Cats cannot eat the Aloe Plant.
However, the gel inside its leaves can be beneficial to them. If your cat has cracked, bleeding, or irritated patches on his face, rubbing some Aloe Plant juice on him might be beneficial for his skin.
So, can cats eat aloe plant? Cats cannot eat aloe plant.
Cats love to eat plants, but aloe plant contains chemicals that can kill them. In fact, ingesting aloe plant can cause stomach ulcers, vomiting, and diarrhea.
This is because aloe plant contains toxic compounds called glycosides. When ingested, these glycosides can cause severe damage to the kidneys and liver.
Furthermore, aloe plant can cause severe digestive distress in cats.
Can Cats Eat Aloe Plant?
Many cat owners wonder whether their cats can eat aloe vera plant, one of the most popular plants to have at home.
Are they safe? Can cats eat it? Is it toxic? To answer these questions, you should first know what aloe vera is and then decide whether it’s safe for your feline friend.
Aloe vera is a succulent plant with dark green leaves and many tiny white teeth-like spikes.
It’s a tropical plant that thrives in warm climates, but also grows indoors, which makes it a popular house plant.
All parts of the plant are edible and medicinal, but the gel found inside the leaves is the richest source of the plant’s benefits.
It comes from the leaves of the plant’s center, which is why the plant’s leaves develop a strong gel-like consistency.
When ingested, the gel contains enzymes and vitamins that help reduce inflammation, heal wounds, and treat ulcers.
This is why aloe vera gel is commonly used in cosmetics, lotions, and ointments.
The gel found on aloe vera leaves is safe to use with humans as well as animals. However, some cats can be sensitive to the plant’s natural chemicals.
This is why it’s important to monitor your feline friend’s behavior after you give him the gel.
If your feline friend doesn’t show any signs of discomfort, then you can give him more gel without worrying.
However, if he shows signs of discomfort such as vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy, then it’s best to stop giving him the gel and consult a veterinarian.
If your cat eats aloe vera gel, then you should also consult a veterinarian in case the gel caused any internal damage to his internal organs.
Is Aloe Safe for Cats?
Cats are thought to not react to the plant the way humans do.
That means it may produce symptoms such as nausea or vomiting in a small percentage of them when ingested.
However, unless your cat ate a lot of it at once or showed any other unusual symptoms after ingestion like lethargy or loss of coordination, you should not worry about his well-being.
This is because aloe contains saponins, a plant-based chemical that acts as a laxative when ingested by animals.
True aloe poisoning in pets is rare but can happen if your pet ingests large amounts of concentrated juice or extract of the leaf.
What Happens If a Cat Eats an Aloe Plant?
Because aloe vera poisoning in cats may be rare, it’s hard to say what would happen to your feline friend if he ingests too much of the plant.
This way, you can get your cat the treatment he needs in case he develops any symptoms of poisoning.
Tremors, vomiting, depression, diarrhea, appetite loss, tiredness, and other common symptoms of poisoning may also develop depending on the severity of the toxicity.
What Should You Do If Your Cat Ate Aloe?
Aloe vera is known for its soothing and healing properties, but too much of a good thing could be harmful.
If your cat ate aloe, then it could be very sick or in serious danger.
Aloe vera is toxic to cats, especially to kittens and pregnant cats.
If your cat is suffering from vomiting or diarrhea after consuming aloe vera, then this could be a sign of a liver problem.
If left untreated, your cat could suffer severe liver damage and even death.
If your cat has consumed aloe vera, then you need to take him to the vet for medical attention immediately.
But before you bring him to the vet, here are some things you can do to help your cat:
Monitor Your Cat’s Condition
After your cat has consumed aloe vera, monitor how he is acting.
Watch for signs of dehydration such as excessive drooling or panting and take him to the vet immediately if these symptoms occur.
You can also monitor his urine output and frequency because dehydration can cause the kidneys to shut down.
Give Your Cat Fluids
Give your cat oral rehydration solution (ORS) to bring his hydration levels back to normal. ORS is available at most grocery stores in the pet aisle and you can find the exact directions online.
Give Your Cat Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal binds with the toxins in your cat’s stomach and helps remove them from his body. You can also give your cat activated charcoal tablets, but make sure to check with a veterinarian first.
Give Your Cat Pepto-Bismol
Pepto-Bismol can help neutralize the toxins in your cat’s stomach. Give him 1 to 2 teaspoons every two hours (or as directed by your veterinarian).
Give Your Cat Activated Charcoal Again
Give your cat activated charcoal again, but make sure to consult your veterinarian first.
How Much Aloe Is Toxic To Cats?
Fortunately, although the aloe vera plant is toxic to cats, the toxin is not absorbed well by their bodies.
For one thing, if your cat rubs against an aloe plant with his mouth open, it’s unlikely that he’ll ingest the plant’s juice.
They only have problems when swallowing the gel inside the leaves of the plant.
As a result, aloe vera is less dangerous than other plants like lilies that are poisonous when ingested.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Alfalfa Grass?
Final Words
Cats should avoid ingesting aloe because it’s dangerous and can cause them to vomit and suffer liver damage.
However, if you cat accidentally ingests an aloe plant, then you don’t have to worry too much — it’s most likely that he’ll be fine.
You should still monitor your cat closely in case he develops signs of poisoning. These include lethargy, loss of appetite, tremors, and vomiting.
Make sure you take your cat to the vet if you suspect that he’s suffering from aloe poisoning so he can get treatment as soon as possible.
While it is unlikely to be fatal, it may make him very sick and can even cause death in some cases.
If you wish to maintain both aloe plants and cats in your home, consider keeping them in separate rooms.
