Experts Suggest Putting Clown Collars On Cats To Protect Birds
If you love your cats but want to keep them from being bird-killing machines, you may want to get them a special collar. More specifically, a clown collar. Yes, it looks just as ridiculous as it sounds, but there’s a good, eco-friendly reason to do this.
Experts say that accessorizing your feisty feline with a big, bright, colorful collar rather than a bell can give birds a heads-up that a cat is nearby. University of Northern British Columbia biologist Ken Otter told the Times Colonist that birds have a vivid sense of color. Putting a bright, ruffly clown collar on your cat can give foraging birds like robins and sparrows a warning that danger is near and to go look for food elsewhere.
Why is this an issue? As far as the birds in Canada are concerned, domestic and feral cats are public enemy number one. A 2013 study found that cats snatched between 100 million and 350 million birds per year. It’s even worse in the U.S., where 1.4 billion birds are killed by cats each year, according to the American Bird Conservancy. And in Australia, many municipalities have actually instituted curfews for cats in order to protect birds and other animals.
I get it. We had a cat when I was growing up and he was an active hunter. That cat took down more prey than all of my dogs combined. And that’s probably why my dog now is so cautious around cats.
Bright cat collars help protect birds, study finds https://t.co/xdmK9TYxzS
— Times Colonist (@timescolonist) April 23, 2023
List: 32 Plants That Could Be Poisonous To Cats
Aloe plant (Aloe vera)
Poisonous characteristics: Aloe Vera plants contain saponins. Saponins can cause gastrointestinal and neurological damage. They also contain anthraquinone glycosides, which can cause gastrointestinal upset.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Changes in urine color
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Tremors
Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: Amaryllis leaves, stems, and bulbs contain phenanthridine alkaloids, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, drops in blood pressure, and respiratory issues. They also contain raphide oxalate crystals, which can tear the soft tissue inside the digestive system.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Tremors
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Fainting
Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Poisonous characteristics: The entire Autumn Crocus contain a toxic alkaloid called colchicine. Colchicine can cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal system, liver, kidneys, respiratory system, or central nervous system. Ingesting this plant could lead to death so definitely get rid of this one if you have it!
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Bloody diarrhea
- Seizures
- Panting
- Restlessness
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Excess thirst
- Weakness
- Behavioral changes
Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: Azaleas contain grayanotoxins, which can cause damage to the skeletal and cardiac systems.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Drooling
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Abnormal heart rate
- Depression
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Temporary loss of sight
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
Poisonous characteristics: Castor beans contain ricin, a highly toxic compound that can be fatal.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Loss of appetite
- Drooling
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Excessive thirst
- Weakness
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Coordination loss
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Bloody diarrhea
- Convulsions
- Collapse
Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: The flowers contain pyrethrins, which are used as pesticides.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Excess salivation
- Loss of coordination
- Skin irritation
Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: Cyclamens contain saponins. These can cause irritation when ingested in small quantities but can cause far more severe issues — even death — if consumed in large quantities.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abnormal heart rate
- Seizures
Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: Daffodil bulbs contain lycorine. This triggers vomiting, they also contain sharp crystals that can cause severe irritation.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal heart rate
- Abnormal breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Tremors
Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Poisonous characteristics: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals are found in Devil’s ivy. These crystals can irritate and penetrate tissue in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract when ingested.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Swollen mouth, tongue, and lips
- Oral irritation or pain
- Drooling
- Difficulty swallowing
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Rarely: Difficulty breathing
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: Dumb cane is another plant that contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. As previously mentioned this can irritate and penetrate tissue in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Burning and pain in the mouth
- Drooling
- Difficulty swallowing
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Rarely: Difficulty breathing
Elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta)
Poisonous characteristics: Another plant that contains the common insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate and penetrate tissue in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract when ingested.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Swollen mouth, tongue, and lips
- Oral irritation
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Rarely: Difficulty breathing
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Poisonous characteristics: The ivy leaves and berries contain triterpenoid saponins. Both of which can irritate the gastrointestinal system.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea)
Poisonous characteristics: Eucalyptus oil can damage cats’ internal organs as they are unable to digest it.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Weakness
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Poisonous characteristics: Another plant that contain cardiac glycoside toxins, poisons that affect the cardiac muscles and can lead to death.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Irregular heart rate
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Dilated pupils
- Seizures
