Posted on: Sunday, June 17, 2001

Animal Companions
Keep toxic plants away from your pet

• June is Love-A-Cat Month

• Adoptables

Hawaiian Humane Society

Cats love chewing on houseplants, which can be hazardous to their health. It's best to keep cats inside and leave the plants outside. Suchi Psarakos

Plants that may be lovely to you may be dangerous — even death-dealing — to your pets. A bored dog might start chewing the greenery in your yard with disastrous results. Cats enjoy chewing on plants, but the only greenery that is healthy for them is what is commonly called "kittygrass" — oatgrass and wheatgrass sold in small containers at pet stores. Here are some plants in Hawai'i that may harm pets (unless noted, all parts of the plants are harmful to pets):Allamanda vine

Angel's trumpet

Anthurium

Azalea (rhododendron species)

Bee-still tree

Black-eyed susan (Abrus precatorius), also called rosary pea and bead vine, seeds

Bird of paradise (Strelizia regirae), fruits and seeds

Caladium

Candlenut tree (kukui), especially sap

Cassava (tapioca), leaves and roots

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) also called pa'aila and kamakou, seeds

Cestrum ('ala'aumoe), berries

Chinaberry ('inia), all parts, but especially fruit

Crown flower, pua kalaunu

Crown of thorns

Cup of gold and silver cup

Daffodil (narcissus), bulbs

Dumbcane (dieffenbachia)

Elephant ear, also known as 'ape

Foxglove, leaves, seeds, juice and flowers

Gloriosa lily, especially roots

Hawaiian poppy (pua kala)

Hens-and-chicks (lantana)

Hydrangea, especially leaves and buds

Ivy (many varieties), leaves and berries

Jerusalem cherry

Jimson weed (Datura stramonium) or thorn apple and kikania haole

Kava, or 'awa in Hawai'i

Lilies such as those popular at Easter

Mushrooms

Nightshade, also called deadly nightshade and popolo, including apple of Sodom, Jerusalem cherry and cockroach berry

Oleander (all varieties including be-still tree), all parts

Pencil plant, sap

Periwinkle (vinca)

Plumeria (frangipani), also called pua melia

Philodendron (all varieties), small to monstera

Poinsettia, leaves and flowers

Pokeberry and coral berry

Pothos (Scindapsus aureus)

Red sage (Lantana camara), especially leaves and unripe berries

Rhododendron

Rhubarb, leaves

Slipper flower, especially sap

Star of Bethlehem or pua hoku

Taro, when raw

Tulip, bulbs

Umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius)

Wisteria, seeds, pods

Yew, needles, bark and seeds

To receive a guide to pet emergencies by mail, call the Humane Society and leave your name and address: 946-2187, ext. 223.

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June is Love-A-Cat Month

• With each cat, June adopters receive a free 3-pound bag of Nutro food, collar, ID tag, microchip ID and cat carrier.

• Double adoptions. A single $50 adoption fee is charged for two cats or kittens adopted during June.

• Crazy Shirts is providing 200 coupons for a free micro- chip ID with the purchase of a new Adopt-a-Cat T-shirt in June. The $19 T-shirts and coupons are found at Crazy Shirts in Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge and Hale'iwa only.

• Friday: "Take Your Dog To Work Day" on O'ahu. For guidelines about pets at work, call the Humane Society, 946-2187, Ext. 212.

• June 24: "PetWalk 2001," 8 a.m. Kapi'olani Park (photo-taking at 7:30 a.m.). Two-mile stroll, costume contest, games, picnic. Fee supports Hawaiian Humane Society; entry forms at the society, O'ahu veterinary clinics and pet stores. To receive one by mail, call 946-2187, Ext. 370.

• June 30: Paws on the Path hike, 8:30 a.m., Maunawili Falls. Sherry Hunt, 625-6285.