Everyday Dangers that will Kill your
Cat
Plants
that will Kill - The Silent Killers
# Sources: "Plants Poisonous to People", by Queensland Health";
"Some Poisonous Plants Common in the Northern Territory", by the Northern Territory Poisons Information Centre;
Royal Children's Hospital Safety Centre, Melbourne; Ms. Robyn McKeown, Pharmacist in Charge, ACT Poisons Service;
"Poisonous Plants in the Garden", NSW Agfact H1.1.25; The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide.
Cats and kittens can die or become seriously ill from a silent
killer lurking near every home - garden plants.
Western breeder, Bev Rutherford, spent a few weeks trying to restore the health of
two litters of Devon Rex kittens struck down by a mystery illness. After countless visits to the vet, she
discovered the kittens had been poisoned from chewing on a jasmine vine growing near their cattery.
Queensland Health Minister, Ken Hayward, says most poisonous plants were only a
problem when eaten or handled. "Pets are susceptible to deleterious
effects if they eat the plants, or if fallen leaves contaminate drinking water", he said. "While many plants provide food for humans
and animals, and other provide a source of medications, people need to be aware of the dark side of some plants
which are ingested or come into contact with the skin."
Mr. Hayward said it was important for people to understand the potentially harmful
toxic effects of garden and bushland plants.
 Identify all your Garden Plants
Western Australian Poison Information Centre senior pharmacist, Gladys
Heedes, advised people to identify all their garden plants, including shrubs and trees.
"A tremendous amount of plants are poisonous," she said. "We have
millions of plants in this country, not just natives, but varieties from Europe, Africa, Asia and America. I
advise people to be cautious of plants which are not part of the food chain."
Miss Heedes said common food sources, such as tomato and strawberry plants, were
fairly safe but people should be careful of other plants. "The problem
with listing poisonous plants is that people often think plants not included in the list are
harmless," she said. "There have
been incidents where people have not acted because plants eaten were not listed."
ACT Poisons Service pharmacist in charge, Robyn McKeown, agreed a variety of common
plants were toxic. "The Death Cap mushroom causes us the most
concern," she said. "It is very
toxic and death can occur, even in adults, if just one cap is eaten. A large number of other plants are grown
indoors because of our harsh climate. People should take care - especially when they have young children or
animals."
Some Common Poisonous
Plants
The following list of common toxic plants is not complete and people
should always seek veterinary advice if they suspect their pet has been poisoned.
 Adam's Needle |
African Milk
Bush
|
Agapanthus
|
|
Angel's
Trumpet
|
Apple of Sodom (Devel's
Apple)
|
Apricot
kernels
|
|
Arum Lily
|
Azalea
|
Bird of Paradise or Dwarf
Poinciana
|
|
Bitter
Almond
|
Black Bean
(seeds)
|
Black
Locust
|
|
Boxwood/edging
box
|
Burrawang
(seeds)
|
Bushman's
poison
|
|
Caladium
|
Candelabra
|
Carolina
Jasmine
|
|
Castor Oil plant
(seeds)
|
Chalice
Vine
|
Christmas
Rose
|
|
Climbing Lily
|
Cherry
kernels
|
Coffee
Senna
|
|
Colocasia
|
Cotoneaster
(berries)
|
Cotton Bush - Swan
plant
|
|
Crab's Eye -
Gideegidee
|
Rosary bean or
pea
|
Jequirity bean
(seeds)
|
|
Crown of
Thorns
|
Cunjevoi
|
Daphne
|
|
Deadly
Nightshade
|
Death Cap Mushroom (Angel of
Death)
|
Delphinium
|
|
Diffenbachia
|
Dumb
Cane
|
Duranta - Golden
Dewdrop
|
|
Elephant's
Ears
|
False Acacia - Black
locust
|
Glad Iris
|
|
Foxglove
|
Georgina
Gidyea
|
Giant Stinging
Tree
|
|
Gloriosa
Lily
|
Golden Chair
tree
|
Golden Dewdrop - Skyflower/Pigeon
Berry
|
|
Green Cestrum
|
Hydrangea
|
Jerusalem cherry
|
|
Kaffir
Lily
|
Laburnum
|
Lantana
|
|
Larkspur
|
Lily of the
Valley
|
Lobellia
|
|
Loquat
|
Lupin
|
Morton Bay Chestnut
(seeds)
|
|
Mother-in-law
plant
|
Naked
Lady
|
Oleander
|
|
Onion
lily
|
Pencil
plant
|
Pepper
tree
|
|
Petty Spurge
(sap)
|
Philodendron
|
Physic Nut - Coral
Bush
|
|
Pigeon
berry
|
Pineapple
Samia
|
Pink/Blue
Periwinkle
|
|
Poinsettia
|
Poison
Ivy
|
Poison
Sumac
|
|
Privet
|
Purple
Jessamine
|
Plum
kernels
|
|
Peach
kernels
|
Rhododendron
|
Rhubarb
(leaves)
|
|
Rhus
|
Snow on the mountains - Ghost
week
|
Spider lily
|
|
Stinging
nettle
|
Strychnine
tree
|
Thorn
Apple
|
|
Tree
Zamia
|
Virginia
Creeper
|
White
Cedar
|
|
Wintersweet
|
Wisteria
|
Yellow
Jasmine
|
|
Yellow Oleander/Be-still
tree
|
Yew
|
|
| 