Valentine’s Day brings the chance to indulge in romantic gestures, often including gifting beautiful bouquets. However, cat lovers should be wary: those cherished flowers might pose a grave danger to your feline companions.
Cats, with their remarkable jumping abilities, can easily access vases on high shelves, exposing themselves to toxic plants. Cat influencers @winstonandspooky have advised their fellow cat owners on TikTok to “stick to roses this V Day,” as they are known to be non-toxic for cats.
Which blooms should you avoid if you have cats?
The owner of Winston and Spooky has identified flowers that are best left out of cat-inhabited homes:
- Tulips
- Lilies
- Oleanders
- Chrysanthemums
- Amaryllis
- Cyclamen
- Hyacinths
- Peace Lilies
- Philodendrons
Which flowers are safe for your cats to be around?
If you still yearn for fresh flowers and your significant other inquires about your preference, suggest these cat-safe options:
- Roses
- Sunflowers
- Asters
- Alstroemeria
- Celosia
- Gerbera Daisies
- Orchids
- Snapdragons
- Lisianthus
What does Cat’s Protection have to say regarding felines and flora?
Their stance is clear: “To keep your cat safe, we recommend avoiding toxic plants and flowers altogether. Any plants or flowers marked as ‘caution advised’ should be kept out of reach, particularly if your cat is a nibbler.”
They note that cats may fall sick after contact with toxins transferred to their fur or paws, which then get ingested during grooming. For indoor cats especially, which face “greater risk” due to limited space, pet parents must be vigilant about what greenery they bring into their home environment.
Cats Protection has issued a stark warning about the dangers of lilies to our feline friends, stating: “lilies are particularly toxic to cats”. They caution that ingestion of even small amounts of any part of the lily plant can lead to severe poisoning.
To safeguard your pets, they advise against keeping lilies in your home or garden. Urging immediate action, they recommend contacting a vet without delay if there’s any suspicion of lily ingestion by a cat.
What symptoms should you look out for if you’re concerned your cat has been poisoned by flowers?
It’s crucial not to wait for symptoms to appear—if you suspect your cat has come into contact with a toxic plant, seek veterinary assistance right away. Delay could mean your pet becomes too ill to recover.
Symptoms of poisoning may vary but can include:
- salivation
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- twitching
- fitting
- breathing difficulties
- shock
- collapse
- coma
In response to the TikTok video, one viewer humorously suggested: “Told my husband to just get me Lego flowers instead of real ones so we don’t have to worry about our cat”. Meanwhile, another cat owner expressed relief and gratitude, saying: “My favourites are sunflowers and roses, and I had no idea they were safe for kitties. Thank you. I normally avoid getting them at all because I don’t want to risk it”.