I would steer clear with the cats about.Castor beans affect all animals and humans. Even one of them may be sufficient to cause death. They contain some of the strongest toxins of our planet’s flora: the alkaloid ricinin and the toxalbumin ricin, the latter being a plant lectin, or protein, more toxic even than strychnos and cyanides.The KGB used the toxin for assasinating people with.They are a tropical plant and would not survive our winter outside so that is why we grow them as an annual.

Thanks Steve. I wont both with them then. Not worth the risk. Thanks for replying.

Ask yourself this simple question - Would lots of local authorities grow Ricinus communis in public parks, on verges and roundabouts if it were dangerous?

There is a big difference between being poisonous and being harmful. The ricin is in the castor bean which, on the plant, is inside the spiky fruit. How likely are cats to get a fruit, peel it to get to the bean and then eat the bean?

Even if they did, they'd end up with a bad stomach upset. Ingested ricin is a strong emetic and is very rarely fatal (15 deaths out of 851 incidents in the period 1900-1985).

You say other people's cats come into your garden. Well. your cat goes into other gardens that may well have Ricinus communis.

It's a beautiful plant and well worth growing.

Agree wholeheartedly with Thepoisongardener. Yes, we all know about ricin, it is lethal, but it has to be distilled from the beans, so unless your cats are in the habit of setting up chemical stills, there won't be a problem.

Good point Poisongardener. I hadnt thought about it from that perspective. Thanks you for your points, and i will now consider it again. Bamboo, thanks for your comment too. As much as i love the cats, i dont think they are clever enough to set up chemical stills lol!