Make It Less Attractive
There are some;smells that cats really hate. This is something you can use to your advantage when it comes to discouraging your cat from any temptation to chew your aloe.
Citrus;is one such smell; many cats really dont like it. Leave orange and lemon peel around the base of your plant to keep your cat away.
Cayenne pepper and vinegar can be used to a similar effect.
What Other Plants Are Toxic To Cats
Because there are many many thousands of plant species in the world, the technical complete list of plants that could be toxic to cats is expectedly very long. That list, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , can be found here.
What may be more immediately helpful is the ASPCAs list of the top 17 plants to keep away from your kitties. Ive abbreviated that list to a quick, at a glance guide for you below:
Top 17 Plants That Can Kill Your Cat
Provide Lots Of Cat Toys
Cats usually nibble on our houseplants because they are curious creatures. However, if there was something more exciting, entertaining, and intriguing to grasp your cats attention instead, they may not show as much interest in your aloe vera plant.
The best way to keep your cat entertained and side-tracked from nibbling your plants is by providing lots of toys for them to play with. There are a whole host of options currently available, and its best to provide as many different options as possible. Choose toys with different colors and textures, noises, motions, and more! The more variety your cat has, the more theyll keep them entertained.
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Is It Safe To Give Cats Homemade Antibiotics
The fact that most homemade antibiotics, being natural, have little to no side effects does not mean that they can be given whenever you feel like it. They too, like their synthetic medications, have side effects due to an overdose.
While it is safe to give cats these products, a proper diagnosis needs to be carried out to know exactly what the cat is suffering from and the best solution to the issue. Otherwise, you may be treating a nonexistent problem in your cat.
What Are The Benefits Of Aloe
Scientists have not yet been able to isolate the component in aloe vera responsible for its healing, moisturizing and cell regenerating powers. However, it has been discovered that the fleshy pulp inside the leaves contains essential nutrients that can alleviate many chronic conditions.
The most important vitamins in aloe are the antioxidant vitamins c and E, and beta carotene. aloe is also one of the few plant sources of vitamin B12.
The body requires 22 amino acids aloe vera gel provides 20. More importantly, it provides essential amino acids that cannot be manufactured by the body and have to be consumed as food. aloe vera helps enhance nutrient absorption and maintain a healthy digestive system.
Minerals in aloe include magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, chromium, calcium, sodium, potassium and iron.
The sugars in aloe vera include the important long chain polysaccharides, which boost the immune system.
The enzymes lipase and protease break down food and aid digestion; carboxypeptidase is involved in the inflammatory process.
Three main types of plant sterols act as powerful anti inflammatory agents.
Saponins exert a powerful antimicrobial effect against bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts such as candida or thrush.
Aloe contains anthraquinones, the most important being aloin and emodin. They are strong painkillers, and acknowledged to possess anti-bacterial and viruscidal activity. in their pure form, they are very powerful laxatives.
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Causes Of True Aloe Poisoning In Cats
Because true aloe contains glycosides, anthracene, and anthraquinones, classified as saponins, your cat should avoid it. The poisonous part of true aloe is the white latex, not the gelatin held within the leaves.
The saponins in true aloe work to increase the amounts of mucus and water in your cats colon. This leads to him developing abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting.
If youre going to use aloe on your pets, purchase an aloe product;that has the latex removed. Its the latex in the aloe that is the toxin and irritant, both to your cat and to yourself.
How To Protect Your Cat From Aloe
If your cat is prone to nibbling on various house plants, keep your Aloe out of reach. A hanging planter is an excellent option.
You can also discourage your cat from nibbling plants by providing plenty of food, fresh water, and toys for entertainment. A pet that gets plenty of stimulation is less likely to chew out of boredom.
Linda Naeve, an Urban Agriculture Specialist at Iowa State University Extension, suggests offering cat-friendly plants to your feline instead:
Cat grass, sold at pet stores and garden centers, is a healthy alternative to turfgrass and other plants. Most commercially available cat grass seed is common oats, Avena sativa. But, it may also be packaged as a blend of oats, wheat, and rye grass.
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Aloe Relieves Skin Irritation And Rashes
Aloe vera leaf used topically stimulates circulation to create a cooling effect that relieves swelling and speeds the healing of skin rashes. Its antimicrobial properties prevent infection of irritated or inflamed skin by killing harmful bacteria.
