If you’re a cat or dog owner and want to have a prayer plant, which is also known as a maranta, you may be wondering if prayer plants are toxic or poisonous to cats. Well! It’s an important question.
The prayer plants aren’t considered poisonous or toxic to cats. They belong to the Marantaceae family, and yeah, some plants in this family might be a little toxic for cats, but the prayer plant is not among them.
However, there are other reasons why a prayer plant can become a little toxic or dangerous for your curious cat, dog, or even kids. But that’s only when the problem is external, like in soil, leaves, etc, or the plant has been consumed in large amounts.
Let’s know about some of the possibilities when plants can be toxic for your pets or even for your toxicity.
Are Prayer Plants Toxic to Cats?
No! Prayer plants are not toxic or poisonous for cats, dogs, or any human; they are generally safe. That’s the reason the prayer plant is considered one of the best houseplants. It’s beautiful, has unique leaf movement, and comes in many different colors.
When are prayer plants toxic or poisonous to a cat?
Generally, prayer plants are safe for cats and considered non-toxic, as well as for other pets and babies.
However, they can become toxic in some cases, such as if there are harmful bacteria, fungi, or pesticide residues in your plant’s soil and your cat ingests them by chewing. In such situations, it can cause problems for your cat.
Besides this, fertilizers, especially chemical ones, can be toxic to cats. That’s why even if you’re using chemical-included fertilizer, make sure to follow all the given guidelines.
Lastly, if your cat accidentally consumes a prayer plant, it isn’t good either, as plants aren’t the cat’s natural food.
She is supposed to eat meat and cat food, although she won’t consume too much plant, if if she does that, or even consuming little plant is causing problems, so it won’t be really serious and won’t last long, so don’t worry about that.
A cat or dog can only consume prayer plants when they’re playing or curious. Meanwhile, it can test a little but won’t eat a lot because cats are obligate carnivores.
Symptoms of Prayer Plant Ingestion in Cats
Here are the symptoms of a cat or dog ingesting prayer plant:
Vomiting: The plant material may irritate the cat’s digestive system, causing them to vomit. Many times, dogs eat grass because they like the taste and texture, and there are many reasons, too, while cats can only consume it curiously; in that case, they’ll vomit.
Drooling: To salivate, in which the cat’s body will try to expel the foreign substance, which is the prayer plant.
Lethargy: After consuming a prayer plant, your cat may become lazy.
Loss of appetite: Because of eating unnatural things, your cat can lose appetite, so she won’t consume food as she used to.
Diarrhea: That’s one of the most common symptoms that can occur in your cat if she consumes prayer plant leaves or any other part.
What do you do if your cat falls sick after eating a prayer plant?
The first thing is that if you have seen your cat consume a prayer plant and now she is vomiting or has lost appetite, then you need to seek veterinary care immediately.
Although, as I’ve said, these prayer plants aren’t poisonous to cats, dogs, or any other pet, so they shouldn’t be seriously ill.
However, it’s always a perfect choice to take a pet to the doctor after seeing any negative symptoms like vomiting, loss of appetite, etc, whether your pet has eaten any plants or not.
The veterinarians will provide you with the medicine and guide you through the procedure.
Safely Growing Prayer Plants with Cats
Firstly, if you’re planting a prayer plant, you need to make sure that you aren’t leaving fertilizer, especially if it is the chemical one near a plant because your cat accidentally consumes or smells it.
Although there are fewer chances that cats do that, prevention is still better than cure. Moreover, don’t forget to place your plant at the right place where your cat can’t access it easily while ensuring the plant is getting enough bright light as they cannot survive in the dark or direct sunlight.
You can also provide a toy to your cat so that instead of getting playful with plants, she can play with her toy.
Besides prayer plants, there are many other cat-friendly plants that you may want to try, such as the Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides), Money Tree (Pachira aquatica), Hoya Varieties, etc.
Conclusion
Overall, The prayer plants are not poisonous or toxic to cats, dogs, babies, or anything else. They’re a perfect indoor plant with beautiful leaf movement. Therefore, you can consider having them.
However, even if your cat or dog accidentally consumes it, you can take her to the doctor. Besides this, prayer plant consumption won’t suddenly cause any serious problems. In most cases, it will cause loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, etc, so you can take your cat to the doctor.
Are all parts of the prayer plant toxic to cats?
In general, the prayer plant is not toxic. However, its leaves, stems, and flowers may contain compounds that might be harmful to the cat; that’s why you can keep your plant away from the cat.
What should I do if my cat eats a prayer plant?
If you see your cat has eaten any part of a prayer plant and she’s vomiting or losing appetite, then contact a veterinarian immediately. They’ll recommend bringing your cat for an examination and provide the treatment.