Keep Your Cat Away From These 8 Toxic Flowers

It’s always nice to have fresh flowers around the house, but next time you’re walking into Trader Joe’s and you think about buying a spur-of-the-moment bouquet, take a beat. Many flowers we grow or have around the house can actually be harmful to our pets. And, since cats can jump up to pretty much any surface in the home, they’re an easy snack for a cat that’s feeling a little mischievous (aren’t they always?).

We turned to veterinarian Dr. Becca Boronat of Best Friends Animal Society to tell us about eight blooms that are pretty dangerous. So if you have a feline friend, make sure to keep these out of the house. If you’re longing for some greenery, try one of these cat-safe plants instead.

Lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis)

Lillies are extremely toxic to cats, even in small amounts. Ingestion of any part of the plant (the leaves, petals, pollen) can cause acute kidney failure. Immediate veterinary care is critical! Look for these symptoms: vomiting, lethargy, decreased appetite, kidney failure.

Tulips

Watch out for the bulbs! That’s where the toxic compounds are primarily located. If cats chew on or ingest any part of the plant (especially the bulbs) cats can experience vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and central nervous system depression in severe cases.

Foxglove (Digitalis Species)

This plant contains cardiac glycosides, which can affect heart function, so ingesting any part of it can be fatal without veterinary intervention. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythms, and cardiac arrest.

Daffodils (Narcissus Species)

These pretty yellow flowers are unfortunately also on the do-not-buy list if you’ve got a kitty at home. They contain toxins that cause gastrointestinal upset in small quantities, and neurological and cardiac effects in large quantities. Ingesting any part of them, particularly the bulb, can be potentially life threatening. Look out for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, abdominal pain, tremors, and if severe enough, abnormal heart rhythm.

Chrysanthemums

It’s a shame, but yes, these fall beauties are also bad for cats, though the effects are more mild than some of the others on this list. When ingested in large amounts (or, if cats come into direct content with them) they can experience drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, and skin irritation.

Azaleas

Ingesting any part of this plant can range from mild to fatal, depending on the amount your cat has consumed. Look out for drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, low heart rate, and potentially life-threatening heart issues.

Cyclamen

The root of the problem here is … well, the root! That’s where the toxins are most concentrated. Snacking on these could be potentially fatal, so if you think your cat may have gotten their paws on some, look out for drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, cats can have seizures and heart issues as well.

Hyacinth

The most dangerous element of these flowers is calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate tissue and are particularly prevalent in the bulbs of hyacinth. Symptoms are usually mild to moderate (drooling, vomiting, diarrhea) but can escalate with larger ingestion and lead to respiratory issues.