What happens if my cat eats a Dracena?

Quick Answer

If your cat eats parts of a Dracena plant, it can cause mild to moderate gastrointestinal upset. Dracena plants contain saponins and other compounds that can irritate the mouth, esophagus and stomach. Symptoms may include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and lack of appetite. Most cats recover fully with supportive care at home, but severe cases may need veterinary treatment with IV fluids and anti-nausea medication. Prevent access to Dracena plants and call your vet if your cat shows concerning signs after ingestion.

What is a Dracena Plant?

Dracena is a genus of about 40 different species of plants that are commonly grown as houseplants. Some of the most popular varieties include:

• Dracena fragrans (Corn plant)
• Dracena marginata (Dragon tree)
• Dracena sanderiana (Lucky bamboo)
• Dracena reflexa (Song of India)

These plants have long stems with clustered leaves toward the top. Their leaves are typically long and pointed. Dracena plants contain saponins, triterpenoids, flavonoids and other compounds that can cause gastrointestinal irritation if ingested.

Are Dracena Plants Toxic to Cats?

Dracena plants are generally mildly toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA classifies Dracena species as level 2 toxins on their scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being minimally toxic and 5 being potentially lethal.

While Dracena plant toxicity is relatively low, cats may chew on the long leaves and ingest enough plant material to cause signs of stomach upset. Vomiting, drooling and gastrointestinal irritation are most commonly seen.

Severe cases can result in diarrhea, lack of appetite, tremors, lethargy, dilated pupils and hypersalivation. However, fatalities from Dracena ingestion are very rare in cats and dogs.

What Happens if a Cat Eats a Dracena Plant?

Here is a summary of the effects and treatment for cats after eating a Dracena plant:

Mild Effects

• Drooling
• Lip smacking
• Shaking head
• Pawing at mouth

Cats may salivate, lick their lips and shake their head after tasting the irritating plant compounds. These signs resolve quickly and generally don’t need treatment.

Moderate Effects

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy

Vomiting and gastrointestinal upset is common if a cat eats parts of a Dracena plant. diarrhea may also occur along with inappetence and lethargy.

Treatment includes:

• Withholding food for several hours
• Giving fluids to prevent dehydration
• Anti-nausea medication if vomiting persists (Cerenia)

Severe Effects

• Drooling
• Tremors
• Dilated pupils
• Low body temperature
• Seizures (rare)

In rare cases, toxic effects on the nervous system may be seen. Tremors, dilated pupils, lethargy, low body temperature and seizures can occur.

Severe cases require:

• Hospitalization and IV fluids
• Medications to control vomiting and diarrhea
• Warming with heating pads
• Anti-seizure medication if needed

Full recovery is expected with aggressive veterinary treatment and decontamination.

How Much Dracena is Toxic to Cats?

The amount of Dracena plant material needed to cause poisoning depends on the size of the cat and which part of the plant is ingested. As a rough guideline:

• Leaves – Consumption of more than 3-5 long leaves may cause moderate signs of drooling, vomiting or diarrhea
• Stems – Chewing on the fibrous stems is less likely to cause issues
• Flowers/berries – A few flowers or berries could trigger gastrointestinal upset

Cats that ingest larger amounts of leaves, flowers or berries are at higher risk of toxicity. The irritant compounds are found throughout the Dracena plant, but generally concentrated more in the leaves and berries.

Will my Cat be OK After Eating Dracena?

The outlook is generally good for cats after ingesting parts of a Dracena plant. With prompt veterinary treatment when needed, most cats make a full recovery.

While Dracena plant toxicity can sometimes be severe, fatalities are very uncommon. Most cats experience mild to moderate gastrointestinal irritation that resolves with minimal treatment.

Monitor your cat closely after Dracena exposure. Look for signs of drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or other concerning symptoms. Get veterinary advice if you are worried and provide emergency care if your cat seems ill.

With close observation and quick response, the majority of cats recover completely. Limit future access to houseplants to prevent repeat Dracena ingestion or poisoning from other plants.

