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Are spider plants safe for your cat?

I walked into the living room and saw my cat sat on the sunny windowsill by the spider plant munching enthusiastically on its green and white leaves. Having read that spider plants are non toxic to cats I wasn’t worried about her being seriously harmed. However, I know that foliage eaten in large enough quantities can cause a cat sickness and diarrhoea so I moved the plant over to the bookshelf higher up out of her reach. I thought little more about it - until the next day that is.

The following morning my cat began coughing and choking, it seemed as if she had something stuck in her throat that she was constantly trying to clear. Remembering the spider plant incident it occurred to me that maybe a piece of leaf had lodged at the back of her throat. She was taken to the vet that evening where an examination found her larynx to be swollen which was causing her choking symptoms. Could eating spider plant leaves have caused the swelling? I asked the vet, his reply “it is unlikely”. So, she was prescribed tablets to reduce the swelling and was perfectly fine within a few days.

The spider plant is listed as non poisonous, and compatible with cats. But I think it is possible my cat had a sensitivity or allergy to the plant that caused a bad reaction. If you see your cat nibbling on any plant material and is showing a bad reaction, contact your veterinary surgeon for advice or treatment.

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