Are Bonsai Trees Poisonous To Cats?

You want to take up the art of bonsai trees, but you are concerned about Whiskers as we all know how cats love to chew on anything.

You wonder if the trees are poisonous to cats. The truth is that it is an excellent question as the miniature tree like a bonsai will be prone to Whiskers attack.

So, today, Plantly will provide some poisonous bonsai trees and others that are non-toxic to cats.

Examples of Poisonous Bonsai Trees

When you look at bonsai trees, most of them are poisonous to cats. So, a note of warning, if your feline decides to chew on the leaves, seeds, or stems, your pet can go into shock or die. Thus, the best is to know how you can save your pet.

Still, there is no need for alarm yet as not all of them are toxic, and we will discuss both the toxic bonsai trees and non-toxic bonsai trees here.

So, choose one according to your pet’s needs if you have any at home. Then, enjoy grooming your tree peacefully.

Sago Palm Bonsai Tree

Sago palm could be an indoor or outdoor plant. They could be placed on the floor with an elevated planter for your pet not to have access to or can be placed outdoors. Every part of the sago palm tree is poisonous to cats. But the most toxic part of the sago palm is the seeds. The seed has a high amount of cycasin, an active toxin agent.

If your cat does nibble on the sago palm, you will notice symptoms of poisoning, vomiting, drooling, a black-like tar stool, and worse, jaundice (liver failure).

We recommend avoiding having this bonsai tree as it is one of the most poisonous trees around. The tree looks like a palm with a bulky ground-level stem and a few palm leaves.

Fig Bonsai Tree

While it’s okay for humans to consume ‘the fruit of the Fig tree, it is not safe for cats. This bonsai tree has distinct leaves with five fingers. All parts of the bonsai plant are toxic to animals, from the seed, leaves, fruit, to the stem.

If you know your cat ate of the fig tree, contact your vet, even if only mild poisoning. It does not kill your pet but it is certainly worrisome. Symptoms to look out for are diarrhea, vomiting, skin irritation, shaking of the head, and increased drooling.

Azalea Plant

The azalea is a beautiful bonsai tree that’s toxic to cats and humans. The poisonous bonsai tree belongs to the Rhododendron family, and there are a lot of them out there. These are poisonous plants in all parts of the foliage.

Your cat will show signs of vomiting, excessive drooling, and diarrhea. As the symptoms reach a severe state, they may experience a lack of appetite, tremors, or even fall into a coma. You’ll notice the symptoms within just hours after eating parts of the plant material.

Baby Jade Plant

Another indoor plant type of bonsai tree that is toxic to cats is the baby jade plant. You will find this plant sold with different names from the jade tree, baby jade, or the Chinese rubber plant. Unfortunately, no one knows what causes the poison to cats when eaten.

The toxic bonsai plant looks succulent with thick leaves and is sold as small plants in pots to decorate the home. Furthermore, the plant can grow tall. Yet, all parts of the plant material are toxic when ingested.

Jade plant poisoning will cause your cat to vomit, have a loss of muscle function, and slow down the heart rate. It would be best to get your feline to the vet immediately to have them treated. Other poison symptoms include lack of grooming, being very aggressive, and sleeping a lot.

Norfolk Island Pine

The Christmas tree belongs to the Araucariaceae family and is known as Norfolk pine, house pine, or the Australian pine. It is toxic to cats whether you have one standing in the home for the festive season or grooming it as a bonsai tree.

Felines can ingest the pine needles or drink from the water source it stands in. Still, the exact toxic properties are unknown but can cause gastrointestinal upset in your pet. It can also lead to diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, mouth irritation, and dermatitis.

Cherry Trees

Who would think this bonsai tree is poisonous to cats? Yes, the cherry tree has cyanide toxic to animals when ingested. Thus, your feline needs to avoid this toxic bonsai tree at all costs. Yes, we can eat the fruit, but all other parts of the bonsai are deadly.

There is no harm when eating small quantities, but eating huge amounts can cause real trouble. Still, the poisoning is milder compared to other poisonous bonsai trees. Your cat will have difficulty breathing; the gums will be bright and red, dilated pupils, shock, and severe quantities can lead to death.

Sweet Plum

Everybody enjoys a sweet plum, right! Of course, we do! And for the bonsai enthusiast, having one in your home is excellent. But if you have cats, these poisonous trees contain cyanide in all parts.

The toxicity is not high if eaten in low amounts. However, it can lead to shock, vomiting, or death if not treated. Sweet plum poisoning in your pet will show symptoms of difficulty breathing, panting, dilated pupils, bright red gums, and shock.

Also remember that while the leaves, fruit, and stems are always toxic to cats, the fruits are very poisonous when it wilts. The reason is that the cyanide concentration is high as the fruit’s moisture decreases.

Bonsai Trees Safe for Cats

Now, don’t get disappointed. There are safe bonsai trees you can pamper with your cats in the home. Throw out all your misconceptions about all bonsai trees being poisonous.

Bamboo Palm

This bonsai tree is not harmful to cats or dogs. Some bonsai enthusiasts refer to it as the parlor palm. It is a hardy tree with low maintenance, and it is an air-purifying plant. Furthermore, it has a high shade tolerance with waxy green leaves for your cat to nibble on. Hence, the miniature trees will happily share the sunny window with your feline.

Juniper Bonsai Trees

One of the best bonsai trees is the Japanese juniper. The plant’s short evergreen shrub form makes it adorable. It is another hardy low to the ground bonsai tree. While the stem contains a mildly toxic chemical for dogs, it is not detrimental to cats. Also, it depends on the juniper species you have. For example, the Juniperus sabrina has highly toxic berries when consumed by humans.

Maple Bonsai Trees

Most bonsai trees in the maple species are not dangerous to cats or dogs but highly toxic to horses. You can find different species to grow and groom as a bonsai tree in your home. For example, you have the red maple known as Acer rubrum that displays red, yellow, or orange showy fall colors.

Final Thought

A bonsai tree can add a high-quality look to any living space you share with your cat. So, if you do have felines, then you know what plant will work best in your home to keep them safe. But if you do not have pets, the most poisonous bonsai trees are not a problem. The only time you will need to be aware is when family and friends visit with children and pets.