Are Nepenthes Toxic To Cats, Dogs & Other Pets?

Are nepenthes toxic to cats or dogs? I see this question pop up a lot in the communities I'm part of on social media. Pets frequently get into their owners' tropical pitcher plants and eat them or at the very least rip them apart with their mouths.

Of course, most peoples first concern is about the health of their cat or dog versus the health of their nepenthes. With that being said, you can worry more about your nepenthes than your pet!

Nepenthes pitcher plants are not toxic to dogs or cats. It is possible for them to cause minor stomach irritation, but they will not cause any long-term damage. Odds are your dog or cat will never have any irritation after the ingestion of any part of the nepenthes pitcher plant. I scoured the internet for reported cases of nepenthes pitcher plants being poisonous or causing harm to pets and was unable to find anything.  

I'm assuming you are here because your dog or cat ate some of your nepenthes plant, and you just wanted to be sure nepenthes were not poisonous to your dog or cat. Check below for some tips on how to keep your pets safe from plants and your plants safe from your pets!

Cats can be a real problem when it comes to your nepenthes. It's not the cat's health you have to worry about but the health of your plant. Pitcher plants are not poisonous to cats, but the cat can be very hazardous to your plant. Some of the reasons your cat might be attracted to your nepenthes are as follows:

• I'm sure you have heard the phrase "curiosity killed the cat". Yes, sometimes the only reason they are bothering your plant is because they are curious. Those dangling pitchers are just too irresistible for them!
• Cats often eat plants to aid in digestion. Sometimes they aren't necessarily attracted to your pitcher plant but just to plants in general. A surplus of fibrous material in the plant can aid in vomiting. Stay with me here. If a cat senses a hairball they can't get up, they know instinctually to eat fibrous foods to aid them.
• Sometimes science can explain why cats do what they do, but sometimes it can't. Cats can be crazy and might be othering your plant just to bother it. 

Sometimes cats just like to cause chaos. Let's talk about some ways to possibly help keep your cat away from your nepenthes pitcher plants. Hopefully we can come up with a solution!

One of the easiest ways to protect your nepenthes is to simply put it behind a cover. Check out the mesh cover below that you can put your plant in to help keep the kitty away.

Pop Up Pest Guard

Your cat may not eat your plant but they might chew on it. Chewing on it can be just as bad for it as eating it. This often leads to your plant dying to being seriously damaged. You may need to figure out a way to deter your kitty.

There are some natural pet repellants you can buy but they don't seem to work well. One home remedy for this is to take some vinegar and dilute it with water. This will be safe for your plant but your cat will hate it. You may have to deal with a vinegar smell but it's better than a damaged plant!

The other problem with this method is that you will have to replace the liquid every couple of days. You might want to make a big batch of it and have it in a spray bottle ready to go. 

Spray Bottle

Probably the best way to solve this problem is with a little bit of patience and tough love. Try to be around when your cat is near your plant and discipline them when you see them interacting with it.

One of the best methods is the tried-and-true spray bottle. Just put some water in a spray bottle and give your kitty a little spray when it gets close to your nepenthes pitcher plant. After a few times, the fear of being sprayed should outweigh its tendency to slap around those pitchers.

Spray Bottle

You can also make a noise your cat dislikes every time it's close to your nepenthes. A shout, hissing noise, or a clap can tell your kitty you're not happy. If you do this enough, they will eventually associate your plant with these noises and leave it alone. 

Typically, your cat is bothering your house plants because they are bored. They will seek amusement when they don't have anything else to do. Sometimes it can be hard with a job, kids, and everything else to keep your cat occupied.

You can invest in some kitty toys or get them a new scratching post like the one below! Having something for your cat to do could resolve the situation!

My Cat Loves This Cat Condo!

Another solution for your cat, is to give them some plants they would prefer over your nepenthes pitcher plant. There are a couple of great options out there that cats just love.

Probable the most obvious here is catnip. Did you know that catnip is a plant you can grow? Put a pot of catnip somewhere away from your nepenthes pitcher plant to keep your kitty occupied! 

Kitty Garden Kit

Another option would be some cat grass to keep them occupied. Cat grass is great for giving cats an outdoor grass experience in the indoors. This can entertain and keep them busy! Cats also like to eat grass for additional fiber. Whether you are using it to deter a cat or just to have around, cat grass is awesome for a house kitty!

Cat Grass Kit For Indoors

Now that you know that nepenthes are not toxic to dogs, you will probably want to come up with a way to keep your dog away from your pitcher plant. Lets take a look at some good practices to help keep your nepenthes pitcher plants away from your sweet pups!

• Keep your nepenthes up high. If you keep them up away from the dogs, they won't be able to reach them. Using a hanging planter could do the trick; click here to see the one I use on Amazon! 
• Discipline your dog when you see them interacting with your plants. I know this is a tough one for some, but dogs know tone. If they hear an unhappy tone of voice when they touch your plant, it can help change behavior.
• Although it wouldn't be my first choice, you can use a chemical deterrent to help keep your dog away from your nepenthes pitcher plant.
• If possible, try to keep your plant in an area that is not accessible by the dog. Whether it's a different room in your home or a different part of the yard, hopefully you can find a place to keep your pitcher plant from your pup.

For the most part, I don't think your dog will be a big problem for your nepenthes. Usually, the cat is more of a problem to keep away from your plant. 

As stated above, no, they are not. At least not that has ever been reported by anyone. I read on several forums and looked everywhere to try to find any case of a nepenthes plant being harmful to pets.

I was also able to get on the ASPCA website and do a search. I wasn't able to find anything on there for a nepenthes or pitcher plant. You can check out the site yourself as I will link it below. Search by just dogs or just cats, click on the letters below to see if any of your plants are toxic to your pets. No carnivorous plants are anywhere to be found.

 ASPCA Poisonous Plants For Pets 

If your pet does eat a nepenthes and is acting unusual, it's probably best to consult your vet. If you notice any of the following, make sure you contact your vet immediately.

• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Redness, swelling, blistering or rawness on the skin or mouth.
• Lethargic behavior or sudden collapse.

If you notice any of these after your cat or dog ate a nepenthes, contact your veterinarian immediately. 

Make sure to take some time and check out my Ultimate Nepenthes Ventrata Care guide below to see how to care for your nepenthes ventrata plant! Also, check out some of our other great content all about carnivorous plants.

A nepenthes pitcher plant is not toxic or poisonous to cats or dogs. The real concern is that your pets may actually be harming the plant and not the other eway around. Sometimes teaching your dog or cat to stay away from your plant can take a while so remember to practice patience with them.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope this helped answer some of your questions. Please, check out my YouTube channel below for some great carnivorous plant content!

Also be sure to check out the International Carnivorous Plant Society if you are interested in conservation of these wonderful plants!