There are many other names for the snake plant, including:
- Mother-In-Law Tongue
- Viper’s Bow String Hemp
- Golden Bird’s Nest
- Good Luck Plant
- Magic Sword
The Agavaceae family and this common house plant belong to the genus Agavaceae.
With this article, we share advice on how to avoid and deal with Snake Plant poisoning in cats, along with information on reducing the risk of it.
How Poisonous Are Snake Plant Leaves or Fruit?
Snake plants contain saponins and organic acids which are mild toxins.
Skin irritability may result when plants’ sap is directly applied to humans.
Since cats have fur, they are unlikely to contact the sap or flesh of the plant. A curious cat may, however, bite it and consume it.
What Are The Symptoms Of Poisoning?
Several side effects can result from ingesting the sap of the snake plant, including:
- Refusal to Eat
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
Be sure to contact your vet if you notice any of the symptoms listed above in your cat or other pets.
The symptoms are common to several different types of poisoning, so your cat will need medical care no matter whether it is caused by mother in law’s tongue or something else.
At your visit to the veterinarian, the veterinarian will examine your cat and may perform a urine test and blood work to determine exactly which toxins are affecting your cat.
The vet will also be able to receive valuable information about your cat’s health condition with these tests.
For instance, blood work indicates your vet the makeup and chemistry of your cat’s blood as well as the animal’s hydration level.
A urinalysis can provide information about your cat’s kidney health.
Depending on the results of your vet’s thorough evaluation, he or she may prescribe two different types of medications to your cat.
- By providing a coating to your cat’s stomach lining, Kapectolin protects her stomach lining.
- Sucralfate forms a protective, pastelike barrier in your cat’s stomach when it interacts with its digestive acids.
If your pet has been poisoned, it may also require an intravenous drip to administer electrolytes to prevent dehydration.
A veterinarian may decide to induce vomiting in your cat if he has not been vomiting to help remove any remaining plant parts from his stomach.
Additional therapy for poisoning may be administered by the vet, who will administer activated charcoal to help absorb it.
How Can My Cat Recover?
Despite its toxicity, snake plant poisoning is not especially dangerous, and if your cat has eaten just a small amount of it, he or she will probably recover well.
Having your cat treated in the early stages probably means that he will recover completely in a few days.
It is important to seek treatment right away if you suspect Snake Plant poisoning, otherwise it may be fatal.
How To Protect Yourself & Your Cat From Snake Plant Poisoning
Luckily, the toxicity level of this plant is considered low.
It is also highly unlikely that your cat will eat a lot of the sap because it is bitter tasting.
Furthermore, this type of plant is unlikely to bother most cats.
Despite that, you never know what your cat might do, so it’s a good idea to put a Mother-in-law’s tongue plant in an area it cannot enter.
Be sure to wear gloves when cutting or repotting Snake Plants.
Do not handle Mother-in-law plants if you have not cleaned up after handling them.
The video below provides valuable information about snake plants and other possible houseplant poisons.
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