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Poisonous characteristics: Garlic contains N-propyl disulfide. If consumed in large quantities this causes gastrointestinal upset and anemia in cats.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Weakness
- Rapid heart rate
- Panting
- Bloody urine
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Pale gums
- Collapse
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Poisonous characteristics: Hyacinth contains the toxin lycorine, with a high concentration in the bulbs. Symptoms of ingesting lycorine include vomiting and gastrointestinal upset.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Severe vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Blood in urine or feces
- Drooling
- Rapid heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Depression
- Tremors
Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
Poisonous characteristics: Hydrangea leaves and flowers contain cyanogenic glycosides, these can disturb the gastrointestinal system when ingested.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Lethargy
Iris (Iris spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: All species of irises contain glycoside compounds. These compounds irritate internal tissue and can lead to a variety of health issues.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
Jade (Crassula argentea)
Poisonous characteristics: The exact toxins are unknown but the consuming the leaves does cause symptoms in cats.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Loss of coordination
- Depression
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: Kalanchoe contains bufadienolides in the entire plant. Bufandienolides are toxins that affect the cardiac muscles and irritate the gastrointestinal tract. If ingested in large amounts, they can cause cardiac issues.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abnormal heart rate
- Weakness
- Collapse
Lilies (Lilium spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: All parts of lilies contain toxins that can cause kidney failure. Lilies are so poisonous that even if your cat only nibbles a tiny amount or gets into the water from the vase it can be impacted.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Excessive thirst
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in behavior
- Diarrhea that may contain blood
- Vomiting that may contain blood
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)
Poisonous characteristics: All parts of the Lily of the valley contain cardiac glycosides, which affect the heart and the gastrointestinal system
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abnormal heart rate
- Disorientation
- Seizures
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Poisonous characteristics: The lily of the valley is another plant the entirety of which contains cardiac glycoside toxins. These toxins interfere with the heart muscle and often cause gastrointestinal upset. In severe cases, ingestion can cause death.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abnormal heart rate
- Seizures
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: All parts of the peace lily contain sharp insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. As previously mentioned these crystals will pierce the tissue of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. In severe cases, the upper airway may swell and make breathing difficult.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Burning or irritation in the mouth, tongue, and lips
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Rarely: Difficulty breathing
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Poisonous characteristics: Poinsettia plants contain a milky sap that is mildly toxic and may cause irritation. The popular misconception of poinsettias as highly poisonous and dangerous is incorrect.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Oral irritation
- Skin irritation
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Sago palm (Cycas revoluta)
Poisonous characteristics: All sago palm parts contain cycasin. Cycasin is a dangerous toxin that affects the liver, nervous system, and gastrointestinal system. The poison is most highly concentrated in the seeds. Ingesting sago palm can lead to death if your cat doesn’t receive medical attention quickly.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Excessive thirst
- Loss of appetite
- Drooling
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Seizures
- Lethargy
- Black, tarry stool
Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Poisonous characteristics: All parts of a Snake plant contain saponins. Ingesting saponins can affect the gastrointestinal system and sometimes the respiratory system and neurological pathways.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Drooling
Spanish thyme (Coleus amboinicus)
Poisonous characteristics: All parts of the snake plant contain essential oils that can upset your cat’s stomach if ingested. Essential oils can also cause skin irritation on contact.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting (sometimes bloody)
- Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
Tomato plant (Lycopersicon spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: The green parts of the plant, not including the ripe tomato fruit, contain solanine. If consumed in large quantities solanine affects the gastrointestinal tract.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Dilated pupils
- Slow heart rate
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Tulips (Tulipa spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: All parts of the Tulip plant contain allergenic lactones or similar alkaloids. These can cause irritation in the mouth and digestive tract in small amounts. They can lead to more severe internal issues in large amounts. The bulbs contain a higher concentration of toxins than the leaves or stems.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- When consumed in large amounts: Increased heart rate
- When consumed in large amounts: Difficulty breathing
Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: The plant, especially the seeds and pods, contain lectin and wisterin glycoside. These can upset the gastrointestinal system of cats.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Vomiting (sometimes bloody)
- Diarrhea
- Depression
Yew (Taxus spp.)
Poisonous characteristics: All parts of the Yew plant are extremely poisonous. They contain taxines. Taxines affect the cardiovascular system and can cause acute heart failure. Consumption may lead to death if your cat doesn’t receive immediate medical attention.
If your cat eats this plant you may notice:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Weakness
- Drops in heart rate
- Dilated pupils
