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Are spider plants ok?

post #1 of 8
5/9/10 at 11:21am
Thread Starter 
I would like to use spider plants or ferns to lower the levels of possible contaminants in my apartment...such as formaldehyde. I read these plants can help take some of these toxins out of the air. Are cats ok around these plants?

Of course I need to make sure of that, before bringing any into the home. Thank you so much!
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post #2 of 8
5/9/10 at 12:18pm
Spider plant (and Spider Ivy) listed as non-toxic here:

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants-non-toxic.html

Ferns are on the list of plants poisonous to cats:

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html
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post #3 of 8
5/9/10 at 1:19pm
I would say from experience that they are not dangerous to cats. It's the other way around. I had half a dozen really nice spider plants until I got cats. The kitties thought the spiders hanging down made wonderful toys. Needless to say, I no longer have any indoor plants. Somehow empty pots just don't create the same ambience.
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post #4 of 8
5/9/10 at 1:54pm
Spider plants are fine. Fern, however, is a vague term for several types of plants. You have to look up each plant specifically by their proper names as there are a few under the vague common name that are fine.
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post #5 of 8
5/9/10 at 2:03pm
I have a lot of hanging plants, LOL. Yes, spider plants are safe for kitties, though they might throw up if they eat too much of it.

One thing I can't find is how much English Ivy would be toxic. It's hanging so they can't get to it but occasionally a leaf falls off. So far they don't seem inclined to eat the fallen leaves but I wonder if the one leaf would be toxic or if it takes more than that.
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post #6 of 8
5/9/10 at 4:07pm
Spider plants are safe. But my cats ate my last ones down to stumps after we moved and didn't have hangers. I was just thinking about getting another recently.
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post #7 of 8
5/9/10 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldyCat View Post
I would say from experience that they are not dangerous to cats. It's the other way around. I had half a dozen really nice spider plants until I got cats.
I agree. My cats didn't treat the spiderplants as toys though. They treated them as snacks.
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post #8 of 8
5/9/10 at 5:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowy View Post
One thing I can't find is how much English Ivy would be toxic. It's hanging so they can't get to it but occasionally a leaf falls off. So far they don't seem inclined to eat the fallen leaves but I wonder if the one leaf would be toxic or if it takes more than that.
Moderately toxic, iirc, through glycosides. A dried dead leaf is probably not much to worry about, but fresh leaves would be bad. Try to keep it trimmed and dead leaves picked off.

Here's a safe plant list.
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