cat sniffing a vase of flowers — *Your curious kitty may not be able to resist the temptation of a pretty new plant or bouquet. Keep them safe this Spring by bringing only feline-friendly options into your home.*

Ahhhh, Spring!

With Spring comes beautiful flowers that we love to see in pretty vases on our tables and growing in our gardens. Gorgeous!

But some of those flowers can make our cats very sick. Some can even kill them.

Many of our most classic Spring flowers are toxic to our feline friends. Many of our kitties love to smell the flowers we bring into our home and often decide to have a little nibble…or more.

Today, we’ll look at common Spring and Easter flowers we bring into our homes and gardens and the dangers of those plants. Included are suggestions for much safer options to grow and gather when we have a feline companion in our midst.

So, for anyone who has a curious feline, or for anyone wanting to bring flowers to someone with a cat in their home, please, for the safety of that kitty, keep reading!

iris with a red X and orchid with a green checkmark — *What’s more elegant than a lily? How about an orchid? While every part of the lily, right down to the pollen, can cause acute kidney failure, the orchid is safe for your feline.*

Lose the Lily

The Easter Lily is a powerful symbol in Christianity. But, if you have a cat, it should never be part of your celebrations. This one is a non-negotiable.

True lilies, including the Easter lily, Day lily, Asiatic lily, Japanese Show lilies, and Tiger lilies are highly toxic to cats. Just a couple of leaves, a drink of water from a vase containing lilies, or even pollen from the flowers groomed from their fur can be fatal.

If you suspect your cat has ingested any part of a lily, urgent veterinary care is required, immediately. Treatment may include IV fluids, induced vomiting, and activated charcoal.

The best bet is never to bring lilies into your home. It’s just not worth the risk.

Opt for Orchids: Orchids are a beautiful and non-toxic option for your cat

tulip with a red X and a rose with a green check mark — *Tulips are a lovely, delicate spring flower but roses are much safer for your cat*

Toss the Tulip

The tulip is definitely a beautiful and delicate symbol of Spring.

Unfortunately, it’s also considered a dangerous plant for your cat.

The bulb is the most toxic part but the leaves and flowers also contain allergenic lactones, which, if swallowed, can lead to vomiting, and diarrhea, and respiratory depression.

So, while a vase of tulips on your table may look lovely, they’re better left for the garden.

Request the Rose: Roses are relatively harmless to cats, especially if you remove the thorns

daffodil with a red X and zinnia with a green checkmark — *Daffodils are happy flowers with a dark secret. Keep them away from your cat and try the equally happy zinnia flower that’s safe for your kitty.*

Ditch the Daffodil

The sunny daffodil is a favourite in spring garden displays and in vases in our kitchens each Spring.

But this happy-looking flower contains a poisonous akaloid that can trigger vomiting in cats. The bulbs are severely toxic to cats and can cause serious conditions such as respiratory depression or cardiac arrhythmias.

This is another one of those flowers that’s better left outside and kept away from your feline friends.

Zip over to Zinnias: Zinnias are another bright, happy flower that is safe around your cat

crocus with a red X and pansy with a green checkmark — *The crocus is an early sign of spring but keep your cat away and let the pansy bloom near your cat instead.*

Cross out the Crocus

One of the first flowers to pop up in spring, sometimes right out of the ice and snow, the crocus is a welcome sign of spring.
But it’s also another one of those flowers that’s a danger to our cats.

While less dangerous than the deadly autumn crocus, the spring crocus can still cause drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats. This is probably a flower that’s best to keep away from your cat.

Pick the pansy: Pansy flowers are a happy, cool weather flower that’s also safe for cats

hyacinth with a red X and snapdragon with a green checkmark — *The pretty hyacinth is welcome in any spring garden. But it’s toxicity to cats makes it one to keep away from your kitty. The snapdragon is a safe choice for your spring bouquet.*

Heed the Hyacinth

The hyacinth is another one of those spring staples that’s a welcome sign of spring.

But, like many other bulb flowers, it contains calcium oxalate crystals and alkaloids. These compounds are concentrated in the bulb but also present in other parts of the plant.

They can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, general gastrointestinal distress, and even tremors. Keep them away from your feline or keep your feline away from them.

Select the Snapdragon: Snapdragons are another colourful spiky bloom for bouquets and gardens that are non-toxic for our cats

chrysanthemum with a red X and Gerbera daisy with a green checkmark — *All members of the Chrysanthemum family, including the common daisy are toxic to your cat. But the Gerbera Daisy, while looking similar, is harmless to your feline friend.*

Chuck the Chrysanthemum

Members of the Chrysanthemum family, including the common daisy and “mums”, are often used in floral bouquets through all seasons.

But they are considered moderately poisonous to cats. They contain toxins such as pyrethrins and sesquiterpene lactones.

These toxins, when ingested, can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation and ulcers in and around the mouth, and a lack of co-ordination.

While rarely fatal, they can cause your cat a great deal of distress.

Go for the Gerbera Daisy: The Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) is non-toxic, feline-friendly flower

Iris with a red X and freesia with a green checkmark — *While the iris is a beautiful addition to your spring bouquet, choose the freesia flower for a cat-friendly option.*

Ink Out the Iris

The iris bloom is a delicate and beautiful flower in Spring gardens and in your home.

But if you have a cat, you should know that it can be toxic.

All parts of the iris contain pentacyclic terpenoids and glycocides that can cause gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in your cat.

While iris poisoning is considered moderate, it can cause a great deal of distress to your cat and should be treated by a veterinarian immediately.

Favour the Freesia: Freesia is a common bouquet flower known for its pure colours and fragrant scent.

lily of the valley with red X and white violets with green checkmark — While Lily of the Valley looks innocent, it can be a cat-killer. Shy violets(Violas) come in various shades of purple and white and can be a cat-friendly alternative this Spring.

Leave Out the Lily of the Valley

While not a true lily that can cause acute kidney failure, this little plant is also extremely toxic to cats.

It contains cardiac glycosides that can cause dangerously low blood pressure and heart arrhythmias, amongst other severe heart issues.

If ingested by your cat(or dog or horse), it can be fatal within hours if not treated immediately. This is another plant that is just not worth the risk of having in or around your home.

Vie for the Violet: Violas, known commonly as violets, and their similar-looking but unrelated African violet, are much safer options for a kitty-friendly abode.

Safety First!

While many Spring flowers are classic symbols of Spring, it’s not worth the risk to having these flowers in your home.

Ask your florist or garden centre for some of the feline-friendly options listed above in your bouquets and plants.

If you really want that vase of pretty Spring flowers in your home, try artificial flowers instead. You can get ones now that are absolutely life-like and gorgeous.

If your garden is full of these flowers, be sure to keep your cat away and consider more pet-friendly options in the future.

The important thing is to keep your kitty safe for a long, happy, and healthy life.

Link to 10 tips for a happy and healthy pet — **10 Tips for Happy and Healthy Pets**

*Read this article for more tips on keeping your pets healthy and happy.*