Bloodleaf is a non-toxic plant for cats. It is listed by the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Control Center as non-toxic for dogs and horses.
However, just because something is non-toxic doesn’t mean it’s completely harmless. Plants are difficult for carnivorous animals like cats to digest and may cause them indigestion.
Can Cats Eat Bloodleaf?
The short answer is yes, cats can eat bloodleaf. They can eat bloodleaf without suffering from adverse effects. But, this does not imply that you can be complacent and let your cat eat bloodleaf regularly. Since plants are difficult for cats to digest, it is highly possible that they will experience vomiting and diarrhea if they have eaten too much bloodleaf.
Another factor that can cause illness to cats is the chemicals such as fertilizers and insecticides used in a plant. If a cat has eaten a piece of bloodleaf or any plant that may have chemical residue, it may cause poisoning.
What is Bloodleaf?
Iresine is a flowering plant genus in the Amaranthaceae family. It is made up of 20 to 25 species that are all endemic to the American tropics. Bloodleaf is a common name for these species with colorful leaves, which are commonly grown as decorative plants.
Iresine herbstii is one of the cultivars of Iresene or bloodleaf. It is also commonly called chicken gizzard. Iresine herbstii is a rather unusual plant that looks stunning in any garden or as a houseplant. It is indigenous to South America, particularly Brazil. They are perennial shrubs that range in size from small to medium. These plants have uninteresting blooms, consisting of little greenish or white flowers on short stems, but they are often planted for their stunning foliage.
While this fragile perennial is often cultivated as an annual in milder areas, it may be carried indoors in the winter and grown as a houseplant in a soil-based loamy potting mix. It may grow to be five feet tall and three feet broad in its natural environment. Potted indoor plants often grow to be twelve to eighteen inches tall after being clipped. Red stems and four inches long oval purple-crimson leaves with notched ends with light red veins. Sun exposure is required for the greatest leaf color.
Keeping Cats Away From Bloodleaf
Keep bloodleaf and other plants away from your cats, even if they are non-toxic. You can protect your plants while also preventing your cat from ingesting harmful particles.
If you have potted plants at home, place them in a secured location that your cats cannot reach. You can also deter your cats by using aluminum foil or sticky adhesive tape around your pots. Cats dislike the texture and sound of these things so they will most likely leave your plants alone.
Plants to Avoid For Your Cats
If you are a cat owner and unsure if the plants growing in your yard are harmful to your cats, check out this list of toxic plants for cats. You can also check our list of non-toxic plants for cats.
