As a cat owner, it’s essential to be aware of the plants you bring into your home. Cats are naturally curious creatures and often find houseplants intriguing. Among the variety of houseplants, spider plants stand out due to their popularity and unique appearance. It’s crucial to ensure that the plants you have at home are safe and cat-friendly.
Spider plants are 100% safe for cats to eat since they don’t have toxins in them that are dangerous for them to ingest. Spider plants are known to professional horticulture experts as Chlorophytum comosum.
Other names you might have heard also include Spider Ivy and Ribbon Plant. Some plant stores sell this as Anthericum but are easily recognized by the long and thin frond leaves that make this plant look like a tropical spider.
What do spider plants do for cats?
As a bonus, this non-toxic plant has earned the title ‘Cat’s Whiskers’ as a cool nickname. For the most part, it’s no more dangerous than catnip since the effects of spider plants can include psychedelic-fueled interest to the remaining fronds of your plant. Your cat isn’t tripping from eating this plant but will be triggered to enjoy using it as its personal entertainment for that moment.
Why does my cat eat my spider plant?
Some cat experts have spent enough time researching this long enough to conclude that your cat isn’t attracted by any chemical smell that comes from spider plants.
The proof of their findings comes down to the very nature of the fronds that stick out in all directions. If you’ve looked at any cat toy, they’re attracted to bouncy and tantalizing objects when they’re within reach.
The fact that cats are also eating this plant is only because the plant’s leaves can be chewed off and eaten after your cat starts to chomp on it. Needless to say, your cat will be attracted to all other plants that are within their reach.
Should cats eat spider plants?
If you’re worried about your cat eating spider plants, you don’t have to worry about this unless their munching habits end up destroying your spider plant. The appearance of this variety of plant isn’t very appealing if it’s missing selected fronds.
It can also be distressing to find fronds that are torn, mangled, and missing throughout the week. If you haven’t seen your cat destroying your spider plant, it can be irritating to find spots starting to disappear.
How do you keep your cat away from spider plants?
If you spend a lot of time at work or aren’t at home when your housecat is spending most of its day, your spider plant will be a likely target. The problem starts when your plant is within reach and your cat will become fixated on getting to it.
The worst place to put a spider plant is on a window sill, sitting on a tabletop, and placed on a plant holder. If your cat can reach it without much trouble, they will repeat this dangerous hobby to pass the time.
Cats like to entertain themselves by repeating habits and these become bad habits after that. So, as a cat owner, you’ll need to take action to prevent your cat from forming a habit that becomes destructive.
Where to place your spider plant?
It’s easy to say to cat owners to put your plant out of reach, but cats are way too crafty to leave curiosity alone. The best scenario is to use a ceiling hook so your cat cannot reach your spider ivy or spider plant.
Keep a keen eye on tables and ledges where your cat can use these to its advantage. Cats are a lot more flexible and daring when it comes to leaping and jumping. A cat will use leaping points to reach something they want when it attracts them.
The easiest thing to do is remove this plant to another room that they have no access to. Unless your cat can open doors, your spider plants will be safe if they’re isolated.
What do you do if your cat eats some spider plant?
If you notice that your cat has eaten spider plant leaves, the worst thing that will happen is your cat wants to return to get more. It’s not addictive and won’t have toxic effects but they may vomit the excess just from instinct.
Cats like to eat garden grass if their stomach is upset and instinctively find that grass blades solve their problem. If you see they’re going to vomit on your expensive carpet or couch, you’ll need to move them off these surfaces quickly!
Cat vomit is highly corrosive and isn’t the most appealing substance you want to clean off furniture. This is the most common problem when your cat eats spider plants, but luckily it won’t be dangerous as other houseplants could be.
My cat ate my spider plant, will it grow back?
Your spider plant will continue to grow as long as it doesn’t become overly damaged from your cat’s actions. It’s not uncommon that your plant will die if too many leaves are damaged no matter how much pruning you’re doing to save it.
The best solution is to buy a new spider plant that’s healthy over one that’s become sick. This type of plant is not pricy and is very affordable to replace, even if they aren’t watered or dies from root rot.
Luckily, spider plants are nearly invincible and will thrive if you give them plenty of light and water. But for a curious cat, too many missing fronds don’t always mean it’ll kill your plant. This just makes your spider plant look unsightly and will need to re-grow new fronds that take time to sprout.
Which plant is better than spider plants for cats to nibble on?
Any pet store will sell this item called cat grass that’s better for your cats to nibble on. They can safely chew on these grass blades that will grow back after a while. Some benefits come from this type of grass that will be more beneficial for your cat alternatively.
These can be offered to your cat in spots where they like to frequent, but the result can be similar if they eat too much grass and vomit this back up as a result.
Naturally, cat grass is safe to eat, but your cat might decide to eat more than it can handle. And though this isn’t dangerous either, you might need to experiment with which strain of cat grass works best for your cat breed.
These include alfalfa, wheat, oat, barley, and rye, so there are plenty of options to chose from. These may or may not attract your cat if you want to use cat grass as a solution to not chewing on your spider plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a cat eats a spider plant, it may vomit up the excess plant material. This is a natural instinct for cats, who often eat grass when their stomach is upset.
To keep your cat away from your spider plant, consider placing the plant out of your cat’s reach. Ceiling hooks can be a great solution, as can placing the plant in a room that your cat doesn’t have access to.
Yes, spider plants are quite resilient and will continue to grow as long as they’re not overly damaged.
While not providing any specific health benefits, spider plants can stimulate cats’ interest and provide them with a form of entertainment.
The frequency of replacement depends on the extent of the damage. If the plant is severely damaged and unable to recover, it may need to be replaced.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while spider plants are not poisonous to cats and are safe for cats to eat, it’s best to keep them out of reach to prevent damage to the plant. If your cat does eat some of your spider plant, there’s no need to worry.
However, you might want to consider providing your cat with a safe alternative, like cat grass. As a cat owner, it’s important to keep your cat safe and entertained while also protecting your houseplants.
