Pets Stack Exchange
Pets Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [plants]

Generally questions and issues not regarding the plants themselves - but rather the concerns that could arise from our pets' interaction with the beforementioned plants, like for example a concern of poisoning. In essence, questions related to presence of plants in our pets' containment like a terrarium.

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Do cats know instinctively which plants are safe to eat?

I bought some house plants. I also bought some cat grass to distract my cat from eating the plants. She doesn't like the grass and mostly leaves the plants alone, except for one specific plant which I've seen her nibbling on. Do cats know when a…
speciesUnknown
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How do I keep a cat from eating houseplants?

My cat chews up some of mine and also my neighbors' plants. How can I break her bad habit before my neighbors get mad?
Timtech
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Can I add soda water to my tank to supply CO₂ for my plants?

I have some plants in my tropical aquarium. They're not doing too well. I suspect I may have a CO2 shortage. Can I add soda water to the tank? I've seen complicated setups for adding CO2 to water. Soda water is cheap and pouring some in the tank…
Richard C
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Should I be concerned that my puppy is chewing on fallen leaves?

I have two 13 week old puppies who have a playpen that is partially shaded by a star magnolia tree. Winter is coming and the tree is starting to lose its leaves. I sometimes see the puppies chewing on leaves while playing (a favorite game is for one…
Cucamonga
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Aloe Vera and Cats

I read that the ASPCA has listed Aloe Vera as mildly toxic to cats. a) Does that only mean toxic to ingest, or even live in a house with such a plant? If I'm sure my cat does not chew on the plant, is it safe to keep around? b) How can some…
surfmadpig
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Are cats aware that lilies are toxic?

I have a few outdoor cats that like to roam freely along the street sometimes. I've just learned that lilies are poisonous to cats and I don't have any in my garden, but there is a lady nearby who grows day lilies in her garden. Now, I can't ask…
MrkiBožo
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Plants suitable/safe for a hamster?

I am trying to create a 'natural' looking hamster cage. I want to create as much enrichment as I can by using rocks, moss, wood, leaves, sand, dirt and other elements that would be natural to a (dwarf) hamster. I've seen cages with plants in them…
Summer
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What makes lilies toxic to cats?

I have been looking around and I have not seen to why lilies are toxic to cats. I know the whole plant is toxic, but why? Just curious.
CrazyMatt
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Can roadside plants absorb pollution that makes them unsafe for small animals?

Since I can't grow dandelions for my guinea pigs, I will pick them from where ever they are growing, making sure that the areas I pick them from are isolated and not close to any obvious pollution sources. My question is this: Can plants in general,…
Windfire
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What plants should I not have around cats?

Kind of the opposite of this question: What are safe plants to let my cat chew on? I have some cat grass and plants for my cats, but now that I'm in a larger house, I want to keep some indoor houseplants for myself. Are there plants that I should…
Spidercat
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How do I prepare store-bought plants for use in a terrarium?

I've recently adopted a pair of American tree frogs, and have set up a terrarium for them. I purchased some plants for the terrarium from a local garden center, and while the species of plants are considered safe, I'm concerned that the potential…
Spidercat
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Should I prevent my dog from eating grass?

My main question is: if my dog wants to eat grass, should I prevent him? I have heard that dogs do this to throw up, and seen this reason alluded to here: Why do dogs eat grass?, but am not 100% sure if this is correct. He usually does throw up if…
Jonathan
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After using Spectracide® Weed Stop® for Lawns how long before the grass is safe to eat?

A friend has a lawn that has been treated with Spectracide® Weed Stop® for Lawns, and she has rabbits that she would like to allow graze on the lawn. Following the links from the Manufactures site it looks like the active ingredients are 2,4-d,…
James Jenkins
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What live plants are safe to plant in a vivarium with an Emerald Swift?

I recently bought an Emerald Swift, and want to add some live plants to his vivarium. What live plants are safe for me to put in there with him? He's an obligate carnivore, so I can't imagine that he'd really nibble on any of the plants, but are…
Spidercat
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What, if any, are the risks to a cat that ingests urushiol?

Cats and dogs do not suffer the allergic reaction to skin contact with urushiol that we humans do. What about ingestion? Imagine the following hypothetical1 near-worst-case2 scenario: A human has walked through a patch of poison ivy, creating…
cobaltduck
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