Toxic to cats · Plants

Is Plumosa Fern toxic to cats?

Moderate severity

Yes. It can cause real illness — contact your vet if your pet has been exposed.

Symptoms to watch for

  • vomiting
  • anorexia
  • diarrhea
  • cardiac effects
  • sedative effects

How vets treat it

Decontamination via induced vomiting or activated charcoal if ingestion is recent; supportive care for gastrointestinal distress and monitoring of heart rate.

Why it's dangerous

The plant contains sapogenins that act as irritants to the gastrointestinal tract and can cause cardiac and sedative effects when ingested in large quantities.

Toxic compound: Sapogenins

Good to know

The berries are particularly toxic and ingestion of large amounts increases the risk of systemic effects like sedation.

Sources

This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.

More substances toxic to cats

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