Dogs and cats are two of the most popular domesticated pets, and yet many pet owners are unaware of a dangerous substance in their house that could potentially harm your beloved friend. Here are the ten most common plants that can cause trouble in your pet.

Lilies
Members of the Lilium spp. are considered to be highly toxic to cats. While the poisonous component has not yet been identified, it is clear that with even ingestions of very small amounts of the plant, severe kidney damage could result.

Sago Palm
All parts of Cycas Revoluta are poisonous, but the seeds or “nuts” contain the largest amount of toxin. The ingestion of just one or two seeds can result in very serious effects, which include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure.

Tulip/Narcissus bulbs
The bulb portions of Tulipa/Narcissus spp. contain toxins that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.

Azalea/Rhododendron
Members of the Rhododenron spp. contain substances known as grayantoxins, which can produce vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning could ultimately lead to coma and cardiovascular collapse.

Oleander
All parts of Nerium oleander are considered to be toxic, as they contain cardiac glycosides that have the potential to cause serious effects—including gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.

Castor Bean
The poisonous principle in Ricinus communis is ricin, a highly toxic protein that can produce severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases of poisoning can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, and coma.

Cyclamen
Cylamen species contain cyclamine, but the highest concentration of this toxic component is typically located in the root portion of the plant. If consumed, Cylamen can produce significant gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting.

Kalanchoe
This plant contains components that can produce gastrointestinal irritation, as well as those that are toxic to the heart, and can seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate.

Yew
Taxus spp. contains a toxic component known as taxine, which causes central nervous system effects such as trembling, incoordination, and difficulty breathing. It can also cause significant gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac failure.

Amaryllis
Common garden plants popular around Christmas, Amaryllis species contain toxins that can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia and tremors.

Autumn Crocus
Ingestion of Colchicum autumnale by pets can result in oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage and bone marrow suppression.

Chrysanthemum
These popular blooms are part of the Compositae family, which contain pyrethrins that may produce gastrointestinal upset, including drooling, vomiting and diarrhea, if eaten. In certain cases depression and loss of coordination may also develop if enough of any part of the plant is consumed.

English Ivy
Also called branching ivy, glacier ivy, needlepoint ivy, sweetheart ivy and California ivy, Hedera helix contains triterpenoid saponins that, should pets ingest, can result in vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation and diarrhea.

Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue in pets who ingest.

Pothos
Pothos (both Scindapsus and Epipremnum) belongs to the Araceae family. If chewed or ingested, this popular household plant can cause significant mechanical irritation and swelling of the oral tissues and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Schefflera
Schefflera and Brassaia actinophylla contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue in pets who ingest.

We love our cats, but we can't seem to stop them from eating our plants.

Here are some neat ways to get your kitty to stop the bad habits.

1. Take Chili powder (the spice you cook with) and lightly dust or sprinkle your plants. This works great. Cats will not touch them again if the chili powder stays on. Make sure when watering you don’t rinse the all the chili off.

2. Place double-sided sticky tape on the area surrounding the plant. Your cat will hate how this feels on his/her paws and will  soon stop going there.

3. Place aluminum foil on the area surrounding the plant. Most cats hate this feeling on their feet also.

4. One good solution is to put plant stakes around the outside of your cat's favorite plants. This can create a barrier such that your cat can't even get to the off-limit plants. 

5. Place upside down mouse traps on the area surrounding the plant and then put a piece of wax paper over that (some pet stores even have an official version of this old home-made trick). When your cat walks on the wax paper it will get an unsuspecting scare. After a while your cat will learn that this area is more trouble than it is worth. This method can be tricky so be careful that your cat doesn't accidentally get him/herself caught in a trap. 

6. - Place plastic liners bottom side up (with the little pokey parts facing up) surrounding the plant. Your cat will not like how that feels on his/her paws at all. 

7. - Purchase a cat repellant spray at your local pet store. Just make sure that the spray will be safe for your specific plants. 

8. Spray the top and bottoms of the leaves with some diluted perfume. The cat will follow the smell and try to nibble on the plant. That normally will be followed by a mad dash to the water bowl to get rid of the taste. 

9. Another method to treat your plants is to use Grannick’s Bitter Apple® Spray on them. The product is not harmful but the taste is bad (for cats and dogs). A few licks of Bitter Apple will cure your cat from ever touching the plant again.

10. Giving your cat its own plant may also work. You will have to be very patient and make sure you teach your kitty which plant(s) it can touch and which plant(s) it can't.

We all have experienced a pet that thinks everything in a house is for their pleasure. Here is some good advice about the possible dangers your pet may be exposed to as they ingest certain types of flowers or plants. CLICK HERE