House plants are definitely effective in boosting a home’s aesthetic quality. However, cat owners may have to depend on more than just the plants’ physical appearance. You should also pay attention to important factors like the plants’ toxicity and your cat’s allergies.
That said, one of the most popular plants nowadays is the String of Hearts. With long vines and stems, it definitely makes a good interior décor. However, is String of Hearts toxic to cats? Is it one of the plants that you should keep away from your feline friend? This is what we’ll talk about in this article.
What Is String Of Hearts?
The String of Hearts is the common name for Ceropegia Woodii. With an easy-to-maintain structure, beautifully hanging long vines, and a non-space-consuming size, this makes it one of the top choices of homeowners who are beginning to take an interest in plants.
The said plant can last for years. Throughout its growth period, you will notice its fast-growing structure. Hence, this really requires more long-term commitment from the homeowner, even if it’s easy to take care of and maintain.
The overall size of the String of Hearts isn’t that big, but its vines will continue to grow longer. This can be an advantage if we’re talking about pure aesthetics, but it can be a disadvantage for cat owners. We’ll go more in-depth on why in the following sections.
Is String Of Hearts Cat-Friendly?
The String of Hearts plant, alone, is cat-friendly. In fact, it can even provide your feline friend with some benefits, such as:
String Of Hearts Is Helpful In Keeping The Air Fresh
Plants, String of Hearts included, are good at refreshing the environment and keeping the air fresh. This makes it handy if the area that you’re living in is prone to heavy pollution. It’s also a must for apartments that have open balconies and wide windows. Wherever you can expect your cat to heavily benefit from the purified air that you will get.
Some Cats Like Having Plants As A Source Of Entertainment
Some cats, specifically domestic and nature-obsessed ones, like to be around plants. It helps them feel entertained and positive since they have something to look at. Others also like to totally play with plants, but you have to look out for them if this happens to avoid ruining your plants or having your cat sick
Why Is String Of Hearts Poisonous To Cats?
The String of Hearts isn’t poisonous to cats. This doesn’t have any kind of toxins or contaminants that can be dangerous to your cat. Thus, if you’re looking for a perfect succulent to have for you and your feline, then this should be one of your top choices. You’ll also be glad to know that this won’t be toxic for dogs or even children.
However, without proper care, having both the plant and your cat in the same room can still lead to the following casualties:
- Diarrhea
- Loss of Appetite
- Risk of Choking
- Vomiting
- Physical Injuries (From your cat getting tangled into the vines)
To avoid these, you should take certain factors into account before equipping your home with the String of Hearts. These specifically include your cat’s allergies, their sensitivity and behavior around plants, and the plant’s placement.
How Can I Keep Cats Away From String Of Hearts?
Although String of Hearts is non-toxic and considered safe for cats, it will still be the best decision to keep these two away from each other. Doing so will help you totally eliminate the risks we talked about previously. At the same time, you’ll find it easier to care for your plants since you won’t have to worry about their leaves or vines being eaten.
That said, here are some things that you can do to keep cats away from the String of Hearts:
1. Spray The Plants With A Scent That Cats Don’t Like
One common solution to keep cats away from plants is to spray either the plants or the surrounding area with certain scents. These include vinegar, lemon, citrus fruits, essential oils and herbs, and a few more.
Keep in mind that if you’re going to do this method, you need to dilute the said scents with water. This applies to everything we specified previously. It’s essential so it won’t affect the health of your plants and cats.
Moreover, if you’re going to use essential oils, make sure that you will use cat-friendly ones. Many oils are toxic to felines, so you should research a certain type before using it. For recommendations, you can use lavender and rosemary oil. Avoid tea tree, eucalyptus, citrus, and cinnamon.
If you want the safest choice, you can invest in a cat repellent spray. This is usually available online, in pet shops, and in hardware stores.
Read also: Is Lemongrass Oil Safe For Cats?
2. Keep The String Of Hearts In A Separate Room
If you don’t want to risk harming your cats and plants with unknown scents, the best thing you can do is to place the String of Hearts in a separate room. You can also just stick to an area where your cats can’t reach it, such as the center ceiling (if it’s high enough) or wall shelves.
3. Sprinkle Pepper on Your Plants
The last solution that you can do is to sprinkle a bit of pepper on your plants’ leaves and soil. Not only will it help repel cats, but it will also help your plant grow better and healthier because of the pepper’s antioxidant properties.
If you’re going to do this, make sure that your cat isn’t allergic to pepper. In this way, even if they accidentally go near the plant, it won’t affect their health.
Read also: Is Majesty Palm Toxic To Cats?
Final Thoughts
Is String of Hearts toxic to cats?
The answer is no. String of Hearts isn’t toxic to felines or any pet in general. Hence, you can freely place the plant wherever you want to around your home.
Probably the only issue that you may run into is when your cat chews on the plant. This will be both dangerous to the plant and the cat. The former can die because of having ruined leaves and stems, while the latter is exposed to choking or diarrhea. You can simply place the plant in an inaccessible area to avoid this.
