Bonsai Kitty

I know this type of chat board may not even be appropriate for this question, but I figured I'd ask here as well as a pet forum.

I am a beginner at bonsai and I want to grow my tree(s) from seeds or seedlings. And I picked out many varieties of trees that I thought looked really nice that I thought I'd like planting. But, I went to search to see if my plants would be okay for my little kitty and most of them are poisonous to him.

I had to nix the Wisteria and Azalea. But, on the list it says kitties are poisoned by Juniper and Red Maple. And I didn't know if this would include Chinese Juniper Trees and Japanese Maple Trees?

I was attracted to the bright blooming of the Azalea and Wisteria, and the colorful leaves of Japanese Maple Trees--but I don't know if the chinese juniper tree would be a part of the "Juniper" variety or japanese maple trees would be a part of the "Red Maple" variety that are poisonous to kitties.

Specifically, these are the ones I liked (I also mentioned non-maples into the list):
Oshio Beni Japanese Maple Tree
Bamboo Leaf Japanese Maple
Rose Tree of China Prunus triloba
New Zealand Tea Bonsai
Inazuma Japanese Maple
Ornatum Japanese Maple
Cherry blossom tree
Chinese peashrub
Pink or White Dogwood
Weeping cherry tree - Weeping Higan tree, Snow Fountain cherry tree, Kiku-Shidare-Zakura, Kwanzan, Pendula Plena Rosa, Double weeping cherry
Flowering White Jasmine
Chinese Kousa Dogwood
Flowering White Jasmine


I like the pretty blooming trees. Does anyone have any suggestion of a tree with a beautiful bark (white, white/brown?) that I could get that wouldn't be poisonous to cats?

Also, does anyone know of a place online that sells seeds or seedlings that are in good condition with good germination rate? I'd try to look in person, but we don't have many nurseries around where I live.

Thank you for any advice you can give!

Glider

I have 22 azaleas, 7 or 8 maples, and a bunch of other trees (around 50 in all), and 2 cats. Although the cats can reach the benches easily, neither has ever tried to eat any part of any tree, although they do chew the ends of my zebra grass.

Cats tend not to eat things that are poisonous to them, especially plants (they're carnivores, moreso than dogs). They will eat certain grasses to help their digestion, but they tend not to eat leaves and berries.

I wouldn't worry too much about cats, they are more than capable of looking after themselves. It's human infants/children that will put anything and everything into their mouths.

If you really fancy a few satsuki azalea, go for it. Your cat will be fine. They didn't get this far by eating stuff that would kill them. The real problem is that I don't think you'll be able to grow satsuki from seed. being cultivars within a hybrid group, you need to propagate them by cutting, or they revert to type.

Bonsai Kitty

I see. Thank you for the input!

My mom bought some roses recently and my cat didn't seem interested at all in eating them, but he liked to play and try to knock the vase over. lol

all in all, I decided to go ahead and get the trees regardless of my kitty. mainly because he likes to knock things over, so i monitor him anyways. and the last thing I want are my little seeds dying from a kitty with OCD to knock everything he sees off the counter.

I'm really interested in the maples. They are very beautiful. as well as the azalea and wisteria. I'm having a hard time finding any types of seeds, seedlings or cuttings at a company that I can rely on. I checked Schley's and they have a nice selection of stuff but I didn't see any satsuki cuttings, or any type of seed there.

I plan to get a tree or two and some flowers (orchids more than likely). I want something I can grow for the long haul then something that grows quicker to fill in the time.

Phil

First of all, welcome aboard Kitty.
One of the best places, in my opinion, to buy nursery stock is HERE.
Don't expect anything fancy in the way of a Web site and loads of pictures but Brent Walston makes up for that with quality.

~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

larke

Hi, almost all plants have some toxicity level to some other living thing, but the majority are not 'deadly'. In fact in my experience of decades of having cats (and dogs), the one instance I remember that's related is when my cat took a chew on a couple of Poinsettia plant leaves (trying to goad me into feeding him). That plant's supposed to be definitely toxic, but in fact the plant reacted badly to being chewed, and my cat was just fine. Obviously don't leave a kitten alone with truly bad ones like Datura (flowering outdoor one) or even Foxglove, but I wouldn't worry a whole lot about the vast run of the mill trees you'll use in bonsai.

Pup

All of my trees are toxic to cats. If there in my yard.

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G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

Phil

The idea or misconception of the Poinsettia plant being toxic is an old wives tail and has been proven to be overly exaggerated. It is indeed not poisonous in any way.

Pup, ya kind of lost me on that statement! Are you saying that the plants in your yard are toxic to cats or, you are toxic to cats when they chew on them!


~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

Pup

Pup, ya kind of lost me on that statement! Are you saying that the plants , you are toxic to cats when they chew on them!


~Phil[/quote]
That's it Phil I find it very annoying that my dog has to be registered with the Shire. He is not allowed, out of my property unless on a lease, controlled by the handler. Yet a cat can roam any where it pleases with no thought to it digging up newly planted seedlings so it can crap in the fresh soil of some one else's yard, or in the Kids sand pit.
My cat never goes out at night neither do the birds they eat.
My take on cats. Mind you most of the time it irresponsible owners. As it is with dogs. I have found lead is very toxic to cats as is asprin in sardines keep them out of my yard.Pup

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G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

Glider

That would be because cats and dogs are different.

Pup

Australia has been accused of putting more species of Native animals either into extinction or on the highly critical list than any other country.

Feral cats those, that are abandoned because there owners can no longer be bothered. Account for 80% of the native animals that are taken every year. Yes there different.
I have a niece that breeds cats and will not sell one until she has inspected the property where she can see the cat run it will live in. A responsible owner and breeder. Who by the way agrees with me.
One shire here in Western Australia has bitten the bullet.
Told every body in that Shire they have to register there cats or face fines. Also if they let them roam they face fines.
They have in practice now a trapping program. If the cats are not collected in one week they will be euthanized.
Only breeders are allowed more than two cats. All other cats to be sterilised. Now that is different!!is it not. I am moving.

__________________
G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner