Alocasia, also known as arrowhead or elephant ear, is an attractive and popular houseplant. However, cat owners should refrain from cultivating it or place the plant out of reach of their cats: the arum plant is poisonous.
Is Alocasia poisonous to cats and how do I recognize symptoms?
Alocasia is poisonous to cats because it contains calcium oxalate crystals, oxalic acids and their s alts. Symptoms of poisoning in cats can include salivation, head shaking, attempts to drink, refusal to eat, diarrhea and paralysis. If there are any signs of poisoning, you should consult a veterinarian immediately.
How poisonous is Alocasia?
Alocasia belongs to the arum family (Araceae), most of which are poisonous. Arrowhead is no exception in this regard: all parts of the plant, especially the tubers and the milky plant sap, contain toxic calcium oxalate crystals as well as oxalic acids and their s alts. Therefore, cat owners should prevent their four-legged friend from nibbling the plant in advance. However, excess irrigation water that collects in the saucer can also be dangerous. This can also contain flushed out toxins and be ingested by drinking cats.
How do I recognize poisoning in cats?
Typical poisoning symptoms in cats include:
- heavy salivating
- frequent head shaking
- repeated stroke of the paw over the mouth
- frequent drinking attempts
- no or little food intake
- no or little meowing or other vocalizations
- Diarrhea and exhaustion
- Insecurities when walking
- Symptoms of paralysis
- Muscle tremors and cramps
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Kidney inflammation up to kidney failure
Not all symptoms have to occur in the event of possible poisoning. How Alocasia poisoning manifests itself in your cat depends on both the severity and the constitution of your four-legged friend.
What should I do if I have symptoms of poisoning?
If you have any symptoms of poisoning, you should consult a veterinarian immediately.visit a veterinary clinic. Also take the plant or a plant sample (e.g. the nibbled leaf) with you and tell the doctor which type of plant is suspected to have caused this poisoning. Under no circumstances should you induce vomiting, as this could only result in further irritation of the mucous membranes. Instead, give your cat plenty of water to drink (not milk!) so that the toxins are flushed out as quickly as possible.
Is Alocasia also poisonous to people and other pets?
Alocasia is only slightly poisonous to adults and large dogs, but can nevertheless cause mild symptoms of poisoning such as malaise and dizziness. Children, small dogs and other pets such as birds are more affected due to their lower body weight: the symptoms of poisoning can be more severe, so medical attention must be sought.
Tip
Wear gloves when pruning
The poisonous milky sap of Alocasia can cause mucous membrane irritation, skin redness and even rashes. That's why you should always wear gardening gloves when carrying out maintenance work such as pruning or repotting.
