Can I have flowers and cats?

[Hera]

So I was looking online and saw this huge list of plants/flowers that are toxic to cats and realized there''s not much that isn''t toxic. I love stargazer lilies and bought them every week for like a year and my cat never got sick but supposedly lilies are highly toxic to cats.
So how seriously should I take this precaution? Currently, I have a ban on plants and flowers inside right now but I really miss fresh flowers! Anyone have any ideas(no silk please)?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I think it depends on the cat. Some cats like to chew on plants and other things they''re not supposed to. I can''t keep flowers and plants in my house because of this. They either eat them or knock them over. Could you put some sort of pet deterrent near the plant in question to keep them away?

 

[rhbgirl24]

I normally dont have to worry about it, even though I make sure I dont bring in the really deadly flowers. My cat doesn''t seem to bother it if its on my table or mantel, but it can''t be on my nightstand.

You''ll just have to see where the cat doesn''t care if its there......

 

[tlh]

I don''t worry about it. If they were outside, they might eat it - and now they aren''t catching their dinner... so as far as I''m concerned their life is good.

My mom used to always buy poinsetta''s around the holidays and have them around the house. They are supposedly highly toxic too, and my cat used to eat those.... lived a long life.

The only things I worry about are things like mylar and tinsel. UNNATURAL things that shouldn''t be ingested...

 

[tyty333]

Unless you have noticed that your cats like to chew plants/flowers, I dont think you need to worry about it too much.
My cats have never touched any indoor plants/flowers. I would worry more about them tippng them over, making
a mess

and me having to clean it up while they sit there looking all innocent

.

 

[MonkeyPie]

It all really depends on the cat. I have three indoor kitties and the only thing that gets chewed - and only a little bit, by one cat - is the aloe vera plant. They ignore flowers once they realize they just smell lol.

 

[HVVS]

Which is more important? Personally, I''d not have the flowers or plants because the health and safety of my cats is much more important to me. I''d not risk my whims causing harm to my cats. It''s like childproofing your home, I guess. You never know when the cat might change its mind and decide to chew on something. Or when the florist might slip in some new thing that is toxic.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

I usually don''t do flowers at all
Maybe you could get a nice pot to put some cat nip grass in. It''s not flowers but at least it''s green and the cats can enjoy it too
On another note, my parents gave us a bouquet of christmas flowers. I would keep finding Saffron carrying carnations around. They also liked shredding the evergreen in it. Anyone know if those are bad for cats? They are still breathing so I don''t think they really ate them but if they did are they toxic?
My parents are aware that poinsettias are a big no no

 

[Haven]

Date: 1/12/2010 9:21:52 AM
Author: HVVS
Which is more important? Personally, I''d not have the flowers or plants because the health and safety of my cats is much more important to me. I''d not risk my whims causing harm to my cats. It''s like childproofing your home, I guess. You never know when the cat might change its mind and decide to chew on something. Or when the florist might slip in some new thing that is toxic.

Ditto.

 

[katamari]

My mother''s solution to this is to place all her plants either suspend her plants from the ceiling or put them only on tops of things her cat cannot reach.

I am of the not-worth-the-risk camp myself, so our apartment is plant/flower free.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 1/12/2010 11:23:20 AM
Author: Haven

Date: 1/12/2010 9:21:52 AM

Author: HVVS

Which is more important? Personally, I''d not have the flowers or plants because the health and safety of my cats is much more important to me. I''d not risk my whims causing harm to my cats. It''s like childproofing your home, I guess. You never know when the cat might change its mind and decide to chew on something. Or when the florist might slip in some new thing that is toxic.

Ditto.

Thritto. My cat absolutely LOVES chewing on flowers so when I get them I have to put them in a high place where I can''t really enjoy them. I never buy them for myself because of it.

