Slender deutzia or Japanese snow flower is not poisonous to cats. This shrub with white fragrant flowers was classified by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) as a non-toxic pant for cats.
Cats are safe to be around this lovely plant. No toxic properties were found in slender deutzia thus, you can ease your worries if your cat has encountered this plant.
Can Cats Eat Slender Deutzia or Japanese Snow Flower?
While slender deutzia will not poison your feline companions, it can still cause indigestion and other GI issues if your cat has eaten a huge amount of the plant.
Cats are naturally carnivorous animals. They do not have the enzymes that can properly digest plant particles. As a result, they experience an upset stomach or indigestion after eating a lot of plants.
You should also be meticulous about how a plant was grown. Commercial fertilizers and pesticides may cause poisoning in cats as they tend to leave traces of toxic chemicals on plants. In case your cat has eaten a contaminated plant, it may suffer from poisoning.
What is Slender Deutzia or Japanese Snow Flower?
Slender deutzia is a flowering plant in the Hydrangeaceae family native to Central and Southern Japan. This plant has been also introduced to China’s north-central region, China’s southeast region, and in the United States particularly in Alabama, Georgia, and Maryland.
Slender deutzia is a 2 to 5-foot tall rounded deciduous shrub with slender spreading and draping stems. This Hydrangeaceae shrub has dark green leaves and produces dense clusters of white, bell-shaped, or star-shaped flowers in the spring. Its leaves are ovate to lanceolate with serrated margins and the stems are brown and smooth.
Slender Deutzia can be used in a Cottage Garden, border garden, foundation planting, or formal hedge. Because of its low growth, the cultivar ‘Nikko’ is regarded as one of the ideal Deutzia varieties. It is suitable for small gardens as it adds aesthetics because of its clusters of white flowers in the spring and burgundy foliage in the fall.
Keeping Cats Away From Slender Deutzia or Japanese Snow Flower
Make a separate area of your yard for cats to use as a litterbox to keep them away from your garden. Plant some catnip near them so they can enjoy it. You’ll still need to clean up after yourself, but everything will be contained.
Use a motion-activated sprinkler to scare cats away. The sprinkler repels a variety of animals safely and effectively by releasing a sudden surge of water along with startling noise and motion when an animal is detected.
Cats prefer to poop and dig in loose dirt. Sharp-edged pine cones, holly cuttings, eggshells, or stone mulch can all be used as ground cover. If you place these objects on the soil, your cats will be put off by the rough materials.
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.
