In terms of toxicity, the experts on the yucca "palm" - which is actually not a palm tree at all, but an agave plant - are quite divided. At least there is neither an all-clear nor an explicit reference to the toxicity of this popular houseplant. However, cat owners can assume that the yucca is not without danger for their four-legged friend.
Cats should better not nibble on the yucca palm
Yucca palm dangerous for cats in two ways
Many indoor cats like to nibble on the yucca palm in the living room without being harmed or developing any symptoms of poisoning. However, some cases are also known in which the house tiger has been damaged in various ways by the yucca. First of all, the leaves of this plant are very sharp-edged, so the cat nibbling on them can easily injure themselves. In addition, the stem and leaves contain a substance that irritates the mucous membranes, sometimes leading to diarrhea and, in severe cases, can even damage the kidneys. So if your cat keeps having diarrhea from time to time for an unknown reason, it could be because of the yucca palm.
Many popular houseplants are poisonous to cats
In addition to the yucca palm, many other indoor plants are poisonous for indoor cats and should therefore not be cultivated in a cat apartment or should be placed in such a way that the house tiger cannot get to it. Houseplants that are poisonous to cats include:
- Yucca Palm (Palm Lily)
- Dieffenbachia
- Philodendron / Tree Friend
- ivy
- cyclamen
- dragonroot
- azalea
- amaryllis
- dragon tree
- bow hemp
- Ficus / Weeping Fig
- Aralia
- Flamingo Flower / Anthurium
- window leaf
- calla
- Christmas star
- avocado
tips
Also watch out for cacti and spurge plants that grow like columns - cats like to use both as scratching aids. While cacti are generally non-toxic, they do have dangerous spines. Spurge plants, on the other hand, are highly toxic - especially the milky sap that escapes when scratching can have dangerous consequences. These include i.a. the popular poinsettia, but also the rubber tree, the Christ thorn and many other succulents.