Updated: August 5, 2022 by Kristen Chapple
We all know how curious cats can be. They will take any opportunity to explore every corner of our houses and nibble whatever they find interesting, sometimes that being the plants we have around for decorative purposes. The trouble here lies in the fact that most common house plants are toxic for cats. But what about aloe vera? Can cats eat aloe plants?
While aloe plants present some benefic properties for human health and are used for various medicinal purposes, things are not the same for cats. The contents of these plants are toxic for our adorable four-legged furry friends.
Can Cats Eat Aloe Plants
Cats sometimes have this habit of devouring or chewing house plants, destroying all the work we put in for growing them. But aloe plants present a great danger for cats. They contain a substance that is toxic for our furry friends, so their funny nibbling can become too dangerous a dinner for them.
Toxic Substance
Aloe plants are native to South Africa, South America and the Caribbean and is very sought after for its gel-like substance that has soothing properties in burns and relieves various skin conditions.
Besides that, aloe plants also contain another substance called aloin, the yellow-brown sap in the leaves of the plant, which is a toxic element to cats.
Symptoms and Treatment
If your cat has had her share of aloe vera or similar aloe plant, she might develop symptoms such as tremors and lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite and vomiting, change in urine color, difficulty breathing, and even seizures. She could also have trouble keeping her balance so she might stagger while walking.
Of course, the symptoms will depend on the amount of toxic substance ingested, but these will be the most obvious.
The treatment, in this case, should always include a professional, as there isn’t much you can do by yourself. Symptoms only occur six to twelve hours after ingesting, so if you suspect that your cat has had her share of aloe, take her to the vet right away.
Prevention and Alternatives
As you might have guessed already, the best way to prevent anything like this from happening is to make sure that your cat doesn’t have access to aloe plants whatsoever. That might mean getting rid of your plant – or cat – or locking the plant in a room where the cat doesn’t have any way of access.
Since aloe plants are not the only ones that are dangerous to cats and pets in general, you might want to do a little research and see which plants are ok to have in your house from this point of view.
Check out other foods that are toxic to cats.
