Taking care of a curious animal as a cat and having it as your feline companion must have taught you that you should not wonder why they are nibbling around your house plans. Orchids are especially attractive to cats. According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) plants are among the most common cat toxins, but we have a specific question to elaborate on.
Are orchids toxic to cats? Are these favorite plants cat-friendly or not?
Most Orchids are not Toxic to Cats
Being an orchid lover, you must know the good news. Not all varieties in which orchids appear are toxic for cats. This fact does not mean that your cat should sniff or eat parts of the orchid. The most popular variety of orchids, the Phalaenopsis orchids are non-toxic to cats. As known so far there are around 25,000 thousand species in the Orchid family and there is still no evidence of fatal toxicity to cats reported.
A cat can ingest a part of an orchid, but there isn’t any chance that unexpected or unusual problems can occur. You may note that only the lady’s slipper orchids are causing mild skin irritation in cats, as well as in humans.
Orchids are such exotic plants that can be categorized as non-toxic for cats, but still problematic. Any cat owner is ready to have problems with their cat regarding orchids, but I am sure that none will like seeing the plants spoilt by the cat. In the natural carnivore, an amount of plant being eaten can cause stomach discomfort, such as vomiting and stomach pain.
Plants contain herbicides, and orchids as well, so that is what can be toxic to cats. When we buy orchids none of us is aware of what suppliers have been using on the orchids. You must also be very careful if your cat has a penchant for digging plant soil because the soil contains those chemicals. In this case, the smartest and most practical thing to do is to repot your orchid in new fresh soil with a pet-friendly fertilizer inside.
You may also be unpleasantly surprised to find your orchid missing leaves or petals. In this situation your cat will be the suspect no. 1, so monitor your cat because it may show signs of stomach irritation, or even bigger gastrointestinal issues. All the discomfort should pass within 24 hours and without any fuss or vet visit. But if the vomiting does not stop, but becomes more severe as time passes you will have to ask for veterinary assistance. Your cat may develop heavy breathing, seizures, or an unsteady gait which is a serious situation.
Why are Cats Attracted to Orchids?
Domestic cats are “house plant” eaters because of their curiosity. Scientists used to think that the cats were doing it to induce vomiting because they were already not feeling well, but many studies on this topic lately, show that the cats are doing this due to their behavioral instinct. Cats may be attracted to orchids because of a variety of reasons, such as fallen petals, fragrance, or taste. They can also do that for fun or to relieve boredom and anxiety.
How to Prevent Your Cat from Eating Orchids
There are plenty of things you can do to prevent your cat from eating your favorite orchids. The management of the cats’ needs is of great importance. So, you may offer alternatives to it. Buying some new puzzle toys is an amazing idea. It kills boredom in cats.
Besides the fact that your cat like all other cats is a real acrobat, you may try and put the orchids somewhere that your cat can not have access to. Be careful because if it tries to reach the plant, it may pull it unwillingly and the disaster is evident.
To rescue your orchids from a cat you can buy some cat grass and your plant-loving cat will be redirected to the appropriate plant. Most of the feline friends are reducing stress by chewing your home plants. If you notice signs of anxiety, you must consult a cat behavioralist who will help you determine the stress trigger and advise you on how to behave with your pet.
What to Do if Your Cat Eats an Orchid
We have so far agreed that orchids are not toxic or poisonous to cats. Although your cat and the orchids are safe together some issues can still occur in case your cat decides to take a bite. A cat that eats orchids, any part of it is going to have gastrointestinal problems. The symptoms will probably not be severe.
The most common reactions that a cat will suffer after eating any part of an orchid plant are vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea, it will drink less water, excessive licking of lips, lethargy, change the mood in general, and gagging. The entire bulb of your orchid missing is a very bad sign and you should be worried. In this situation, the cat’s bowel will be affected and that is the level of emergency and a life-threatening condition. It can stop the passing of all the fluids and solids through the gastrointestinal tract.
Deteriorations can be caused in some parts of the bowel of the cat. You should visit the emergency vet if it is by night or visit your vet as soon as possible because this condition may lead to surgery to remove the plant parts that are causing the blockage. It is very important to get a cat’s intestines back to function.
Orchids are not toxic to cats only if they are not treated with chemicals like insecticides or fertilizers. So, if any way, your orchids need boosters, you should use pet-safe products.
