Jade plant and why some people do not grow it

Jade plant (Crassula ovata) is a plant that is a great choice for beginners and lazy growers. It is very undemanding and can deal well with bad growing conditions. This is the main reason why many people love it. This succulent comes from southern Africa. It is also a very common houseplant in Europe, but there is a group of people who cannot grow it and that is cat owners. If a cat etas a part of Crassula ovata, it could be fatal for it.

What does Jade plant look like?

You should be able to recognize jade plant even though you will not grow it but your neighbour might and may move it outside… Your cat can reach it and you do not want that. Jade plant has thick, fleshy and juicy round leaves. They are dark green or blue-to-gray. Sometimes you may see red colour around edges. Jade plant produces tiny star-shaped flowers and the colour may range from white to pink. Jade plant looks like a tiny tree at first glance.

Photo: Pixabay

How do I know that my cat was poisoned?

Poisoning symptoms are more or less the same. It does not matter whether the poison came from a plant or rat poison. A poisoned animal vomits (blood in the vomit sometimes), suffers from diarrhoea, is lethargic, shows signs of impaired movement and may have a slower heart rate. If you suspect that your cat has ingested something poisonous, visit vet immediately. Try to figure out when the poisoning occurred. You can bring a sample of the plant to the vet.

Prevent poisoning

First of all prevent your cat from coming into contact with poisonous plants and the easiest way is not to grow any poisonous plants, or grow them where your cat has no access. Collect fallen leaves regularly. If your neighbour grows it there is nothing you can do about it… Try to provide “your own” plant that attract cats more than poisonous plant. A typical example is catnip which cats like. It has similar affect on cats as slightly toxic drinks. You cats will love it.

Sources of information:

https://cat-world.com/is-jade-plant-toxic-to-cats/

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/jade-plants-cats-43557.html

Preview photo: Pixabay