No, green bean plants are not toxic to cats.
A popular legume, the Phaseolus vulgaris or common bean is an annual plant grown worldwide. Some of its cultivars produce edible green beans, which consist of young, unripe seeds found inside long pods. Aside from green beans, the plant is also called French beans, snap beans, and string beans.
Cats can occasionally snack on green beans, but these should be given with some prerequisites. Never give your cat raw or undercooked green beans. They should always be soaked and boiled for at least 10 minutes. If not, the phytic acid and lectins found in the plant may cause digestive complications.
What to do if your cat accidentally comes into contact with, chews, or eats green beans: Observe your cat for gastrointestinal issues, most notably if she ate a considerable amount of green beans in one sitting. Place her in a safe, secluded space, and watch her for gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. The plant’s tough parts may also cause airway or intestinal obstruction.
Do you suspect that the green bean plant was sprayed or applied with harmful substances? If so, observe her for poisoning symptoms. Vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, twitching and fitting, difficulty in breathing, and shock or collapse are common signs. In addition, she may also experience depression, coma, skin inflammation or swelling, and changes in her eating, drinking, and urinating. Contact your veterinarian and bring her to the animal clinic if needed.
In summary: Though green bean plants do not contain anything toxic to cats (and even dogs), it is best not to expose your feline friends to it. Avoid health issues caused by lectins and phytic acid by keeping your green bean plants in no-cat zones.
Before you consider growing a new houseplant, check out the lists made by ASPCA, PetMD, and Pet Poison Helpline. They’ll help you determine which ones are toxic or safe for cats.
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