Which flowers are toxic to cats?

25.11.2022 views 4026 Valeriya Sverkunova

Dangerous or even poisonous houseplants for cats is an interesting topic that often raises a lot of questions. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA, USA) reports that indoor and outdoor plants are among the top ten toxins most commonly consumed by pets.
However, this does not mean that you need to completely abandon the colors. It is enough to know and understand which flowers are poisonous to cats to prevent access to them.

Why do cats eat plants?

Cats are often partial to our houseplants. Quite often you have to watch how they taste them, pull and try to chew.
The main reason for this behavior is considered to be their ancient natural instinct. It should be remembered that cats are predators by nature and they can eat not only animal food, but also plant origin.
The tough plant fibers can help improve digestion. In addition, plants contain a high level of vitamins.
Another option may be to try to clear the stomach or quench your thirst in such an unusual way.
However, if you notice that your cat is "cuddling up" to the green potty quite often, then this may be a sign of an unbalanced diet or lack of vitamins.
It may be wise to consult your veterinarian in this case.
We can definitely say that if a cat lives in your house, then you should take care of the presence of only safe plants.

When cats are interested in plants:

Most cats will treat their food choices with some caution. However, we would like to note some categories of cats that your plants may still be interested in. It can be:
•    kittens who have not yet developed the instinct of self-preservation and avoidance of danger. The utmost attention should be paid precisely at the moment of adaptation of the kitten;
•    young individuals who, to the best of their curiosity, will eat and chew everything that falls under their paws;
•    cats of any breed who just got bored.

What houseplants are poisonous to cats:

Aloe

Toxic substance: saponins, anthraquinones.

Symptoms: in case of poisoning, lethargy, diarrhea appear.

Amaryllis

Toxic substance: lycorine.

Symptoms: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremor. The flowers of this plant are especially dangerous.

Anthurium

Toxic substance: insoluble calcium oxalates.

Symptoms: irritation of the oral cavity, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive salivation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.

Geranium

Toxic substance: geraniol, linalool.

Symptoms: cat poisoning is accompanied by vomiting, anorexia, depression, dermatitis.

Dieffenbachia

Toxic substance: calcium oxalate crystals.

Symptoms: irritation of the oral cavity, severe burning and irritation of the mouth, lips, tongue. There is also profuse salivation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.

Ficus

Toxic substance: ficin, ficusin.

Symptoms: gastrointestinal and skin irritation.

Bouquets of what flowers are dangerous for cats?

Question: Are tulips poisonous to cats?                                                  Answer: Tulips contain tulipalin A and B, chemical compounds that are poisonous to cats. Bulbs have the highest concentration of these compounds, but if swallowed, the plant can cause vomiting, increased salivation, diarrhea, and depression.

Question: Are lilies poisonous to cats?                                                   Answer: Lilies (of the genus Lilium) are one of the top ten cat poisons. All parts of the plant, including pollen, should be avoided as they can cause kidney failure in cats. Early symptoms of lily poisoning include excessive salivation or drooling, vomiting, and lethargy, which can range from mild to noticeable.

Question: Are chrysanthemums dangerous for cats?                           Answer:  These flowers contain many toxic compounds that can cause vomiting, excessive salivation, diarrhea, incoordination and even skin inflammation as a result of contact with some of their varieties.

Question: Are daffodils dangerous for cats?                                          Answer: Daffodils are toxic not only to cats, but also to some other animals, including horses and dogs. If your precious kitten eats any part of the plant, especially the bulb, it can experience quite severe poisoning - so be careful.

Important!  In no case should cats be allowed to drink water from a flowerpot where there are flowers.
First, the flowers themselves can release toxic substances into the water.
And secondly, flowers can be treated with special chemical solutions that preserve the appearance of plants. Be careful!

What to do if a cat ate a dangerous plant?

1. If there is even the slightest suspicion that the cat has eaten a poisonous plant, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.
2. Be sure to tell your veterinarian what plant or flower your pet may have been poisoned with. This will greatly help in the appointment of preventive or therapeutic procedures.
3. You can try to make the cat vomit - it will be especially effective if no more than 1-2 hours have passed.

What plants and flowers are safe for cats:

Keep in mind that even flowers that are not poisonous to cats can cause stomach upset. And some may present other problems, such as the rose with its thorny stem.

Flowers safe for cats:

• lilac;
• roses;
• sunflower;
• petunias;
• camellias;
• antirrinum;
• chamomile.

Safe houseplants for cats:

Finally, we would like to say that the health of your pet depends entirely on you. Be careful when choosing houseplants and flowers.