Are Wandering Jew Plants Poisonous to Cats?

A bit of greenery in the house allows you to flex your green thumb's muscle during the winter months and livens up your living space. If you share your space with a cat, you have to think about her well-being, too. If Kitty's a grazer, choose cat-friendly plants.

  1. Wandering Jew Plants: A Great Choice

    • The wandering Jew is an easy plant to grow because it adapts nicely to different conditions and environments. In warmer months it will produce a flower that will add a bit of color to its pretty green vines. Cuttings root easily, making it a snap to share, and if Kitty decides it's too appealing not to snack on, it won't make her sick. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats.

    More Houseplants for Kitty

    • If your success with the wandering Jew has made you want to do a little more indoor gardening, you've got quite a few choices that are safe for Kitty. If you like hanging or crawling plants, consider spider plants or Swedish ivy. If you prefer ferns, Boston fern, holly fern or staghorn ferns are all listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic. If you like flowers, the African violet will make a pretty addition to your home.

    Keep Out!

    • Though some ferns are fine for Kitty, not all of them are. The asparagus fern is a common enough houseplant, but it's no friend to cats; it can upset Kitty's tummy. And though aloe vera is known for its healing properties, it's also bad for cats. Other common houseplants to avoid include jade plants and begonias. If you bring in cut flowers, avoid tulips, lilies and daffodils, all of which are poison to cats.

    Just in Case

    • If your admirer brought you flowers and Kitty sampled them, it may be time for a trip to the vet. Symptoms she ate something toxic include drooling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, diarrhea and irregular heartbeat. When you take her to the vet, take a sample of the plant she chewed on to help with diagnosis and treatment. While some plants may cause mere stomach upset, others can cause kidney or heart failure.