Acemannan is a sugar in aloe that is helpful for pets with allergies and skin infections. Research shows that aloe gel also works to slow growth of excess yeast and clear up skin issues. It is safe to use aloe for:
- Relieving an itchy or painful hot spot
- Eczema, flaky skin, or moisturizing your dogs dry nose
- Soothing heat rash, sunburn, or bug bites
Just make sure you try aloe vera on a small spot on your dogs skin first. If theres no irritation, go ahead and apply it to the problem area.
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Bird Of Paradise Flower
- Common names:Crane flower, bird’s tongue flower
- Toxic to: Cats, dogs, horses
- Symptoms: mild nausea, vomiting, drowsiness
- Note: Poisoning is caused mainly by the fruit and seeds. This species should not be confused with Caesalpinia or Poinciana gilliesii, both of which are also known as bird of paradise and are more toxic.
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Have This Information Ready When You Call The Vet:
- The breed, age, sex and weight of your pet
- The plant your pet has been exposed to
- Specific information concerning the poisoning
- The problems/symptoms your pet is experiencing
- Note: Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a vet.
“Calling the vet clinic is the first port of call,” he says. “This allows the clinic to get ready and means you’re minutes ahead when you arrive with your pet. It’s much better for us to know what’s coming than for it to burst in the front door.”
When it comes to handling poisoning in animals, vets generally try to sustain life while the dog or cat deals with the toxin itself.
“There’s rarely such a thing as an antidote they live in the movies,” Dr Neck says. “Instead we focus on supportive therapy.”
This includes things like putting the animal on intravenous fluid to combat shock, providing respiratory support on a ventilator if they’ve stopped breathing, and controlling seizures by anaesthetising the animal.
If it’s safe to do so, vets may induce vomiting to get out the toxins. If not, they can anaesthetise the animal and wash out their stomach .
Are Foxtail Ferns Poisonous To Dogs
Simply so, which ferns are toxic to dogs? Toxic ferns within the species of the emerald fern that have different names include:Asparagus fern. There are many house and garden plants that are poisonous to dogs, here are some of the most common ones:Aconitum. Boston ferns are an enduring houseplant favorite, but their shaggy fronds may tempt cats and dogs to chew. Dogs and cats may develop allergic dermatitis if they repeatedly ingest asparagus ferns.
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Curiosities: Why Do Cats Seem Compelled To Eat Some Plants Like My Poor Aloe And Ignore Others
Cats may devour some plants but ignore others as a simple matter of taste, says Sandra Sawchuk, a clinical instructor at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Its each to his own. I like romaine lettuce over iceberg; cats can have their own desires. Although cats are carnivores, they may have grown accustomed to eating plant material found in their preys intestines, Sawchuk notes.
Some plants, notably catnip, make cats feel good, Sawchuk says. If I eat this, I am going to get spacy, and I like that feeling. Some cats also like spider plants, which contain compounds related to opium. Or cats learn that certain plants will act as a purgative, causing them to vomit if they have an upset stomach, Sawchuk says.
But plants can also be poisonous. Asiatic lilies, including Easter lilies, are a key cause of concern. Ingesting even a tiny amount can put a cat into kidney failure, Sawchuk says.
Owners should separate cats from toxic plants, but also deal with the many cats that like plants. Owners may want to offer their cats edible sprouts, chopped lettuce, or the kitty grass sold in pet stores. Sawchuk recommends that cat owners check reputable web sites for lists of toxic and nontoxic plants, and make sure to place any toxic plants well beyond reach.
Reader beware: The ASPCA says aloe vera causes vomiting, depression, diarrhea and other symptoms among cats.
Using Aloe Vera To Remove Stains On The Skin
This is a great natural remedy to alleviate dark spots on the skin caused by the sun or by growing older. Apply some aloe vera juice on the area twice a day. You will see how little by little the marks are reduced and your skin will look so much smoother and even. Of course, you have to use it consistently, otherwise you might not get the results you’d like to have.
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What Other Plants Are Toxic For Cats
Aloe vera isnt the only potentially deadly houseplant in our homes. Many of the most common houseplants can cause toxicity in felines! Before you know it, youre questioning the safety of all of the plants in your home. Are spider plants toxic to cats? What about palms and ferns?
As the list of plants that are toxic to cats is so long, I cant possibly go through all of the ones that are dangerous to pets. So, to be on the safe side, it is best to search the risks of each plant before you buy it to be certain it wont cause your cat any harm. Yet to help you out, some of the most common houseplants that should be avoided if you have pet cats include:
Aloe Vera For Dogs: 7 Uses
If youre not using aloe vera for your dog, you could be missing out on some very important benefits. But before you grab that bottle of aloe gel from your cupboard, theres one ingredient you need to know about. Otherwise, you could accidentally make your dog sick.
