Mother's Day is coming up and although it's lovely having beautiful bouquets of flowers, these gorgeous plants and flowers could be seriously harmful to your cat. A few of the most popular varieties of flowers are extremely poisonous in fact.
If eaten, licked or even just brushed past, certain flowers and plants can cause serious side effects to your cat such as heart failure, seizures and depression.
VetsNow has now compiled a list of all the flowers and plants which are poisonous to cats and what to do if your cat comes into contact with them, so you can make sure your gift doesn’t have any tragic consequences.
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1. Lilies
The Lilium or Hemerocallis species of lilly are very dangerous for cats. These include Asiatic, day, Easter, Japanese show and tiger lilies. All of these flowers contain highly toxic substances and eating just two or three leaves, or even drinking water from a vase containing them can be potentially fatal. Cats have even been known to swallow a toxic amount of pollen just by grooming themselves after brushing against the flowers.
If you ever suspect your cat has eaten, or even licked, a lily seek urgent veterinary advice. Treatment is likely to include induced vomiting and intravenous fluid therapy. Your cat may also be given activated charcoal, which is sometimes used as a form of gastrointestinal decontamination for poisoned pets. If left untreated, however, lily poisoning can cause long-lasting kidney damage and potentially even death. To get the latest WalesOnline newsletters emailed to you directly for free click here.
2. Amaryllis
The stalks, flowers and bulbs contain phenanthridine alkaloids which are toxic to cats. The highest proportion is in the bulbs. Eating amaryllis can cause vomiting, changes in blood pressure, tremors and seizures.
3. Daffodils
This yellow flower contains a poisonous alkaloid that can trigger vomiting, while crystals in the bulbs are severely toxic and can cause serious conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression.
4. Tulips
The bulbs on Tulips are the most toxic part but any part of the plant can be harmful to your cat, so all tulips should be kept well away. They contain allergenic lactones which, if swallowed, can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea and depression.
5. Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrins, which are used in dog flea and tick medications, and are particularly poisonous to cats. If your cat has eaten chrysanthemums look out for vomiting, diarrhoea and lack of appetite and seek advice from your vet.
6. Hyacinths
Belonging to the liliaceae family, the highest concentration of poison in hyacinths is in the bulbs. Eating a hyacinth bulb can lead to drooling, vomiting, or diarrhoea, depending on the number consumed.
7. Iris and gladioli
Both of these flowers belong to the Iridaceae family and can cause irritation when eaten, like many popular spring flowers, the most toxic part is the bulb.
8. Cyclamen
A popular houseplant that’s prevalent in Mediterranean countries, cyclamen contains irritating saponins. Eating the plant can lead to sickness and diarrhoea and potentially even heart failure if ingested in large enough quantities.
9. Widow's thrill
Kalanchoe, or widow’s thrill, is toxic to cats and may cause them to experience vomiting and diarrhoea. The toxins in kalanchoe have also been known to cause abnormal heart rhythms.
10. Foxglove
Although foxglove flowers are very beautiful, they are very poisonous to dogs, cats, and even humans. Foxglove contain naturally-occurring poisons that affect the heart.
11. Crocus
The spring crocus and the autumn crocus very are dangerous to pets. The spring crocus can cause gastrointestinal issues including vomiting and diarrhoea if ingested. All parts of the autumn crocus are highly toxic and can cause severe symptoms including vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, respiratory failure, seizures and potentially even death.