 

[radiantquest]

I wouldn''t worry too much unless your kitty is a nibbler. Mine are not. I even got them catgrass and they sniff it, lick it and walk away. I have a huge peace lilly in the living room. I don''t know if it is toxic or not, but they do not mess with it anyway. The way I figure it, I have domesticated these cats. If they were living naturally outside they would be exposed to flowers. Surely the same traits that make them scratch stuff and sniff everything lets them know what to eat and what not to eat. I have heard of more pets harmed by chemicals (antifreeze) that humans create than anything nature makes in abundance.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I have about 10 house plants and the only plant that attracts my cat's attention is a little parlor palm that has thin leaves on it similar to blades of grass. He chews on it occassionally. All the rest of the plants are types cats don't generally show an interest in, however if they have, none of the plants have harmed the cats and the cats haven't harmed the plants. What I have include: african violets, prayer plants, a button fern, croton, chinese evergreen, ficus plants, coleous, and a cactus.

Smurfy's idea of getting a plant for your cat may work well. Just a note though, that a few years back I bought a catnip plant for my cats and they ate the whole thing. All that was left was a small little plastic container of dirt! lol

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 1/12/2010 11:38:38 AM
Author: MC
I have about 10 house plants and the only plant that attracts my cat's attention is a little parlor palm that has thin leaves on it similar to blades of grass. He chews on it occassionally. All the rest of the plants are types cats don't generally show an interest in, however if they have, none of the plants have harmed the cats and the cats haven't harmed the plants. What I have include: african violets, prayer plants, a button fern, croton, chinese evergreen, ficus plants, coleous, and a cactus.


Smurfy's idea of getting a plant for your cat may work well. Just a note though, that a few years back I bought a catnip plant for my cats and they ate the whole thing. All that was left was a small little plastic container of dirt! lol

Oh geez, I bet they were up dinking around all night lol

Get a cactus, one swipe of their paw and they'll learn not to touch it! hahaha

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 1/12/2010 12:10:59 PM
Author: Smurfyimproved

Date: 1/12/2010 11:38:38 AM

Author: MC

I have about 10 house plants and the only plant that attracts my cat''s attention is a little parlor palm that has thin leaves on it similar to blades of grass. He chews on it occassionally. All the rest of the plants are types cats don''t generally show an interest in, however if they have, none of the plants have harmed the cats and the cats haven''t harmed the plants. What I have include: african violets, prayer plants, a button fern, croton, chinese evergreen, ficus plants, coleous, and a cactus.



Smurfy''s idea of getting a plant for your cat may work well. Just a note though, that a few years back I bought a catnip plant for my cats and they ate the whole thing. All that was left was a small little plastic container of dirt! lol

Oh geez, I bet they were up dinking around all night lol


Get a cactus, one swipe of their paw and they''ll learn not to touch it! hahaha

Did they hit the Doritos after?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 1/12/2010 12:10:59 PM
Author: Smurfyimproved


Oh geez, I bet they were up dinking around all night lol

Get a cactus, one swipe of their paw and they'll learn not to touch it! hahaha

Yeah, my girl kitty (not the avatar cat - but my grey one) goes nuts on the stuff. She doesn't just eat it, if I buy the dried stuff, she rolls around in it and meows up a storm.

We have a huge plant outback and I didn't realize it was catnip (I thought it was basil - lol) and for a long while couldn't figure out why she kept coming inside covered in dirt. Turned out she was hitting the 'nip then rolling around in the dirt at the base of the plant.

Re: a cactus. I was listening to a gardening radio show and the guy said the best plant is the Christmas Cactuc. They bloom and do best by being neglected. If an owner forgets to water the thing or put it in the right light, it'll bloom year round. When it's tended to, it does so-so. I keep meaning to get one.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 1/12/2010 12:24:23 PM
Author: MC

Date: 1/12/2010 12:10:59 PM

Author: Smurfyimproved



Oh geez, I bet they were up dinking around all night lol


Get a cactus, one swipe of their paw and they''ll learn not to touch it! hahaha

Yeah, my girl kitty (not the avatar cat - but my grey one) goes nuts on the stuff. She doesn''t just eat it, if I buy the dried stuff, she rolls around in it and meows up a storm.


We have a huge plant outback and I didn''t realize it was catnip (I thought it was basil - lol) and for a long while couldn''t figure out why she kept coming inside covered in dirt. Turned out she was hitting the ''nip then rolling around in the dirt at the base of the plant.


