{"id":1894,"date":"2017-02-13T18:04:53","date_gmt":"2017-02-14T02:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/?p=1894"},"modified":"2017-02-13T18:04:53","modified_gmt":"2017-02-14T02:04:53","slug":"pet-safe-house-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/2017\/02\/pet-safe-house-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Safe House Plants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Indoor Winter Gardens That Do No Harm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every winter, my windowsills are increasingly crowded with potted plants, from amaryllis and azaleas to miniature roses, primroses and daffodils. I love the vivid splashes of color and the fresh scent of green, growing things. However, I\u2019m also learning that many common houseplants, including most of the above, can be sickening. Not for me and you necessarily, but for our pets.<\/p>\n

Indoor plants are especially important to me because although I live in a semi-rural area, my cat Sophie is an indoor cat. The main reason is that I like to feed the birds, both with feeders and by planting food for them, as well as creating habitat with native shrubs and vines. I refuse to allow my cats to kill birds, which they can\u2019t help but do, so the obvious answer is to keep Sophie inside. Beyond that, coyotes are very common predators here, sometimes even snatching small dogs from under their owner\u2019s noses, and local cats often go missing when allowed to roam.<\/p>\n

Catio Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, Sophie has the run of an enclosed outdoor porch which opens off a small sun room at the southern end of my bedroom. Framed in with sturdy goat pen wire, the 14 x 12 foot space (roofed in with wire as well) offers access to sunlight and fresh air as well as wind and rain (which Sophie rather likes in moderation). I added a large rustic bench made with bark still attached to the wood, which has become her play structure. There are also several chairs and a low table, giving her things to leap to and hide under.<\/p>\n

What there wasn\u2019t much of is living things. It was designed as a safe garden space for my mom as well as Sophie when Mom got wandery. When her health was failing so rapidly that walking became very difficult, indoor plants proved more soothing for her.\u00a0 Sophie has had to make do with pots of oat grass or wheat grass, but as the Solstice tide has turned, I find myself happily planting a cat garden. Quite a few plants are toxic for pets, so it\u2019s important to know what\u2019s safe and what\u2019s not. For instance, bamboo (which Sophie adores playing with and chewing on) is safe for cats, but the \u2018lucky bamboo\u2019 grown indoors is toxic.<\/p>\n

Growing A Cat Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finding a range of safe, wholesome plants is important, since cats need vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and antioxidants just as we do, and access to natural sunlight is as important to them as to us. Pets can develop cravings if their diet is lacking in important nutrients, and my first clue that Sophie needed more than what she was getting came when she leapt onto the countertop and stole some lightly steamed broccoli. She ate it eagerly, then jumped up and took some more. My old cat, Pippa (heartbreakingly lost to coyotes), stole sheets of nori, sushi seaweed wrappers the size of a half-sheet of paper, and ate them avidly. Other cats have dug into all sorts of things, from cantaloupe to carrot tops.<\/p>\n

The critical thing to remember when growing food for cats or sharing with them is that pesticide exposure must be avoided. Small animals especially susceptible to harm from toxic chemicals. In the garden, snail bait is a common source of pet damage or death, so be sure your cat garden does not present hidden dangers for the pets you are trying to please. Indoors, offer only organically grown broccoli or carrot tops, and grow your own herbs and flowers from seed if you can\u2019t get pesticide-free plants locally.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s A Gardener To Grow?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once I started researching, I was horrified to find that most of my favorite houseplants were at least mildly toxic to both cats and dogs. Good grief! Lilies? yup. Gardenias? Yup. Amaryllis, azaleas? Yup. Yup. Philodendron? Yup. Aloe vera? Yup. Daffodils, primroses, cyclamen, corn plant, babydoll ti plant, yup yup yup yup yup. Ack!!! The good news was that Sophie, at least, showed no interest at all in tasting any of these dangerous plants. Instead, she focused her attention on her two favorite noshes; spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) and cat grass.<\/p>\n

Spider plants are no longer as easy to find as they once were. After looking in several local nurseries and grocery stores, I finally put out a plea on the local subset of a FaceBook group called Buy Nothing<\/strong>. Happily for me, several people cheerfully offered me bundles of baby spider plants, which indeed do produce their offspring very freely. Now, there are pots of spider plants all over the house, and Sophie tastes them all daily, often pausing for a refreshing game of Bat The Baby<\/strong>, finding the dangling little plants as irresistible as toys as the mother plants are as snacks.<\/p>\n

Sourcing Cat Grass<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s quite a bit easier to find local sources for cat grass. Both island grocery stores sell fresh wheat grass grown in little mini flats, and several online sources sell seed blends of cat friendly plants, including barley, flax, oats, and rye as well as wheat. Again, look for organic plants and\/or seeds whenever possible. All of these are very easy to grow indoors by filling plastic lettuce boxes with an inch or two of potting soil. Keep the plastic tops to loosely cover the boxes (they help keep moisture in) and poke a few holes in the boxes\u2019 sides to let air in as well. You can also plant the cut tops of carrots that still have their leafy greens attached and they\u2019ll go on growing for quite a while, providing more tasty greens for cats or dogs.<\/p>\n

Worst Houseplants For Pets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Common name\u00a0\u00a0 Latin name\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bad For:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aloe vera\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aloe vera\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 cats and dogs
\nAmaryllis\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (most)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats
\nAsparagus fern\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Asparagus sprengeri\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0cats and dogs
\nBabydoll Ti plant\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Cordyline terminalis\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0cats
\nBegonia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (most)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats
\nCalla lilies\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 (all)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats
\nCorn plant\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dracaena fragrans\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats and dogs
\nDumb cane \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dieffenbachia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats and dogs
\nElephant ear\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Caladium (most)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats and dogs
\nIvy \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hedera helix\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats and dogs
\nJade plant\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Crassula ovata\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats and dogs
\nLilies\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lilium (all)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats
\nPhilodendron\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Monstera deliciosa\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats and dogs
\nPothos\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Epipremnum aureum \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 cats and dogs
\nSago palm\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Cycas revoluta\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cats and dogs
\nZZ plant\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zamioculcas zamiifolia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0dogs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Indoor Winter Gardens That Do No Harm Every winter, my windowsills are increasingly crowded with potted plants, from amaryllis and azaleas to miniature roses, primroses and daffodils. I love the vivid splashes of color and the fresh scent of green, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1153,390,966,43,130,182],"tags":[1420,1421,1422,1423,1424],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1lB7f-uy","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1894"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1894"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1894\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1895,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1894\/revisions\/1895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}