Question
My fiancee and I are trying to prepare our home for cats, but we are having a terrible time finding out if our house plants will be dangerous.

We have a rather large dracaena fragrans massangeana plant (about 3 feet tall). I've tried to find information about whether it's toxic to people or cats, but I'm not having any luck. Is this plant something that we're going to have to find a new home for or will it be safe around curious (and possibly nippy) kittens?

Answer
Eva,

Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' is harmless to people and slightly poisonous to cats and dogs. It causes vomiting and abdominal pain, but is never lethal unless the animal eats several large leaves and it usually causes vomiting before they can accomplish that. Most animals are inteligent enough to stay away from what doesn't taste good and this would not. Just keep an eye on the kitten in that room for a few days and I think you will find that it will avoid the plant. You may have a bigger problem with it trying to use the soil as a litter box or just getting up in the plant and playing with it, destroying the leaves in the process. If that happens you can spread a bottle of cayenne pepper over the surface of the soil and it should quickly encourage the kitten to stay away. Good luck with your dracaena and your kitten.

Darlene