My bromeliad plant is one of my favorite plants. It provides a tropical touch to my home, but with my cat constantly going into my plant, I had to make sure it didn’t harm the animal.
Today, I’ll go over everything you need to know about whether or not the plant is safe for your cats.
Bromeliaceae Family
Bromeliad is the common name for plants in the Bromeliaceae family. It includes 75 genera and around 3,500 species. With a few exceptions in the American subtropics, these flowering plants are largely native to tropical America.
Bromeliads Are Not Poisonous to Cats
Many plants are poisonous to felines, but cat owners can relax knowing that bromeliads are not toxic to their feline pals. Nevertheless, avoid leaving your kittens unsupervised near the plant for long stretches of time.
Cats frequently nibble on bromeliad leaves. The leaves won’t harm the animal, but your cat can still get ill if it is allergic to the plant.
Your pet may also choke on the leaves, resulting in a potentially fatal case of asphyxia. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you realize your pet has eaten a considerable chunk of your bromeliad plant.
How to Keep Your Bromeliads Safe from Your Cats
While your bromeliad is unlikely to harm your cat, if you want the plant to grow, you need to protect it from the cat. Cats have a tendency to jump about and knock things over. It might also dig in the plant pot and damage or pull out the roots, which would cause the plant to die.
Try to Spray Citrus or Vinegar to Protect Your Plants
The easiest way to protect a plant is to make it unappealing to your cat’s taste buds. Plants excite a cat’s sense of taste, which is why they return to nibble on them again.
Because cats dislike the taste or smell of citrus, mix water with lemon, lime, or orange juice and spritz it onto your plants. The citrus aroma will usually keep your cat away. If she does nibble on the plant, the citrus flavor should deter her from doing so again.
If the citrus flavor isn’t sufficient, try vinegar. Instead of spraying vinegar on your plants, soak cotton balls in a water-vinegar solution and place them on top of the soil. The odor of the vinegar will keep your cat away and break the habit of eating or playing with the plants.
