Monstera Plant & Pets - Toxic to Cats & Dogs? What to do?

Being a pet owner and a houseplant lover at the same time can be tough and sometimes impossible too. This is because you will find many low-maintenance house plants with beautiful aesthetics for home decor but cannot bring them home because they are not safe for your pets. Monstera is one of my favorite household plants since it has stunning tropical foliage and the least maintenance requirements.

Also, it can purify the air naturally by trapping impurities and dust. This is absolutely safe to touch but could be poisonous for your pets if they ingest. However, it doesn't mean that you cannot keep Monstera plants and pets together. I've kept this plant in my home for around five years and managed it with my pets.

Monstera Plant & Pets - CATS & DOGS

In this guide, I will be telling you everything that you want to know about the toxicity of Monstera and how to deal with its coexistence with pets in the home.

Is Monstera Poisonous For Cats and Dogs?

Monstera plant is not poisonous but highly toxic to both cats and dogs if they ingest the leaves or any other part of the plant. The plant has a high concentration of insoluble calcium oxalates, making it toxic for cats and dogs. Insoluble claim oxalate is found in the form of needle-like crystals that get embedded into the pet’s oral cavity when they eat it.

Symptoms

Since calcium oxalate is found in the needle-like crystals that embed into the skin and oral cavity when animals eat Monstera, the first and obvious sign is restlessness due to utter pain and burning of the mouth.

If the pet has ingested a considerable amount of plant, it could lead to severe conditions like excessive drooling, swelling in the tongue, swelling and choking in the throat, or even vomiting when it reaches the stomach. If the dog or cat eats big chunks of plant, you may observe blood in the vomit.

Can Dogs and Cats Really Eat Monstera Plants?

As we know, Monstera plants can be toxic to both dogs and cats because they contain needle-like crystals of claim oxalate. But the question is, do they really eat this plant? Yes, dogs can eat houseplants, including monstera, when they have a disturbed stomach or throat irritation. If dogs catch flu, they may eat plants to relieve sore throat and expel the mucus.

Cats have different natures, and they are curious about everything you bring home. A plant with big tropical foliage can attract cats. Also, cats love to cuddle up the soft plants when they get bored. Since these plants are very attractive for cats, there are chances that they bite them.

Since these plants trigger a stinging sensation at the first bite, there are few chances of ingestion or taking a second bite. Unlike cats, dogs can bite and even ingest a considerable amount of Monstera Plant if they have an upset stomach.

Treatment

If you see signs of serious illness in your dog or cat, it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately. It would help if you immediately approached a vet. On telling your pet's condition, they may recommend you an antidote or ask to induce vomiting. Never make your pet vomit or give any kind of medicine without the recommendation of the veterinarian.

If your pet has eaten a large chunk of plants, it can damage their esophagus that triggers bleeding. This is a serious condition, and you should take your pet to a nearby pet care center to save its life. If your vet asks you to induce vomit, you should opt for the safest method both for the dog and yourself. The best way to induce vomit in dogs and cats is to give them three percent hydrogen peroxide.

The quantity of hydrogen peroxide should be according to prescription and never overdose your pet. If you don't have hydrogen peroxide in hand, you can use a physical method, but it is a bit dangerous. Carefully put your finger down the throat to activate the gag reflex.

How Can We Keep Pets From Eating Monstera Plants?

Keeping your cats and dogs from eating monstera plants is much easier and safer than treatment. Here are a few tips that I apply to manage monstera plants and pets in my home.

• Keep the monster plant out of the reach of your cats and dogs. You can place the pot on the table or on a shelf.
• You can put pebbles in the opt around the plants. The pets will feel discomfort when they jump into the pot and will try to stay away.
• Vinegar and rubbing alcohol can deter cats and dogs. But these substances are not safe for plants, so it is not recommended to spray these substances on plants. Instead, you can prepare aromatic stacks by dipping a piece of cloth or coffee filters in these liquids. Place these stacks close to the houseplants.
• If you have a small home or yard and you cannot find a safe spot for the plant, you can train your pets not to touch or eat houseplants.
• You can train the dogs easily by shouting “No” every time when they try to bite the plants. However, it is harder to train cats this way because it makes them even more curious.
• Both cats and dogs don't like the citrus smell. Therefore you can put the orange and lemon peel in the pot. Also, you can spray the plant leaves with dilute orange or lemonade juice.
• Cats also don't like the smell of Cayenne pepper. You can sprinkle cayenne pepper around the houseplants to keep your cats from eating them.

Related Monstera Plant Guides: How to propagate it | How to prune monstera plant

FAQs

Conclusion

Monstera Plant serves you by purifying your air naturally and grows with little maintenance and care. Like many other houseplants, it is toxic for your dogs and cats if ingested. However, with little care and taring, you can easily keep your pets from eating these plants. I'm hopeful that after reading this guide, you will be able to manage monstera plants and pets.