Lilies are beautiful, but your cat should stay away from them!
Easter has come and gone, and you may be enjoying the beautiful new Easter lilies that are adorning your windowsill. Your cat may also be enjoying them, but not in a good way!
If you have a cat who has a habit of nibbling on houseplants, you may want to find a new home for your Easter lilies. While these traditional spring flowers are elegant and beautiful, they are toxic to cats; eating any part of the plant can cause kidney failure. Even if your cat doesn’t chew on the plants, simply licking the pollen off their fur can be dangerous! Lilies aren’t the only popular flowers that are deadly to cats. To learn about other flowers that are deadly to cats, read on.
Other Flowers that are Deadly to Cats
Do you have any of these flowers in your home? Or, if you have an outdoor cat, are any of these flowers planted in your garden? If so, you should remove these flowers immediately to prevent your curious kitty from getting sick.
- Tulips and Hyacinths: Tulips and Hyacinths are both part of the lily family, which are extremely poisonous to cats. Tulips and Hyacinths are less dangerous than lilies in that the flowers are not poisonous. The danger here is the bulbs, which are highly concentrated in toxins. If you have bulbs waiting to be planted, make sure they’re in a place where your cat cannot reach them.
- Chrysanthemums: This popular fall shrub can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of appetite in cats.
- English Ivy: The stately english ivy that is often found growing along the sides of homes and fences can cause drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea when eaten by cats.
- Azaleas and Rhododendrons: Rhododendron plants, including azaleas, grayanotoxins, which affect skeletal muscles, cardiac muscles, and nerve function in cats.
- Oleander: The delicate flowers on an oleander shrub may look sweet, but in fact, all parts of this beautiful plant produce toxins called cardiac glycoside toxins that interfere with the electrolyte balance within the heart.
- Castor Bean: If you’re a fan of Breaking Bad, you’ll remember that the castor bean produces a poison called ricin, which is just as poisonous to cats as it is to bad guys.
Be sure to always pay attention to your cat’s body language and behaviors; if you notice that your cat is not acting normal or is sick, be sure to bring them to the clinic immediately.
Cat-Friendly Alternatives
If you’d like to keep houseplants that are safe for your cat to nibble on, consider these cat-friendly plants:
- Wheatgrass: This plant is so good for cats that it’s actually also known as cat grass! You may even already have wheatgrass in your home if you are an avid juicer. Wheatgrass is a great source of fiber that can aid in your cat’s digestion. It can even help to remove hard-to-digest substances from your cat’s stomach, like hairballs!
- Catnip: Of course, everyone knows that cats love catnip! This plant, which is part of the mint family, emits a smell that works with your cat’s natural pheromones to make them relaxed and silly. This is a great alternative to other flowers that are deadly to cats, because not only does your cat get to enjoy it, but you also get to enjoy watching your cat!
- Lavender: This soothing purple plant is not just relaxing to humans. Your cat will also find the scent calming. This may be an especially good plant for anxious kitties.
Get in Touch with the Catonsville Cat Clinic!
For 20 years, the Catonsville Cat Clinic has been providing quality veterinary care to the cats of Catonsville and beyond! Dr. Pam Nesbitt, who purchased the practice in July of 2011, runs the Catonsville Cat Clinic with compassion in mind. A team of professionals with an advanced level of veterinary medicine is at your service to make sure your cat is healthy and happy. So stop on by; we’d love to get to know you and your cat!
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