Re: a cactus. I was listening to a gardening radio show and the guy said the best plant is the Christmas Cactuc. They bloom and do best by being neglected. If an owner forgets to water the thing or put it in the right light, it''ll bloom year round. When it''s tended to, it does so-so. I keep meaning to get one.

Hahah I have 2 in my cubicle (it was buy one get one free) I overwatered them and then had a few days off in a row and came back and they were fine. They are really pretty too! I have hot pink and a purple one

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 1/12/2010 12:29:57 PM
Author: Smurfyimproved

Date: 1/12/2010 12:24:23 PM
Author: MC



Re: a cactus. I was listening to a gardening radio show and the guy said the best plant is the Christmas Cactuc. They bloom and do best by being neglected. If an owner forgets to water the thing or put it in the right light, it''ll bloom year round. When it''s tended to, it does so-so. I keep meaning to get one.

Hahah I have 2 in my cubicle (it was buy one get one free) I overwatered them and then had a few days off in a row and came back and they were fine. They are really pretty too! I have hot pink and a purple one

Okay, I gotta get one now. Basically the guy on the radio said the more that particular cactus is abused, the better it does! lol I read that a person should never give a house plant to a friend as that person will feel guilty if they end up killing it. Possibly a Christmas Cactus is an exception to that rule.

 

[étoile]

I have 2 cats and I''ve got a couple of house plants (violets and orchids). The cats don''t seem interested in the least in the plants but I do keep them out of reach just in case. Some cats get in to everything! My girl kitty barely moves while my boy runs back and forth up and down the stairs.
Kitty smackdown tends to happen when I break out the catnip. They don''t like to share. It''s more like kitty crack and they''re junkies.

 

[Hera]

Thanks for the replies! Unfortunately, my cat is a plant/flower nibbler. Before I found out about the toxicity of the lilies, he would chew on them every week! Oh well, I guess I''ll have to look closer at the flowers that cats can eat. I did try cat nip one time but he doesn''t like it. Maybe I''ll consider that for decoration though.

 

[yssie]

Date: 1/12/2010 5:38:16 PM
Author: heraanderson
Thanks for the replies! Unfortunately, my cat is a plant/flower nibbler. Before I found out about the toxicity of the lilies, he would chew on them every week! Oh well, I guess I''ll have to look closer at the flowers that cats can eat. I did try cat nip one time but he doesn''t like it. Maybe I''ll consider that for decoration though.

Our three went crazy for the catnip I tried to grow - they were doing some serious curtain acrobatics to get to it!



This will probably sound strange, but my mum has completely solved this plant nibbling problem. Sprays and such didn''t work at all, so she gave the cat some plants of his own, and now he leaves hers alone - he''s got alfalfa on his sunbathing ledge, a couple of pots of parsley, and valerian (he''s a big cat so small amounts of stimulant just make him happy, and less likely to try to off the dog, but I''d be careful with a smaller kitty)

 

[Kellybell]

Please be careful - with lilies especially. They are highly toxic. One of my friends at work was given an arrangement of lilies from her boyfriend. Unfortunately, her cat ate one of the petals, and ended up going into kidney failure and dying. Please be careful with these flowers - I don''t think it is worth the risk.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 1/12/2010 3:43:59 PM
Author: étoile
I have 2 cats and I''ve got a couple of house plants (violets and orchids). The cats don''t seem interested in the least in the plants but I do keep them out of reach just in case. Some cats get in to everything! My girl kitty barely moves while my boy runs back and forth up and down the stairs.
Kitty smackdown tends to happen when I break out the catnip. They don''t like to share. It''s more like kitty crack and they''re junkies.

oooh, we know all about kitty crack. For my cats, it''s canned cat food. They don''t get it very often, but if my girl cat is fed it a few times in a row, she''ll come charging into the kitchen every time I open any sort of can. She goes balistic and meows up a storm. Drives me nuts. That''s the primary reason she rarely is fed it. Gotta wonder what is put in that stuff!

 

[purrfectpear]

Speaking of Christmas Cactus, here in SoCal we garden year round since it doesn''t ever get cold enough to damage plants left outside near the beach.

One of my neighbors has a CC hanging from their patio ceiling. The thing is 3 1/2 feet wide and hangs 4 feet down. It''s fully in bloom. I''ve never seen anything like it