Are rubber plants toxic to cats?
Keep your rubber plant out of reach of your pets!
Rubber plants are mildly toxic to both cats and dogs, so it’s important to keep them away from the plant. If you think your pet has ingested some of the leaves or sap from the rubber plant, contact your veterinarian immediately.
In this post, you will learn everything you need to know about rubber plants and their toxicity to pets. You will also learn what to do if your pet has ingested any part of the plant.
Read our blog post on rubber plants and their toxicity to pets now!
What is a rubber plant?
The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is a species of tree native to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and northeastern Australia.
The tree grows up to 30 meters tall and has large, leathery leaves with a glossy surface.
The tree produces a milky sap that can be tapped to produce latex. The latex is then used to make rubber.
The rubber plant has been cultivated for centuries for its commercial value. However, it is also popular as a houseplant due to its attractive appearance and ease of care.
Are rubber plants toxic to cats?
Rubber plants are mildly toxic for everyone – humans and animals. They are classified as Toxicity Class 4, which is the least degree of toxicity.
That means, ruby rubber plants are poisonous to cats, dogs, birds and any other pet that you have but, in most cases, it won’t be severe.
The juice of the rubber plant, known as latex, is a colloid containing resin, albumin, sugar, and enzymes. However, the component present in the sap known as caoutchouc is the main culprit.
It is caoutchouc that causes the irritation and other symptoms of rubber plant poisoning.
Cats can become poisoned by latex, the milky sap secreted by a damaged rubber plant (like we said above). If your cat eats any rubber plant material, it may endure drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite.
Also read if snake plants are toxic to dogs?
Is rubber plant pet friendly?
No, the rubber plant is not pet friendly. Rubber plants can harm any type of pet, including dogs, cats, small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds.
Like we said, the plant sap contains a toxin (called caoutchouc) that can be harmful to cats and dogs. If your pet ingests any part of the plant, it may experience drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite or other types of irritation.
If you have a rubber plant in your home and you also have pets, it is important to keep the plant out of reach of your furry friends.
We will discuss in depth on how you can do that.
Note: Besides the rubber plant, other plants that are toxic to cats are:
- Philodendrons
- Dieffenbachia
- Monstera
- Croton
- Ivy
How toxic are rubber plants to pets?
The rubber tree is considered to be moderately toxic to both cats and dogs. If your pet ingests any part of the plant, it may experience irritation.
In severe cases, the toxin in the plant sap (ficin or psoralen) can damage DNA. This can lead to drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite in your pet. If you think your pet has eaten a rubber plant, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately.
Are all varieties of rubber plants toxic to pets?
Yes, all varieties of rubber plants are toxic to pets, especially cats.
While the appearance may change with variety of the rubber plant, the toxic latex sap is present in all types.
The ficin or psoralen toxin are harmful to any type of pet, so it is important to keep rubber plants out of reach of your furry friends.
Signs of rubber plant poisoning in pets
The most common sign of rubber plant poisoning is gastrointestinal upset. If your pet ingests any part of the plant, it may experience drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Other symptoms may include:
- Loss of appetite
- Irritation
- Rash
- Hives
- Swelling
- Irritation
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea,
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of coordination
are all signs that a cat (or other pets) has eaten a rubber plant.
What to do if your pet ate a rubber plant?
If you think your pet has eaten a rubber plant, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately. The vet will likely induced vomiting and give your pet supportive care.
Give your vet as much information on what could have happened or what happened.
Also check out if Bromeliad are toxic to cats?
How is rubber plant poisoning generally treated in pets?
If your pet is drooling or foaming at the mouth, or if your dog has any pain in their mouth, the veterinarian may wash out their mouth.
If your pet is experiencing a skin or eye reaction, the veterinarian will help to flush the area.
If your pet eats a rubber tree plant, it might make them sick. Your veterinarian might try to make them vomit if recently that they ate the plant.
If they can’t vomit or it has been a while that they came in contact with a rubber plant, the vet might give them activated charcoal to absorb any toxins that are still in their system.
The medication and treatment will depend on how much your pet ate and how sick they are.
How to keep rubber plants away from pets?
If you have a rubber plant in your home and you also have pets, it is important to keep the plant out of reach of your furry friends.
You can do this by keeping the plant in a room that your pets cannot access or by placing the plant on a high shelf that your pet cannot reach.
You can also put a physical barrier around the plant, such as a baby gate.
Finally, it is important to educate yourself and your family members on the dangers of rubber plants to pets. This way, everyone in your household will be aware of the potential danger and can take steps to prevent your pet from getting access to the plant.
Keeping rubber plants away from dogs
- Dogs don’t like pungent smells. You can either spray lemon juice or keep peels of any citrus fruits around the plant.
- You can also keep cayenne pepper near your rubber plants for your dogs to completely aboid that area
Keeping rubber plants away from cats
- Cats don’t like pungent smells. You can either spray lemon juice or keep peels of any citrus fruits around the plant.
- Mix coffee grounds with the soil – the odor is disliked by cats
- You can also keep Herbs like lavender and rosemary near your rubber plant to keep cats away
Frequently Asked Questions
How to keep rubber plants away from pets?
– Keep rubber plants in a room that pets cannot access
– Place rubber plants on high shelves that pets cannot reach
– Use a baby gate to keep pets away from the plant
– Spray lemon juice or citrus fruit peels around the plant to deter dogs
– Mix coffee grounds with soil to repel cats
– Keep lavender and rosemary near the plant to keep cats away
What should I do if my pet ate a rubber plant?
– Seek veterinary care immediately
– The vet will likely induced vomiting and give your pet supportive care
– Give your vet as much information on what could have happened or what happened
How toxic are rubber plants to pets?
The rubber tree is considered to be moderately toxic to both cats and dogs. If your pet ingests any part of the plant, it may experience irritation.
In severe cases, the toxin in the plant sap (ficin or psoralen) can damage DNA. This can lead to drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite in your pet. If you think your pet has eaten a rubber plant, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately
Which pets are vulnerable to rubber plant poisoning?
Both cats and dogs are vulnerable to rubber plant poisoning.
Are baby rubber plants pet safe?
No, baby rubber plants are not pet safe. All varieties of rubber plants are considered to be toxic to both cats and dogs.
What indoor plants are safe for cats, dogs and other pets?
1. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) and Thankgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
2. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
3. Phalaenopsis Orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.)
4. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis)
5. Blue Echeveria (Echeveria derenbergii)
6. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Final thoughts on if rubber plants are toxic to cats?
Rubber plants are toxic to both cats and dogs, so if you have one of these plants in your home it’s important to keep it out of reach or place it on high shelves that they can’t reach.
Symptoms of rubber plant poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive drooling. If you think your pet has been poisoned by a rubber plant, please contact your veterinarian immediately.