So I got this plant....

[Firespirit]

Today is my birthday (woot for me), and I was sent a croton plant. I've been researching how to care for it, and discovered that it is apparently poisonous. This could be a problem because I have an inquisitive cat. This page contains the information I've been able to find about it. There are a number of other pages that contain the same info. It doesn't seem to be particularly dangerous to humans, just an irritant. I can't find any specific information about the danger to animals, though.

I was wondering if any DUers with cats kept these plants, and what their experiences were with it. I'd hate to sell the plant, but the cat was here first.

[BarenakedLady]

1. I don't know but,

Happy Birthday!

:party: :toast: :party:

[rug]

2. Who sent you a poisonous plant for your birthday?

:scared:

[Firespirit]

4. My mother

She didn't give a specific request to the florist, but told them to pick something that I'd have a hard time killing. I have bad luck with plants. It's apparently just a skin/mouth irritant to people, nothing overly serious, but I couldn't find out whether it could cause real harm to an animal.

[SoCalDem]

3. Crotons are great for outdoors, if your climate is not too cold

Ours were almost to the 2nd story of the house, even with constant whacking... of course that was in the tropics, but...

Cats WILL nibble, so if it's dangerous to them, please re-gift it :)

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. Call the florist and get a trade

Since your mom didn't specify the exact plant for the gift, see if the florist will trade

[mzteris]

6. apple leaf croton - poisonous to cats.

Plants Poisonous to Cats
Almond (Pits of)
Aloe Vera
Alocasia
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apple Leaf Croton
Apricot (Pits of)
Arrowgrass
Asparagus Fern
Autumn Crocus
Avacado (fuit and pit)
Azalea
Baby's Breath
Baneberry
Bayonet
Beargrass
Beech
Belladonna
Bird of Paradise
Bittersweet
Black-eyed Susan
Black Locust
Bleeding Heart
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Box
Boxwood
Branching Ivy
Buckeyes
Buddist Pine
Burning Bush
Buttercup

Cactus, Candelabra
Caladium
Calla Lily
Castor Bean
Ceriman
Charming Dieffenbachia
Cherry (pits, seeds & wilting leaves)
Cherry, most wild varieties
Cherry, ground
Cherry, Laurel
Chinaberry
Chinese Evergreen
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Cineria
Clematis
Cordatum
Coriaria
Cornflower
Corn Plant
Cornstalk Plant
Croton
Corydalis
Crocus, Autumn
Crown of Thorns
Cuban Laurel
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cycads
Cyclamen

Daffodil
Daphne
Datura
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas
Devil's Ivy
Delphinium
Decentrea
Dieffenbachia
Dracaena Palm
Dragon Tree
Dumb Cane

Easter Lily *
Eggplant
Elaine
Elderberry
Elephant Ear
Emerald Feather
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Euonymus
Evergreen

Ferns
Fiddle-leaf fig
Florida Beauty
Flax
Four O'Clock
Foxglove
Fruit Salad Plant

Geranium
German Ivy
Giant Dumb Cane
Glacier IvyGolden Chain
Gold Dieffenbachia
Gold Dust Dracaena
Golden Glow
Golden Pothos
Gopher Purge

Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy
Heartland Philodendron
Hellebore
Hemlock, Poison
Hemlock, Water
Henbane
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horsebeans
Horsebrush
Horse Chestnuts
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea

Indian Rubber Plant
Indian Tobacco
Iris
Iris Ivy

Jack in the Pulpit
Janet Craig Dracaena
Japanese Show Lily *
Java Beans
Jessamine
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil
Jungle Trumpets

Kalanchoe

Lacy Tree Philodendron
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily Spider
Lily of the Valley
Locoweed
Lupine

Madagascar Dragon Tree
Marble Queen
Marigold
Marijuana
Mescal Bean
Mexican Breadfruit
Miniature Croton
Mistletoe
Mock Orange
Monkshood
Moonseed
Morning Glory
Mother-in Law's Tongue
Morning Glory
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms
Narcissus
Needlepoint Ivy
Nephytis
Nightshade

Oleander
Onion
Oriental Lily *

Peace Lily
Peach (pits and wilting leaves)
Pencil Cactus
Peony
Periwinkle
Philodendron
Pimpernel
Plumosa Fern
Poinciana
Poinsettia (low toxicity)
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Pokeweed
Poppy
Potato
Pothos
Precatory Bean
Primrose
Privet, Common

Red Emerald
Red Princess
Red-Margined Dracaena
Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Ribbon Plant
Rosemary Pea
Rubber Plant

Saddle Leaf Philodendron
Sago Palm
Satin Pothos
Schefflera
Scotch Broom
Silver Pothos
Skunk Cabbage
Snowdrops
Snow on the Mountain
Spotted Dumb Cane
Staggerweed
Star of Bethlehem
String of Pearls
Striped Dracaena
Sweetheart Ivy
Sweetpea
Swiss Cheese plant

Tansy Mustard
Taro Vine
Tiger Lily *
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves)
Tree Philodendron
Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia
Tulip
Tung Tree

Virginia Creeper

Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Wild Call
Wisteria

Yews --
e.g. Japanese Yew
English Yew
Western Yew
American Yew

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html as

and miniature croton: http://www.usshihtzurescue.com/poisonous.html

[Rosemary2205]

8. Wouldn't it be easier to post houseplants SAFE for cats.

Though most of those on your list are outdoor plants and unlikely to be chewed by most animals.

[mzteris]

9. nah - I think that list is longer. n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. Happy Birthday!

[Inchworm]

10. Happy Birthday!

:party: