Introduction
Felines have fascinated humans for centuries. Out of all the domestic animals we’ve come to love, the cat is perhaps the most uniquely in touch with its wild origins and instincts. Nowhere is this more evident than in the relationship between cats and plants – especially of the indoor variety. While we may aesthetically enjoy decorating our homes with lush greenery, for cats, plants represent so much more.
With estimates that 35% of cat owners have problems with their feline nibbling on houseplants, it’s clear there’s an underlying connection. But what motivates this behavior? Do cats possess some innate botanical wisdom, allowing them to detect toxicity and medicinal properties? Or is it simpler curiosity and playfulness? Let’s dig into the science behind cats and plants to uncover the truth.
Cats’ Sense of Smell
Cats have a remarkably strong sense of smell that is far superior to humans. According to Paws Chicago, a cat’s sense of smell is about 14 times better than a human’s. Cats have 200 million odor-sensitive cells in their noses, while humans only have 5 million. This allows cats to detect scents and odors that humans can’t even perceive.
According to Rover, cats can detect smells at concentrations nearly 100,000 times lower than humans can. Their powerful sense of smell helps cats determine the locations of valued resources like food, mates, and their own kittens. It also warns them of potential threats that cannot be seen or heard.
A cat’s sensitive nose allows it to gather a wealth of information from smells alone, sensing subtle cues that humans miss entirely. This powerful sensory ability aids cats in navigating their environments and avoiding danger.
Toxic Plants
Many common houseplants are toxic to cats if ingested, including peace lilies, poinsettias, and aloe vera. These plants contain substances like insoluble calcium oxalates, irritant saponins, and toxins that can cause various symptoms if cats ingest parts of the plants.
Peace lilies contain calcium oxalates that can cause oral pain, swelling, and excessive drooling in cats. All parts of the peace lily are considered toxic, including the leaves, flowers, and pollen. Even small ingestions can cause irritation and pain (Peace Lily Plant Care and Guide).
Poinsettias contain a toxic sap called diterpenoid euphorbol esters that can irritate the mouth and stomach. Ingestion may lead to drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea. While poinsettias are toxic, they are not severely poisonous to cats (Cat-Safe Houseplants).
Aloe vera contains saponins and anthraquinones that are toxic to cats. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Cats are often attracted to aloe vera due to its bitter taste (Cat-Safe Houseplants).
Plant Defenses
Many plants have chemical defenses to deter herbivores from eating them. These chemical defenses can include compounds like alkaloids, tannins, and terpenes that make the plant unpalatable or even toxic to herbivores [1]. For example, some plants produce cyanogenic glycosides that release cyanide when the plant cells are damaged, deterring grazing. Other plants have physical defenses like thorns, spines, or irritating hairs that make eating the plant painful [2]. These defenses likely evolved due to the selective pressures of herbivory over millions of years. Plants that developed defenses had higher survival and reproduction rates than undefended plants.
Evidence Cats Detect Toxins
While cats do not innately know which plants are poisonous, there is some evidence that suggests cats can detect toxins and avoid eating toxic plants. According to this Quora post, many cat owners have observed their cats sniffing houseplants and then walking away without eating them. It’s possible the cats are able to smell chemicals or toxins released by the plants as a natural defense. Some cat owners also report that their cats sampled small amounts of toxic plants when they were kittens but learned to avoid them after getting sick.
One example cited is the poinsettia plant, which is known to be toxic to cats but often goes uneaten even when accessible. There are also anecdotal reports of cats avoiding toxic houseplants like philodendrons and lilies without being trained. However, it does not appear to be an innate knowledge, as many kittens and cats will still try to eat houseplants unless deterred.
Instincts vs Learning
When it comes to cats avoiding toxic plants, researchers aren’t sure whether it’s instinctual or learned behavior. There is evidence on both sides of the argument. According to https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/30/do-animals-instinctively-know-what-not-to-eat/, the ability to avoid poisons varies between individual cats. Some cats seem to have strong instincts to detect and avoid toxins. However, kittens often need to be trained by their mothers on what plants and foods are safe to eat. According to https://www.tcpalm.com/story/specialty-publications/your-news/martin-county/reader-submitted/2017/09/07/catty-comments-hunting-instinct-cats-can-re-directed/642063001/, hunting behaviors are generally learned rather than purely instinctual. Overall, it seems both instinct and learning play a role in cats’ ability to detect and avoid toxic plants.
Kitten Behavior
Kittens are naturally curious and like to explore new things in their environment. This often leads them to investigate houseplants and sometimes try to play with or eat them. Videos posted online provide many examples of kittens interacting with indoor plants.
For example, one viral video shows several kittens playing in a large potted palm tree, climbing on the fronds and leaves. The kittens bat at the palms and even try chewing on them. While palm trees are not toxic to cats, this shows their tendency to explore plants that catch their interest.
There are also examples of kittens nibbling on leafy plants like spider plants. One Reddit user posted about their kitten repeatedly eating a spider plant despite the owner’s efforts to deter it. Even though spider plants are only mildly toxic, the kitten kept going back to munch on the long leaves.
Based on these interactions, it’s clear kittens haven’t yet learned which plants may be poisonous. Their natural curiosity draws them to explore the different textures, smells, and even tastes of indoor plants. This underscores the need for owners to keep toxic plants out of reach of kittens who don’t know any better yet.
Owner Precautions
As a cat owner, it’s important to take precautions to keep your cats safe from toxic plants. Here are some tips:
First, get familiar with which plants are toxic to cats so you can avoid having them in your home. Some of the most dangerous plants for cats include lilies, azaleas, oleander, and sago palms.[1] Before bringing a new plant home, do some research to make sure it’s not toxic.
Keep all houseplants out of reach of cats by placing them somewhere up high that your cat can’t access. Use wall shelves or hang plants up high to keep curious cats away.[2] You can also keep plants in a spare room and keep the door closed.
Consider using cat deterrents around plants like foil, citrus peels, or a Ssscat motion-activated deterrent device. The strong smells and textures may help keep cats away.[3] Spraying leaves with harmless but bad-tasting liquids can also discourage chewing.
Don’t allow cats to chew on or play with any houseplants. Immediately redirect their attention if you catch them getting curious. Be extra vigilant with kittens who may not know which plants are dangerous.
Inspect all houseplants regularly for signs of chewing or damage. Remove and replace any plants that become persistently damaged so there’s no chance for cats to ingest parts.
Quickly remove any fallen leaves, flowers, or plant pieces that land on the floor before cats can eat them. Many toxic plants are dangerous even in small amounts.
[1] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/cat-proofing-houseplants.htm
[2] https://getbusygardening.com/keep-cats-out-of-houseplants/
[3] https://naturesmace.com/blogs/blog/how-to-cat-proof-houseplants
Conclusion
To summarize, there is significant evidence that cats have a strong instinctual ability to detect toxic plants and avoid them. Their highly sensitive sense of smell allows them to sniff out potentially dangerous toxins and alkaloids. While cats can also learn through experience and observation which plants to stay away from, they appear to have innate knowledge of plant toxicity as well.
Kittens display cautious behaviors around toxic plants, implying they somehow know to avoid them even without prior experience. As cat owners, we can support their natural instincts by keeping potentially poisonous plants out of reach and supervising plant interactions. Though cats seem adept at sensing danger, it is still wise to minimize risks.
In conclusion, cats have evolved impressive sensory abilities and behaviors that enable them to detect toxic plants and typically steer clear. Their instincts protect them from many plant dangers that could seriously harm them. By understanding cats’ innate toxicity perception, owners can better safeguard feline health.