Backyard Gardening: Plants and Fur Babies

By Kathryn Dorman

My husband and I have always had pets, which were mostly cats and dogs.  Throughout our 30 years of married life, we have embraced our cats as beloved members of our family.  When our son was growing up, at least three cats presided over our household, but there were no dogs.  After college, as soon as he got a job and moved into his own place, he got a German shepherd, a cat, and – oh, yes, a girlfriend – who is now his wife (our beloved daughter-in-law).  

When I have been fur-baby-sitting (now three cats, same dog), I have been told repeatedly NOT to give my grand-cats or grand-dog anything with bird bones, onions, or xylitol.  What else is bad for our pets?  The lists of plants that are poisonous to pets is beyond the space limitations for this article.  I will have to limit my discussion to felines and canines, so for you readers who truly love other vertebrates, invertebrates, or whatever:  you’ll have to do your own research.  No, I am NOT going to tell you what or what not to feed your pet python!

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provides comprehensive information about “Poisonous Plants,” “People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet,” and “Poisonous Household Products.”  There are links on the ASPCA’s website (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control) to separate, extensive lists of toxic and non-toxic plants for dogs, cats, and horses.  You can choose to look at the plant lists by common name or scientific name.  Please note that the lists are only alphabetical by common name. 

Most cats relish grass and catnip, and these plants are fine.  According to the University of California-Davis, you should keep cats and dogs away from many flowering plants, including chrysanthemum, crocus, cyclamen, daffodil, daisy, hyacinth, lily, lily of the valley, rhododendron, and tulip, just to name a few.  If your pet has eaten any part of a poisonous plant, including the root, the initial reaction will probably be vomiting and/or diarrhea.  There could also be more severe reactions, including heart or respiratory failure, or even kidney or liver damage.  

Keep gardening products out of your pets’ reach, including fertilizers (even natural products such as blood/bone meal and manure), pesticides (both herbicides and insecticides), and soil amendments, such as iron or lime (https://www.ucdavis.edu/one-health/garden-plants-toxic-to-pets). 

There are many plant-based human foods and drinks which are not safe for consumption by dogs or cats.  Chocolate, coffee, and other drinks containing caffeine can affect the heart.  Nuts that contain high amounts of fat can cause pancreatitis.  Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure.  Members of the onion family (including garlic and chives) can lead to red blood cell damage.  It is important to note that only 100% peanut butter is safe for dogs, but in large enough quantities, may be a choking hazard for cats.  

Be aware that an artificial sweetener called xylitol is found in many sugar-free foods, as well as toothpaste, mouthwash, mints, and many brands of peanut butter!  Also called birch sugar or wood sugar, xylitol can be found naturally in many fruits and vegetables.  It can be manufactured commercially from several plant products, including birch wood or corn cobs.  When dogs and cats ingest xylitol, it triggers a release of insulin from the pancreas, which can lead to low blood sugar.  

It seems to me that dogs, like human babies, will put just about anything in their mouths.  If they don’t eat it, they will just chew or lick the stuffing out of it.  I was shocked when a dog even recently tried to lap up my coffee!  Just to be on the safe side, keep everything small enough to fit inside a dog’s mouth out of its reach.  When you have your dog outside, keep it on a leash, so you can control what it can reach.  For its own safety, do NOT let your dog dig up your flowers! 

Cats, in my biased opinion, have more selective tastes.  Cats will typically first just sniff at something different.  If they don’t like the smell, they often make a comically horrified face, and sometimes even hurry away.  Curious and/or bored cats may try chewing on plants.  Cats are more likely to dig and tear at a plant to get to the soil.  If you want to keep your plants and your pet safe, put the plants up out of the pet’s reach.  Consider also any climbing routes, because where there’s a will, there’s a way!  All of my houseplants are up high, where (as far as I know) my cats can’t climb (see Photo).  

Kathryn Dorman has been a Penn State Extension certified Master Gardener in Clinton County since 2017.  She can be reached at clintonmg@psu.edu, or through the Clinton County Master Gardener Hotline at (570) 858-0198.

Backyard Gardening: Plants and Fur Babies