Signs of poisoning in the cat depend on the part of the body that the poison targets. Most toxins act on the gastro-intestinal tract, causing drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhoea with or without blood.  

Toxins that act on the kidneys may result in increased drinking and weeing to start, then vomiting and weight loss as the kidneys are damaged.  

Neurological signs include twitching, tremors or seizures, collapse and coma. Some toxins cause respiratory signs or anaemia. Some plants are irritant to the mouth or skin and can cause rashes, ulceration or swelling. 

If you think your cat has eaten something poisonous, then call you vet for advice straight away. The earlier a poisoning is treated the more successful the outcome.  

Ideally, they should not be. Cats will often chew plants, especially house cats that are not getting cat grass.  

Cats are mobile enough to get onto higher shelves or units, so just lifting a poisonous plant up out of reach doesn’t work. Some flowers, such as lilies, just have to be brushed against, then the pollen gets onto the fur and the cat poisons itself by grooming the pollen off.  

There are many plants that are safe for cats, so it is worth researching those, and then organising house and garden to include them. Any cat that goes outside and over the fence though, is at risk of poisoning from the plants in other gardens, so if you do see any unusual signs, contact your vet for advice. 

Many indoor or house plants are toxic if ingested by cats, so before buying new plants for the house, check which ones are safe. If you receive plants or bouquets with flowers that are not safe, they should be kept in areas that the cats cannot access.  

Some of the more common plants to avoid include Alocasia (Elephant’s Ear), Amaryllis, Aphelandra (Zebra plant), Christmas Cherry (Solanum), Chrysanthemum, Codiaem (Croton), Cyclamen, Dieffenbachia, Eucalyptus, Ferns, Ivy, Kalanchoe, Senecio (String of Pearls), Schleffera (Umbrella Plant). 

Almost all flowers that come from bulbs are toxic for cats, especially lilies, hyacinths, tulips and daffodils. It is safe to assume that any flower from a bulb (Crocus, Lily of the Valley, etc) or corm (Irises, Gladiolii, etc) will be toxic if your cat eats any part of the plant. 

Other flowering garden plants to be aware of include Aquilegia, Begonia, Clematis, Hydrangea, Polyanthus, Wisteria and Bird of Paradise amongst others.  

True ferns are considered non-toxic to cats. BUT some fern-lookalikes are highly toxic. Asparagus ferns (also called Emerald feather, Plumosa fern and lace Fern) are not true ferns but related to Lilies, Tulips and Hostas, so they are very toxic.  

The mainstay of most UK gardens are the perennial plants. Perennials that are considered as toxic to cats include Aloe Vera, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Daphne, Delphiniums, Digitalis (Foxglove), Hellebore (Christmas or Easter Rose), Ipomoea (Morning Glory), Ricinus communis (Castor Oil Plant), Ricinus communis (Castor Oil Plant), Solanaceae (Deadly Nightshade, tomato plants, potato plants, chili and bell pepper plants, etc) and Zantedeschia (Arum Lilies and Calla Lilies), amongst others. 

If you have lots of perennials in your garden it is well worth trying to identify them, then if your cat is a plant chewer, you could either restrict the cats’ access or remove any particularly toxic plants.  

Many succulents are non-toxic for cats but some, such as Aloe Vera, Crassula (Jade), Euphorbia (Pencil Cactus, Crown of Thorns), Kalanchoe and Sansevieria (Snake Plant) are toxic if ingested in any quantity. Always research before buying succulents to make sure they are non-toxic. 

There are many, many plants for any situation or use that are non-toxic to cats. A few examples are Buddleia, Canterbury Bell, Coreopsis, Hibiscus, Hollyhock, Gerbera, Nasturtium, Pansies, Petunia, Roses, Sunflower, Valerian and Zinnia.  

If you have cats and are planning to add new plants, shrubs or trees to your garden, or buying plants for the house, research the plants you want to use to check that they are not toxic. If you have indoor cats, then offering them cat grass may reduce the likelihood of them chewing the pot plants. 

Many of the beautiful winter plants we bring into our homes at Christmas have hidden dangers for our feline friends. Amaryllis, Christmas Cactus, Christmas Rose (Hellebore), Christmas tree (Pine), Cyclamen, Holly, Hyacinth, Ivy, Mistletoe and Poinsettia are all toxic if eaten by cats. If your cat is known for nibbling the houseplants, then these definitely need to be avoided.