Is Lucky Bamboo Poisonous for Cats?

Naturally curious cats enjoy playing with houseplants and sometimes eating them as well. Lucky bamboo may be lucky for people, but not at all for cats. Pets should not be allowed to eat this plant as it can make them sick.

  1. Dracaena

    • Lucky bamboo is not actually bamboo. Its botanical name is Dracaena, and it is part of the lily family. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), eating dracaena can make a cat very ill.

    Symptoms

    • Ingesting lucky bamboo plants can cause serious problems in cats, including excessive drooling, dilated pupils, loss of appetite and vomiting blood. A veterinarian or animal poison control center should be contacted immediately if these symptoms occur.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Offering cat-friendly plants like catnip or oat grass may draw your cat's attention away from harmful plants. Commercial cat repellents use strong smelling or bitter tasting oils to deter cats. Sprinkling natural pet repellent substances like mothballs, citrus scents and cinnamon around your lucky bamboo might also discourage the cat.