Dear Miss Paws:
I have an outdoor cat and I would like to plant a tomato garden. Will this be harmful to him? Also, what about marigolds? I was going to plant them to deter rabbits but I don't want my cat getting sick. Thank you! Concerned Cat Owner
A. Dear Concerned:
Unfortunately, both marigolds and tomatoes can be dangerous to your cat. That said, they have different degrees of toxicity and, depending upon your cat's interest in chewing plants, may be grown with some planning. Marsh Marigolds are the most toxic as opposed to Garden Marigolds. Garden Marigolds are safe. So if you can be sure which type you are buying, you should be all right with them. Tomatoes, on the other hand, are moderately toxic if the foliage, vines or green fruit are ingested. The symptoms of this type of poisoning are: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, weakness, depression, hallucinations and convulsions. Tomatoes would be risky. We have a fairly large number of cats - indoor and outdoor - and we grow tomatoes every year. My cats have never bothered with them. I suspect indoor cats may be more likely to chew plants than outdoor cats who have more to interest them. Boredom is usually a big reason that cats nibble on greenery. Your decision should be based on knowledge of your cat and his previous behavior with greenery. In any event, keep in mind that regardless of what you grow, if you use chemicals to prevent insect damage or even fertilizers - particularly slow-release fertilizers - you do not want your cat licking the leaves or digging around close to the plants. We have used chicken wire with stakes to prevent damage to some of our flowers/shrubs which also keeps the cats (and dogs) from getting too close to them. Now that you have the facts, maybe you can think of creative ways to grow the things you like and also keep your cat safe. If you have further questions, please let me know.
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