How to Treat a Cat that Ate a Dracena Plant

If you discover your cat has chewed on or eaten parts of a Dracena, take the following steps:

1. Remove any remaining plant parts in your cat’s mouth using a cloth or towel. Avoid getting bitten.
2. Check for signs of irritation like drooling, lip licking or vomiting.
3. Call your veterinarian or pet poison helpline for advice.
4. Monitor for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, tremors and other symptoms.
5. Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed to do so.
6. Limit food for a few hours but provide small amounts of water if tolerated.
7. Follow your vet’s recommendations for medications, decontamination or IV fluids.
8. Watch for delayed symptoms and seek prompt treatment if you have any concerns.

With quick action and veterinary guidance, most cats fully recover after eating parts of a Dracena plant. Call your vet immediately if severe vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, seizures or other concerning signs develop.

How to Keep Cats Away from Dracena Plants

Here are some tips to protect your curious cats from toxic houseplants like Dracena:

• Avoid keeping Dracena plants if you have cats – The only sure way to prevent toxicity is to not have these plants in your home.
• Keep plants out of reach – Place houseplants on high shelves and window sills that cats can’t access.
• Use deterrents – Bitter apple sprays or sisal scratching posts near plants may discourage chewing.
• Keep plants in hanging baskets – Hanging plants are harder for cats to get to.
• Use enclosed plant stands – Placing plants in cabinets or enclosed plant stands prevents access.
• Keep plants in separate room – Store houseplants in a spare room and keep the door closed.

Monitoring your cat’s behavior around plants and limiting access are key to preventing poisoning. If you suspect your cat ate parts of any houseplant, call your vet right away for fast treatment.

Signs My Cat Needs the Vet after Eating Dracena

Seek prompt veterinary treatment if your cat shows any of the following signs after eating parts of a Dracena plant:

• Repeated vomiting
• Profuse diarrhea
• Very lethargic or inactive
• Loss of appetite for more than 24 hours
• Excessive drooling or hyper salivating
• Tremors or shaking
• Dilated pupils
• Seizures
• Low body temperature

Cats that ingest substantial amounts of Dracena foliage are at risk of toxicity involving the gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Don’t wait to see if signs resolve on their own. Prompt veterinary treatment is needed for severe poisoning.

Call your vet or emergency clinic at the first signs of concerning symptoms after Dracena exposure. With rapid treatment, serious complications and long-term effects are less likely.

Recovery and Outcome for Cats Who Eat Dracena

The prognosis is generally good for cats who receive appropriate treatment after ingesting parts of a Dracena plant. With decontamination, supportive care, anti-nausea medication and IV fluids as needed, most cats make a full recovery within 24-48 hours.

More severe cases involving tremors, lethargy or seizures may require longer hospitalization and treatment. But fatalities are very rare, even with substantial Dracena ingestion.

Complete recovery is expected for otherwise healthy cats with timely veterinary treatment. Prevent future houseplant poisoning by keeping all plants out of your curious cat’s reach. Call your vet promptly if you suspect your cat ate any part of a Dracena or other toxic plant.

Key Points and Summary

Here are some key points to remember about Dracena plant poisoning in cats:

• Dracena plants contain saponins and other compounds that can cause oral irritation and gastrointestinal upset
• Ingestion often causes mild symptoms like drooling and vomiting
• Severe poisoning can result in diarrhea, lethargy, tremors or seizures
• Prompt veterinary treatment provides IV fluids, decontamination and supportive care
• Most cats make a full recovery within 24-48 hours
• Prevent exposure by keeping houseplants out of reach of cats
• Quickly contact your vet if your cat eats parts of a Dracena plant

While Dracena toxicity can initially cause concerning signs, the outlook for cats is generally very good following veterinary treatment. Limit your cat’s access to houseplants, monitor for any ingestion, and call your vet right away if you have any concerns about possible Dracena poisoning.

Conclusion

Dracena plants can cause toxic effects in cats if the leaves or berries are ingested. Common symptoms include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. While serious poisoning is possible, most cats recover fully with prompt veterinary treatment.

Careful monitoring, limiting access to houseplants and quick response to any ingestion reduces the risks. Contact your vet immediately if your cat eats parts of a Dracena plant for advice on safe and effective treatment and decontamination. With proper care, most cats make a full recovery and avoid any long lasting effects from Dracena plant poisoning.