Aloe vera is a perennial, succulent plant that belongs to the;Liliaceae;family. There are about 500 species of this medicinal plant and only a few are edible. The most common edible variety is;Aloe vera barbadensis. Its recognized for its long triangular, fleshy leaves with serrated edges.
You can keep an aloe vera plant in the house. Or you can buy fresh aloe leaves at the grocery store theyll keep up to 3 days in the fridge. Aloe is also available in bottles, but youll see why this may not be the best option for your dog.
Aloe is well known to soothe sunburn. But it has many other uses too
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What Is It About Aloe Plants That Make Them Toxic To Cats
Here comes the science bit
The leaves of the aloe vera plant contain a natural substance called;aloin. Aloin is part of the latex coating on the inside of the plants leaves.
Its a white/yellow-colored sap with a bitter taste and extreme laxative properties sometimes used to combat constipation in humans.
This is not only a problem for your cat; aloin can cause problems for you too!
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Answer: The latex of aloe is considered a purgative If an animal eats quite a bit of the plant , you could see mild stomach upset. Severe diarrhea can be life threatening because it can eventually cause dehydration.
Question: Some people always keep an aloe plant around to apply to kitchen burns or other wounds. Is the plant more toxic than topical applications?
Answer: Most topical products have had the toxic principal removed during processing.
Question: What if I apply aloe vera to my dogs hot spot or a wound and the dog licks it. Is the dog in danger?
Answer: If you are just applying the gel portion of the leaf it should not be a problem.
Question: What are the symptoms of aloe toxicity?
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Which Parts Of The Plant Are Toxic To Cats
If a plant is poisonous to cats, assume all parts of the plant are poisonousthough some parts of the plant may have higher concentrations of the toxic principle than others.
Toxic doses can vary widely from plant to plant. In some cases, ingesting a small amount can have devastating results, while cats may need to be exposed to relatively large amounts of other plants before symptoms develop.
Keep Your Plants In Cat
Cats love climbing and can get themselves into all sorts of unimaginable places. This can make it extremely difficult to keep houseplants out of reach. Even if you place your aloe plant on the highest shelf in your home, your cat will likely find a way to get up there! Because of this, the use of cat-free spaces provides an effective solution.
If you have an area of your house that you keep closed off from your cat, such as your bedroom, use this space to keep your aloe vera plant or other mildly toxic houseplants. This ensures that they are safely kept out of the prying paws of our felines. Plus, many plants purify the air in the room they are located in, so keeping plants in your bedroom has more perks for you too!
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How Do You Make Sure The Aloe Vera Product Is Free Of The Aloin Component
To ensure a product is free of aloin, the label should state that it contains only the gel of the aloe vera plant.; Avoid labels stating whole leaf since products would then include the latex substance that contains the aloin.
Fortunately, most products on the market have removed the latex part of the plant.
Are Ferns Poisonous To Cats
Are Ferns Toxic To Cats? Unlike true ferns, which are largely innocuous, certain plants that resemble ferns in appearance or name can be toxic to cats. Asparagus ferns are a popular houseplant, but the ASPCA tells us theyre harmful to cats.
Additional fern-like plants that are toxic to cats include foxtail ferns, winter ferns, and hemlock ferns. To learn more about plant toxicity and cats, check out our comprehensive database of poisonous plants to dogs and cats.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Aloe Vera Poisoning
As aloe vera poisoning in cats can turn nasty pretty quickly, you must know what signs and symptoms to look out for. This way, you can get your cat the help they need as quickly as possible and dramatically reduce the risk of it turning into a life-threatening situation.
These are the most common symptoms seen:
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Abdominal pains, often shown by hunched over posture
- Loss of appetite
- Depression, characterized by behavior changes
- Lethargy and reduced activity levels
If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, check your aloe vera plant: Have they taken a bite? If there are bite marks in the leaves of the plant, chances are your cat could have aloe vera poisoning. Speak to your vet immediately to get advice on what to do. The more prompt you are in receiving medical advice, the less severe the effects of the poisoning will be.
Even if you cannot see any bite marks in the leaves, it is best to still call your vet. Something is clearly wrong with your feline. It is possible they took a tiny nibble that you havent noticed, or have been poisoned by something else in your home.