If you have a garden and are thinking of planting some ornamental trees, you should first consider whether they're poisonous to any pets you might have. Cats, in particular, with their love for roaming and eating anything green (and subsequently puking it on your carpet) are especially sensitive to ingesting plants poisonous to them.

So which decorative trees should you stay away from, and which are the safest bets?

Palms are a safe bet, as most of them are completely harmless, and quite spectacular, aesthetic-wise. The only ones you need to avoid are the Sago Palm and the Grass Palm, which can harm the liver, bruise the intestines, produce vomiting and dehydrate your pet, and if ingested in large qualities, can even kill it. However, other types of palms such as Date Palm, Royal Palm, various types of Dwarf Palms are safe.

Bamboo is also nice looking and all variations of it don't have any toxic agents harmful to your cat. Most maples are quite cozy-looking and harmless. Despite the name, Hemlock Trees are also perfectly safe. Mulberry trees are also a good choice.

Juniper is highly popular, but a bit poisonous – it might produce vomiting. However, if you make sure that your cat does not ingest any berries, you could buy it.

A great choice are magnolia trees – majestic and completely non-toxic. They will make your garden look beautiful, smell nice, and kitty can eat as much as it wants from it without anything going wrong.

Evergreens are a very popular choice, but you should first research what type your wholesaler sells before buying, as many generically labelled evergreens could be poisonous species.

Most types of yews are unfortunately highly poisonous. They can induce tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting and gastrointestinal issues, and even seizures in young or tiny cats. Western Yew in particular is highly dangerous as it can cause sudden death from acute cardiac failure, shortly after ingestion.  

Speaking of pines, those are also poisonous to your kitty, but mostly not fatal. They can induce vomiting and a slew of gastrointestinal issues, but if not consumed in excess that's all they will do.

Unfortunately, orchard trees such as apple and apricot can also be harmful, although less so. The stems, leaves and seeds contain traces of cyanide, which can irritate the mucous membranes and cause difficulty breathing when ingested. The cyanide is at its peak when they're wilted.

With a bit of research and patience, you can have your beautiful garden and let your pet roam free. For more information, contact companies like Din San Nursery.

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