Pets love to explore their homes and are prone to being curious with houseplants. Cats, in particular, climb furniture and gain easier access to things they shouldn’t get into. When it comes to cat safety, certain plants and flowers may have toxic effects on your beloved pet that shouldn’t be overlooked. While most houseplants look aesthetically pleasing, many contain chemicals, crystals, and compounds that are dangerous for cats to nuzzle their noses against or even nibble on. General symptoms of cat toxicity might start small with irritation, inflammation, redness, itchiness, and swelling. Severe symptoms include difficulty breathing, lethargy, drooling, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive drinking or urinating, and an irregular heartbeat. So along with ensuring your cat has the top salmon cat food, plenty of Friskies Indoor Delights and hairball treats, here are the most toxic plants for cats and what you should do in case of an emergency:

1. Lilies
These flowers might look gorgeous on your window sill, but lilies are considered one of the most dangerous flowers for cats. Lilies are recognized by a variety of names including Easter, day, calla, Japanese, Asian, and Peruvian lilies to name a few. None of them are safe for cats. The pollen is lethally poisonous, and if ingested, may cause severe kidney failure.

2. Azaleas
Nobody would suspect that a nice pot of this delicate pink plant would be unsafe. All parts of the plant are considered deadly, especially the leaves. Just eating a little part of a leaf can be fatal for cats. Common signs to watch out for are weakness, abdominal pain, hypotension, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, blindness, and seizures.

3. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants are well-regarded as a medicinal plant for humans. When the leaves are cut, the clear gel inside is used to soothe mild burns and aid digestion. The compound, known as anthraquinone glycosides, is helpful to people, but may be harmful to cats if ingested because it increases mucus and water production in their colons. The adverse effects for cats may include vomiting, depression, diarrhea, tremors, and anorexia.

4. Dieffenbachia
Its thick, long leaves create a charming aesthetic for anyone’s home, but dieffenbachia contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, a compound that increases pet toxicity. When chewed upon, these crystals penetrate tissues in the gastrointestinal tract, inducing pain and swelling in a cat’s mouth, excessive drooling, and decreased appetite.

5. Heartleaf Philodendron
This houseplant is a common gardening choice because it is effortless to grow. However, its attractive accessibility for cats leads to irritation on their mouth, tongue, and lips. While swelling in the upper airways, thus making it difficult to breathe is rare, cats will experience increased salivation and vomiting.

Whether your cat’s fur or body has been environmentally exposed to a toxic houseplant, or you suspect they have eaten a part of one, monitor their behavior closely. Emergency vet treatment might be needed. Adopt preventative measures to protect your cat by identifying houseplants and flowers before bringing them indoors. Knowledge is power when it comes to cat safety.