four-legged friend. Try to put flowers in a place in the house inaccessible to the cat. Photo: gkondratenko/depositphotos Such plants as, for example, lily or geranium, should not be in the house at all. After all, they emit volatile substances that contribute to the perceptible pronounced smell of plants and exhaustion of the nervous system. Some owners tape the vase or spray special products nearby to keep their cats at bay. Although this works, certain plants like furry friends so much that they are still willing to look into the vase. “If your pet still shows a tendency to taste domestic plants, you can buy a special grass that is sold in pet stores. This grass will distract the cat from the flower pots and will decorate the house with its beautiful appearance”, – shares Iryna Yezhel. A bed with soft mowed grass will make your cat forget that he used to stare at roses. The special grass will distract the cat from flower pots and decorate the house with its beautiful appearance. Photo: perova-ev/depositphotos For cats that refuse special grass, you can offer safe edible products: catnip or violets. Be sure to remember which plants are toxic and which are safe for animals and do not put your own cats in danger. Read also: Why does the cat trample and knead you with its paws? Scientists know the answer
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