The Fiddle Leaf Fig, or Ficus lyrata, is a species of plants in the Moraceae family. It’s a very popular house plant with beautiful and unique foliage. As iconic as this house plant is, cat owners should beware of the Fiddle Leaf Fig. It’s not fatal for cats to ingest, but it does have toxic properties that make them sick.
To help you keep your cats safe, we’ve researched everything you need to know about the Fiddle Leaf Fig. We also compiled a list of other toxic plants and safe plants for cats.
Cats and Fiddle Leaf Figs
All parts of the Fiddle Leaf Fig are mildly toxic to cats, but cats mostly get poisoned by the plant’s stems and leaves. When these plant parts break, they exude a milky sap containing sharp calcium oxalate crystals that can cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal upset.
These are some common symptoms that your cat may experience:
Pain and oral irritation
Skin rash
Drooling
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Because the sap is irritating, you’ll most likely notice your cat rubbing its face or licking its paws if it’s come in contact with it.
Image Credit: Bogdan Sonjachnyj_Shutterstock
What To Do if Your Cat Eats a Fiddle Leaf Fig
Since the sap can irritate the skin, make sure to wash any part of the body that touches it. You can use pet shampoo or mild dish soap to rinse off the sap.
If your cat has eaten a part of the plant, supply plenty of water to encourage it to rinse its mouth of the sap. If your cat doesn’t typically drink water, you can try providing broth. Usually we recommend not giving cats milk as they are lactose intolerant but in this case a small amount of milk or yogurt can help bind the crystals.
Not all cases of ingesting Fiddle Leaf Figs warrant a visit to your veterinarian’s office. However, make sure to contact your veterinarian for any specific instructions or treatments.
Oftentimes, you’ll just have to monitor your cat’s symptoms for the next couple of days. Sometimes, your veterinarian may want to give your cat an emetic, which will induce vomiting of any undigested part of the plant.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that another plant shares a similar name to the Fiddle Leaf Fig. Philodendron bipennifolium is sometimes referred to as the Fiddle Leaf Philodendron.
The Fiddle Leaf Philodendron is also toxic to cats. It contains calcium oxalate crystals too that can damage your cat’s digestive tract as they travel through the body.
More Popular Houseplants That Are Toxic to Cats
Tropical plants tend to be popular house plants because many species tend to be hardy and come with easy care instructions. However, many of them have toxic properties. Therefore, it’s crucial to do your research to ensure that you don’t bring home a plant that’s dangerous for your cats.
When shopping for house plants, you can immediately avoid the following.
Dumb Cane – The Dumb Cane is popular due to its beautiful leaves. However, it contains calcium oxalate crystals. It also has proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes don’t typically cause any symptoms, but if a cat ingests a large amount, it may experience an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea. The crystals cause intense irritation and pain on contact with the mouth.
Lilies – Absolutely avoid bringing home a true lily at all costs, even ones that are a part of a bouquet.
The exact toxic property in this plant has yet to be identified, but all parts of the plant, including the pollen, are highly toxic to cats. Cats ingesting any part of a lily will lead to kidney damage and failure. As little as one leaf of a Daylily can be a lethal dose.
Monstera Deliciosa – Monstera Deliciosa is also a species of Philodendron. So, just like the Fiddle Leaf Philodendron, this plant contains calcium oxalate crystals. Fortunately, Monstera Deliciosas have a very bitter taste, so it’s highly unlikely that your cat will continue to chew at its leaves after the first bite.
Pothos – Pothos is a popular vining plant because it’s very easy to grow. However, it contains calcium oxalate crystals. On top of that, cats may enjoy swatting at the vines, which makes them more susceptible to breaking the leaves and stems and coming in contact with the calcium oxalate crystals. These cause intense irritation on contact and can lead to bladder stone formation.
Sago Palm – The Sago Palm isn’t a true palm tree. It’s a cycad, and like many cycads contains a toxin called cycasin, cyanogenic glucosides and several other toxins. All parts of the Sago Palm are highly toxic, with the seeds containing the highest concentration of the toxins. Ingesting cycasin can cause breakdown of gastrointestinal and liver cells and neurotoxic effects leading to death.
So make sure to contact your veterinarian right away if you suspect that your cat has ingested any part of the plant.
Popular House Plants That Are Safe for Cats
Image credit: Voyagerix, Shutterstock
House plants add a natural and refreshing touch to any interior, so it’s always nice to have a few placed around a living space. Fortunately, there are many beautiful common house plants that don’t contain any toxic properties.
If you’re interested in staging your space with live plants, you have a wide selection of plants that are safe for cats:
African Violet
Baby’s Tears
Banana Tree
Bird’s Nest Fern
Boston Fern
Blushing Bromeliad
Calathea
Cast Iron Plant
Friendship Plant
Haworthia
Phalaenopsis Orchid
Parlor Palm
Peperomia species
Polka Dot plant
Ponytail Palm
Prayer Plant
Spider Plant
Conclusion
Although Ficus lyrata isn’t fatally toxic to cats, it’s best to avoid having it in the home because it causes extreme irritation for cats. There are many other plants with beautiful leaves that are also safe for cats.
So, with a little research, you can have a beautifully decorated home with a wide variety of plants while keeping your curious cats happy and safe.
Featured Image Credit: Jantanee Boonkhaw, Shutterstock
