Peace Lilies Toxic To Cats

Introduction

Peace lilies belong to the genus Spathiphyllum spp. and can be found in your homes forming an added decoration with their compact, dark green leaves and an elegant white flower. One factor that may turn out to be a hindrance to its glamour is that the peace lilies are reportedly said to pose dangers to companion animals, notably cats. This article gives information regarding mainly the toxicity of peace lilies in cats, symptoms of poisoning, and some preventive strategies to be followed while keeping your feline friends safe.

Peace Lilies

Some of the peace lilies come from the same Araceae family as interior plants of great renown, like philodendrons and dieffenbachias. Low light tolerance and air-purifying ability, perceived to be high, make them rather popular, but what most cat owners might not know is that peace lilies actually contain calcium oxalate crystals—a substance rather toxic to cats.

Toxicity of Peace Lilies

The peace lily is a plant that contains calcium oxalate crystals, which make up the substance responsible for its toxicity. These are needle-shaped crystals that have been found in every part of the plant, from the leaves to the stems and flowers. If a cat chews or ingests any part of the peace lily, the released crystals can cause instant irritation and really may lead to serious health issues.

When a cat bites into a peace lily, the calcium oxalate crystals may stick into the mouth, tongue, and throat of the cat. This leads to serious irritation that may manifest in a host of symptoms, some of which can prove to be very serious if not treated quickly enough.

Symptoms of Peace Lily Poisoning in Cats:

The result of peace lily poisoning in cats may vary depending upon the amount of plant the cat has consumed and also the sensitivity of the cat. Common Symptoms include:-

Oral Irritation- Oral irritation is the first sign that one can identify relating to peace lily poisoning. Cats drool excessively, mostly pawing at their mouths or even experiencing difficulty in swallowing.
Swelling- Swelling in the mouth, tongue, and throat occurs, developing into more swelling further irritating and probably giving breathing problems.
Vomiting: Vomiting results since it is the body’s attempt to rid itself of toxins.
Difficulty Swallowing: Since there is irritation and swelling, cats can have trouble swallowing either food or water.
Loss of Appetite: peace lily poisoning causes pain and discomfort in the tongue, mouth, and esophagi, leading to loss of appetite.
Lethargy: Due to the agitation and physiological impact of the toxins, a poisoned cat may appear abnormally tired or lethargic.

If you suspect your cat has ingested a part of a peace lily, quick measures are really very essential. These are the immediate steps:

Remove the Plant: You want to get the plant removed instantly from your cat if it is still chewing; this will prevent more poisons from being ingested.
Flush the Mouth: Give your cat some water and let it gargle a bit to help clear the remnants of the plant from the system. While you are at it, make sure to distress your cat as little as possible.
Call a Veterinarian: Call your vet immediately, or instead, an emergency animal clinic locally, where you can describe the symptoms and how much was consumed by your cat.
Follow Veterinary Advice: Your veterinarian may advise that you must rush your cat into the animal clinic to get her examined and treated. Do precisely what they say, and you will be on the right track toward the recovery of your pet.

Veterinary Treatment for Peace Lily Poisoning

The veterinary treatment for peace lily poisoning consists of trying to institutionalize the symptoms and forestalling further complications. Treatment thus may involve:

Flush of Mouth and Throat: Saline water is used by vets to flush your cat’s mouth and throat, thereby ridding it of all the remaining calcium oxalate crystals.
Medications: Anti-inflammatory medications are given to reduce swelling and discomfort. Painkillers may also be prescribed.
Intravenous Fluids: Your cat may be given intravenous fluids in case there is a state of dehydration or if it has trouble swallowing.
Monitoring: Your cat can be hospitalized in serious conditions for monitoring of breathing, among other supportive cares, especially in cases whereby respiratory distress or serious swelling occurs.

Preventing Peace Lily Poisoning

The best way to keep your cats safe would be by preventing peace lily poisoning. Following are the steps you may take:

Choose Pet-Safe Plants: Go for houseplants that won’t poison pets. Several beautiful plants are safe for homes shared with cats.
Move Plants to a Height: If you still want to have a peace lily or any other plant that is poisonous, place it in high places your cats cannot reach. High shelves or hanging planters would be a good spot.
Train Your Cat: Generally, training your cat to stay away from particular places or objects is quite useful. If it becomes difficult to keep your cat away from plants, then use positive reinforcement.
Make It Safe and Interesting: Offer your cat safe alternatives to explore, such as cat grass and other vegetation, like catnip. These will satisfy their instinctual urge to explore by smelling and tasting, and at the same time, exercise their tendency to chew.

Alternatives to Peace Lilies

For cat parents in love with the peace lilies’ look but deeply concerned with the safety to Furr Babies, a number of non-toxic counterparts could be important to such people, namely:

Chlorophytum comosum, Spider Plant: A green and white arching leaf plant, safe for kitties.
The Areca Palm, Dypsis lutescens—is native to Madagascar and has feathery fronds, bringing a touch of the tropics indoors without posing a threat to your pets.
The Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is lush and green, making it a safe and attractive option for cat-friendly households.

The Cast Iron Plant has leaves that are broad and dark green, plus it’s non-poisonous with easy care.
While beautiful and quite popular houseplants, peace lilies are very toxic to cats. Therefore, knowing some symptoms of peace lily poisoning in cats will be highly advantageous to the health and well-being of your cats. Step back a bit to find pet-friendly plant selection, and make sure your area offers reduced danger factors. Take care of your pets’ welfare and health when settling on plants to have in your home.