I have only one plant in my home and I think it may be poisonos to my cat. It's more of a tree with only 2 stalks, one is quite curvy, the other not so much. The bark is light colored. The leaves grow in clusters at the top of the stems, which are apprx. 2to 3" in length. Each leaf is apprx. 2" long and they are on the narrow side. Not as thin as a fern leaf, but they round out only slightly at the centre. They are medium green and quite shiny. The plant stands apprx. 4 ft. -- I have no idea of it's age as I adopted it when a nieghbor moved. I just spent $400 trying ot figure out why my cat seems to have neurological damage. The vet did numerous tests and nothing came back. My cat has been rubbing his head on the stalks of that plant for a year and a half. I really need some help on this. I've been on dozens of websites trying to find that plant -- no luck. Can someone help me?
The discriptions sounds like they could be a couple of different plants. If you were to post a picture of it im sure someone would be able to identify it in no time.
Thanks for your prompt reply. I don't have a digital camera so I'll continue to surf the net in search of a photo. Will submit it if I find it.
Terri, try looking through this site. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/interiorscape/gallery/index.html Do look at the aralia. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/interiorscape/Dizygotheca_elegantissima.html Also look at Schefflera. There are different varieties. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/interiorscape/plants/scheffleraarboricola2.jpg http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/interiorscape/Schefflera_arboricola.html Also try doing an image search of dracaena compacta. There are different varieties of compacta. Another option would be to search the pictures of these plants toxic to pets. Just click on the names. http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxicplants Newt
here is another link to some houseplants i hope that helps ... http://www.denverplants.com/foliage/nav/listing.htm usually a cat would have to chew on some of the plant to get sick from it and here is a list of some poisonous plants .. http://www.denverplants.com/foliage/html/Poisonous_Plants.htm hope this all helps .. Marn
I'm overwhelmed by the prompt responses and helpful information that has been flooding my mailbox! Thank you all so much for your help.
Terri, how's kitty doing? Two other plants came to mind that grow in clumps, but if your neighbor neglected it you might just have the two stems. Papyrus: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...p.jpg/448px-Kew.gardens.papyrus.plant.arp.jpg Cyperus alternifolius - Umbrella Plant (more then one plant has that common name) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ius_01.jpg/280px-Cyperus_alternifolius_01.jpg Newt
You are awesome Newt! My cat is now on medication and seems to be improving. I haven't had time to visit all of the webpages you emailed me (busy at work - no Internet at home), but I'll let you know once I've identified the plant. Thanks!
Terri, an awful lot of people have an awful lot of plants (some pretty rare and strange :0), and maybe the majority of those people have cats (well, I like to think so). The instances I've ever heard of concerning a cat becoming sick from a plant (ingesting it, not just rubbing it) are .. maybe none (or so infinitesimal as not to be recorded). The plants usually die, if anything. I would bet a million your cat's problem has nothing to do with a plant, and is just incidental. And that's taking into consideration that MOST plants have SOME degree of toxicity to some creature somewhere at some time. It's only if e.g. the cat were to make a real meal of say, foxglove, or a datura (highly unlikely!) that I'd worry. Cats are pretty smart, and while they may decimate your grassy plants (like spider, or dracaena) because they like to eat grass, the worst that'll happen is that the cat throws up (routine!) and that's all.
Wow! Talk about a crash course in plants and cats! Thank you so much -- this info brings much needed relief.
I dont mean to be a bummer about it ... but i still wouldnt rule out the plant .. it may have chewed a spot on the plant that you just cant see it dont take much...like with the dumbcane my kitten had chewed on one of mine and she was messed up for a while she did survive it .. she basically just chewed a leaf off and didnt chew it up but that was enough to throw her into a trance for about a week were you really noticed a difference in her .. but she survived it .. really chek over your plant .. and look for any new gnaw marks on it or if you could tell a leaf is missing .. do you have a friend .. co worker .. neighbour that has a digital camera that could take a pic of it and you can get it posted .. so we can ID it for ya .. ?? glad to hear kitty is doing better ... Marn
I'd love to see a pic too. Btw, with all the speculation about the cat chewing and rubbing, please keep in mind that chemicals can be absorbed through the skin. Since the cat has been rubbing against the plant for a year and a half, it could be the cause of the problem. Newt
