One of the first things a cat owner should look at is just how the risk of these plants is to your kitty. Consider your cat's age. Is he a kitten or full grown adult? Many, if not most, kittens make their way through the world by exploring and investigating everything orally. In other words, they love to chew, chew, chew! Most kittens grow out of this stage as they mature and stop teething.

Another risk factor is your cat's penchant for plant chewing. Some cats are just naturally drawn to plant leaves and flowers, regardless of their age, while others virtually ignore them. You know your cat best - you are the best judge of potential chewing problems. Many toxic plants rarely pose a threat because the majority of cats just don't chew on them. They don't typically find these plants tempting or agreeable, and so avoid eating them, even if they are commonly found in their environment. So the age and tendencies of your cat plays a great role in their safety.

Keep in mind also that cats will have varying reactions to different plants. Some will cause only a mild rash or itchiness, while contact with others result in more severe irritations such as facial and throat pain and swelling. This can turn fatal if the airway becomes blocked. Still other plants (though not as common) are extremely toxic and can quickly cause death from even the smallest exposure to them.

Toxic effects of plants, however, vary greatly between species and can change according to the status of a plant's health. Several important factors should be considered here. These include the time of year it is, the stage of a plant's growth, the conditions of growth (is the plant healthy and thriving, barely alive, dormant?), humidity, the age of a plant, and many other issues. Time of year is very significant; it can actually make all the difference in the toxicity of a plant. The level and concentration of poisons in a plant can easily change not only from year to year, but throughout the growing season. Environmental factors play a vital role throughout the year. Have you underwatered the plant and caused it to dry out? Is the air in your house humid? There are just so many things to think about!

Unfortunately if your cat has been exposed to and poisoned by a plant, diagnosis can be difficult to pinpoint. The best way to verify diagnosis of toxic plant ingestion is often to find the specific plant physically present in your house. You need to properly identify the plant, then check to see if the cat ingested it. Look for leaves or twigs that have been chewed on or near the plant itself, or collect stool or vomit samples and look for fragments there. Always bring anything you find with you to the veterinarian.