Will Spider Plants Hurt Cats?
Keeping your cat indoors is certainly safer than allowing it to be exposed to the dangers of roaming your neighborhood. But potential hazards may exist even within the home, and some houseplants may be among them. Cats love chewing on foliage, and spider plants are a favorite snack of many a feline. Luckily, the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is not among those poisonous to cats. But that doesn't mean free grazing should be allowed.
When it comes to spider plants and cats, you'll be happy to learn the houseplant isn't considered toxic.
Possible Reasons Cats Love Houseplants
A cat may like the taste of one plant, but ignore others. Perhaps your cat enjoys the feeling of euphoria that some plants like catnip (Nepeta cataria) and the spider plant provide. He may have an upset stomach, and eating some plant tissue helps him vomit, relieving the discomfort. Or he may just be playing with your houseplants for the sheer fun of it: shredding the foliage with his teeth, kicking the soil out of the pots and knocking the whole thing off its shelf with a terrific crash.
Spider Plant Information
The spider plant is a common houseplant. It grows from 2 to 2 1/2 feet wide and from 2 to 3 feet long, especially if you place it in a hanging basket. It has grassy leaves, which may be one of the reasons many cats love it. It also contains compounds related to opium, which may explain why so many cats just can't leave it alone. The leaves may come in green, striped with yellow or white. Place your spider plant in bright, indirect light and water it when the soil has dried out. When grown outdoors, it does best in United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 15.
Keep Your Cat Safe
Try growing cat grass (Hordeum vulgare variegate) in an area separate from your houseplants, suggests CatHealth.com. There are growing kits in the cat section of most pet stores, and it is easy to grow. It may cause your cat to vomit, but this is a natural reaction to eating grass. Be aware that cat grass doesn't last very long indoors; you will need to replace it when it dies off. Outdoors, cat grass is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 11. Make sure to give your cat plenty of toys and play with her regularly. A tired cat is less likely to get into trouble with your plants. Keep your spider plant out of reach by hanging it higher or placing its pot in a less accessible spot.
A Few Toxic Plants
Though the spider plant is not known to be toxic to cats, many other plants are. According to the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Amaryllis (Hippeastrum), Dieffenbachia and grass palm (Cordyline australis) are among plants often grown inside that are poisonous to cats, as well as dogs and horses. The ASPCA provides a more complete list of outdoor and indoor plants safe for dogs and cats, as well as those that are toxic to these precious animals.