Spider ferns---poisonous?

I went to different sites and only one says that spider fern/plant is dangerous for cats. Is it? Need an answer quick. My MIL has kinda made me mad with it. She's all worried that the plant will die if she takes it to someone else's home over winter. Well, what about my cats??!!!! I'd rather the plant died than any of my cats!!
I personally, live by the philosophy that when in doubt, err on the side of caution. But, if anyone here knows for sure that the plant isn't poisonous, or can direct me to a pretty good website that is believable, than the plant can come in the house.....otherwise the plant goes.
Thanks
Ginger

You know i`ve had a really hard time with some of those sites that tell whether a plant is toxic to a cat or not....some will say that spider planst are safe and some say not. (Same with Geraniums...and i LOVE geraniums on my kitchen window sill in the winter time) But i`m NOT taking any chances since there is`nt a clear answer.
I know just how you feel. i love planst too, and used to have a lot of them....but no more!
Linda

www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html This Link lists "Ferns" as being dangerous to cats.

I've never heard of a spider plant called a spider fern, so are we talking about this:


I had one of those and I understood that it was NOT toxic. The kitties nibbled the leaves a little from time to time until one day Rocket tipped it over and it crashed to the floor. Poor spider plant!!

Rocket...did you kill the spider plant?
You are a wild cat.

Thats not a spider fern (although the above plant is nicknamed a spider plant because of the way it grows). The only fern that is called a spider fern is the Crested Spider Brake Fern, its latin name is Pteris multifida. It is from the Fern genus and is toxic to cats.


Either Way, When In doubt, remove it. Its only a plant, big difference for the health of your cat. Put the plant somewhere that the cat won't have access.

Originally Posted by coaster

I've never heard of a spider plant called a spider fern, so are we talking about this:

I had one of those and I understood that it was NOT toxic. The kitties nibbled the leaves a little from time to time until one day Rocket tipped it over and it crashed to the floor. Poor spider plant!!

Click to expand...

I had one of those, and my foster Jill chewed and chewed it. She kept it about 1-1/2 to 2 inches long at all times. It was harmless to her. She even chewed the baby plants, so they were stubby, too. It really annoyed me, because it seemed like she was killing the plant, or at least making it ugly. After she left, it died, because I forgot to water it!

I think that plant in the picture is harmless.

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

I had one of those, and my foster Jill chewed and chewed it. She kept it about 1-1/2 to 2 inches long at all times. It was harmless to her. She even chewed the baby plants, so they were stubby, too. It really annoyed me, because it seemed like she was killing the plant, or at least making it ugly. After she left, it died, because I forgot to water it!

I think that plant in the picture is harmless.

Click to expand...

My cats loved eating on my spider plant, they kept it ate back till i put it out for the summer. Now it is beautiful and i have it hung up really high not to keep the cats safe but to keep the plant safe

But I did find out they love grass (lawn ) so I guess that's why they loved eating the plant .So now I go outside pull some grass and they go crazy for it. I feel it is natural and something they need.

Originally Posted by MRod1

The only fern that is called a spider fern is the Crested Spider Brake Fern, its latin name is Pteris multifida. It is from the Fern genus and is toxic to cats.

Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing out the difference between a spider fern and a spider plant -- especially since one is toxic to cats and the other isn't.