We find that perfect cat at the least expected moment, we recognize it at first glance and we love them almost instantly. However, many pet lovers own houses that are not suitable for a pet. Why is this? Because our love for houseplants can easily cause a dangerous environment for the pets we love. If you want to make sure none of your house plants are secretly poisoning your pets, here is a list of some of the best plants to avoid keeping around your cat.

The following plants are listed in order from highest to lowest levels of cat toxicity:

1. Lilies
Always keep all types of lilies away from your cats, because most varieties of lilies are extremely toxic houseplants when it comes to your fur baby. Just licking a bit of pollen from one of these elegant plants can cause kidney failure for cats. Although they are unquestionably beautiful, lilies should never be kept in a pet-friendly household. Symptoms that your cat might have eaten a leaf from one of these plants can include vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration, not drinking, or constant thirst, and inflammation of the pancreas. If your cat begins showing these signs and you have been keeping lilies around them, seek help from your veterinarian. If you see your cat eat a leaf off of a lily or rub against a bouquet containing lilies, immediately call your vet for a treatment plan. When it comes to cat toxicity, lilies are some of the most dangerous plants and every moment counts. It is best never to keep lilies in the same room with your cat and be sure to wash your hands between touching a lily and your furry family member. Not all lilies are toxic for your plant, for example Peace, Peruvian, and Calla are only mildly poisonous, however, deadly plants can easily be mistaken as harmless, so it is important that you seek help whenever your cat comes in contact with a lily.

2. Sago palm
Sago palms contain cycasin; this is extremely toxic to cats. Unlike lilies, your cats being poisoned by a sago palm is not instantly evident. Eating sago plants can cause liver damage or liver disease which can cause death to your cat. The symptoms that your cat has digested this toxic plant includes vomiting, increased thirst, increased urine, bloody feces or bloody diarrhea, easy bleeding, depression, seizures, coma, circling, paralysis, and bruising. If you notice any of these symptoms after your cat has stayed in a house around a sago plant, immediately call your veterinarian and get help. With time, sago plant poisoning can cause death.

3. True aloe
True aloe is not as hazardous to pets as the plants above mentioned; however, it can be necessary to contact a vet after your cat eats digests some of the leaves. Symptoms that your cat has eaten true aloe are red-colored urine, vomiting, diarrhea, exhaustion, loss of appetite, depression, tremors, and abdominal cramps. Although your cat has a stronger chance of surviving this type of poisoning, you still will need to seek immediate veterinary help if you believe your cat may be suffering from eating true aloe.

4. Poinsettia
We often associate poinsettias with Christmas time. They are bright and become their loveliest when the rest of the world is becoming gloomy, but there is one thing about them that is not commonly known, they go under the category toxic houseplants when it comes to your cat. Although they are not normally lethal to your house cat, they can cause irritation to your cat’s eyes, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation. Very rarely will you need to seek medical help for your house cat after it has come into contact with a poinsettia. Just to be safe, you might want to keep that Christmas poinsettia out of your cat’s reach and throw away all fallen leaves before your cat can find them.