You should be careful while choosing the flowers for your next bouquet because some species might be poisonous to cats. When giving flowers to a cat owner for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or any other special occasion, it is important to keep this in mind. It is equally important to keep this in mind when you are giving flowers to your own house.
Fortunately, there are many cat-safe choices available, and they are all stunning when put in a bouquet.
Risky Flowers for Cats:
• Let’s start with some flowers that could be dangerous to cats. Some of these are quite hazardous, so you should never use them near cats. Others are less harmful but should still be kept out of your cat’s reach.
• Lilies: Particularly hazardous to cats are Asiatic, Day, Easter, Japanese Show, and Tiger Lilies, among others. It can be extremely deadly for cats to consume even one leaf, lick a few pollen grains, or even drink a small amount of water from a vase containing any of these.
• Amaryllis: Cats should avoid these well-liked, gorgeous flowers. The most dangerous amount of phenanthridine alkaloids is found in the bulbs, although it is also present in the stalks, flowers, and blooms.
• Daffodils: A common spring flower, daffodil bulbs contain crystals that can induce catastrophic illnesses like heart arrhythmias or respiratory depression. The blossoms of daffodils contain alkaloids that can cause severe vomiting.
Symptoms of Cat Flower Toxicity:
Dr. Maja Platia, the in-house vet of Excitedcats.com, states that “Signs of toxicity in some situations may appear immediately or within a few hours after exposure. Drooling, vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, increased drinking and urination, dehydration, collapse, arrhythmias, twitching, seizures, and kidney damage that may be deadly are common indicators of toxicity that vary depending on the species of plant.
Contact your veterinarian right once if you see any of those symptoms since it is an emergency.
Options for Cat-Safe Bouquets:
Don’t give up, even though some flowers can undoubtedly give cat owners a lot to worry about. There are other cat-safe solutions that can also create lovely bouquets. Here are a few suggestions to get you going:
For a sick relative or friend, Bromeliads, Gerbera Daisies, and Bamboo Palm create a lovely “Feel Better Soon” bouquet, while Majesty Palm, Marigold, Sunflowers, and Bird’s Nest Fern make the ideal “Condolences” bouquet for someone dear to you who has lost a loved one or pet. Try an arrangement of orchids, Swedish ivy, purple velvet plants, and rattlesnake plants if you’re searching for a striking “Centerpiece” for the dining table.
You might send Boston Fern, Impatiens, Orchids, or Calathea Prayer Plants as congrats for engagements, weddings, or baby showers. Last but not least, if you’re planning a wedding, consider roses, hibiscus, rubber plants, and african violets. Cat-loving soon-to-be-weds would adore it!
Safeguarding Your Cat:
Being naturally curious creatures, cats could find a bouquet alluring for a variety of reasons. It is essential to keep kids away from all arrangements, even those that contain flowers that are safe. Certain flowers may appeal to cats for their flavor or texture, for the way the leaves and petals flutter, or even for them to gnaw on out of boredom.
Dr. Maja Platia explains the significance of this. “It’s important to call your vet right away if you think your cat may have consumed, licked, or chewed on any part of a dangerous plant or came into contact with the pollen or other plant components through their paws or fur. They could suggest that you carefully wash and rinse their paws and fur because cats groom themselves and eat pollen that collects on their fur. The difference between life and death or irreparable kidney damage may depend on prompt veterinarian care.
The best course of action is to pick plants that are safe for cats and never keep any that might be hazardous to them.
There are several suggestions for keeping your cat away from your decorations, such making your plants inaccessible, using a DIY citrus spray, or utilizing positive reinforcement training, but none of these approaches is guaranteed to be risk-free, and your cat may still be exposed.
Your best strategy is to use cat-safe floral options, especially if you live with extremely interested cats!