Monstera adansonii, also popularly known as the Five Holes or the Swiss Cheese plant, belongs to the Araceae family. It is commonly found in Central and South America at lower elevations.
As a houseplant, it can grow up to 6-8 ft (1.8m – 2.4m) tall. Many plant lovers have pets and children in their houses, so they are concerned about the toxicity of their favorite Monstera Adansonii.
Is Monstera adansonii Toxic?
Monstera adansonii is toxic to small animals such as cats and dogs. Most parts of the plant such as the stems, leaves, and roots, contain calcium oxalate crystals. Even though it is not fatal, it is important to look out for symptoms so the vet can be contacted in time. Common symptoms are excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, pawing at the mouth, burning sensation, and obvious irritation in the oral cavity.
Is Monstera Adansonii Toxic?
Symptoms of Poisoning
If your cat or dog chews the Swiss Cheese plant, the symptoms will start to appear immediately. While most of them are not fatal, they can cause serious discomfort.
The most common ones include excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, pawing at the mouth, burning sensation, and obvious irritation in the oral cavity.
Diagnosis of Poisoning
If you see your pet developing the symptoms listed above, it may be a sign of Swiss Cheese plant poisoning and also a sign that you should take them to a veterinarian at the earliest.
You can also help the vet in making a quick diagnosis by showing a picture or a sample of the Monstera Adansonii.
If you have not witnessed your pet having the plant, then you can bring their vomit sample for the vet to identify the plant material.
Since there is no test to identify if your cat has Monstera Adansonii plant poisoning, the vet would need all the information from you.
By taking a close look at your pet’s mouth, the vet can figure out if there are crystals lodged inside.
It is possible to conclude that the poisoning is caused by Monstera Adansonii if the vet finds calcium oxalate crystals as it is a toxin commonly found in the plant.
Treatment of Poisoning
Your pet may be in a great deal of discomfort due to poisoning. Initially, the treatment should focus on increasing their comfort level. The vet will first wash your cat’s or dog’s mouth to erase any crystals that are visible.
Dairy products that are high in calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or milk, can also be fed to your cat to lower the pain. The vet may do a gastric lavage to remove toxins from the stomach.
If your cat vomited in great quantity, the vet may use sucralfate or Kapectolin for stomach lining coating and avoid more irritation. During the treatment, your cat’s condition will be monitored closely.
Because of excessive vomiting, your cat may experience dehydration. In that case, it would need to receive fluids.
The vet may also administer Benadryl if he thinks there is a risk of swelling. It is often used as a preventative measure in case your cat’s airways become swollen or cut its air supply off.
Recovery from Poisoning
While poisoning is not fatal, it brings discomfort to your cat or dog. Most cats or dogs will be released quickly after treatment, but some may need to stay longer to get enough fluids in case of dehydration.
Do speak to the vet regarding any changes in diet for your cat for the coming few days. Your cat may also have a sore mouth and stomach because of treatment.
Therefore, your vet may recommend giving them soft food to avoid irritation. To prevent poisoning in the future, make sure to keep your pet away from the Monstera Adansonii.
Is Monstera Adansonii Safe for Kids?
The good news is that houseplants are usually not fatal. A Monstera Adansonii is not a serious danger for kids. Therefore, eating it is not exactly life-threatening.
However, you should still keep them away from pets and small children alike as the symptoms they get could be painful.
Children often have a habit of tasting or chewing things within their reach, which can be harmful when it comes to Monstera Adansonii.
Even if your child puts a small portion of the plant in his mouth, it would not taste good enough for them to keep chewing. Your child will most likely spit it out and not try it again.
Ingesting a Monster Adansonii can cause your child’s stomach to be upset or their skin to have a simple reaction. However, consuming it in larger amounts can cause the symptoms to be life-threatening.
If you see your child ingesting or coming in contact with a Monstera Adansonii, carefully assess the situation.
If you observe your child having any difficulty in breathing or swelling of the throat or mouth, you should not wait any longer and take them to the nearest health care facility.
Make sure to baby-proof your house when it comes to having a Monstera Adansonii. Try to keep them at a higher place or at a distance so that your child is not able to access them.
Read this article about toxic houseplants for cats next.
Frequently Asked Questions about Monstera Adansonii Toxicity
Should I be worried if my cat has consumed a Monstera Adansonii but is not showing symptoms?
If your cat does not have any symptoms, there is nothing to worry about. Try to keep the plant away from your cat’s reach. If your cat chews just a little bit of the plant, it may not show any symptoms such as excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, pawing at the mouth, burning sensation, and obvious irritation in the oral cavity.
Is a red bump a sign of Monstera Adansonii poisoning in my Cat?
Eating a Monstera Adansonii will most likely cause oral irritation, drooling, or ulcers in lips and gums. If these signs are not present, your cat may not have eaten it.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.