I constantly have to find ways to deal with well meaning people who bring me flowers, more at Christmas than Easter, but the potted lily, daffodil or narcissus is becoming a more popular gift and a fall back for people who want to offer something to their nice massage therapist (alas). . Very few flowers are free of some toxicity to cats (their little livers just don’t know what to do with the alkaloids) and the best rule is, if in the slightest doubt, don’t expose them. They’ll eat any plant they can get indoors, whereas in the natural environment they just eat the grass and are happy..
My Siamese just wants to eat insects. Bengal boy is the evil plant-eater. I do have lilies, but they are outdoors in pots. I’ll be especially careful not to bring in pollen after this, though. As below, grass-eating isn’t a pleasure, either…
OH NOEZ! I have three cats. I don’t keep living plants around anymore. And they do their very best to chew up the false ones I have (like from arrangements from my WEDDING!)
I’m a house (and garden) plant nut, but I know one of my boys will eat anything ‘stringy’ so I put them up high. Aloes, orchids, jade (or ‘money’ plants, depending on where you live) are safe from him. Spider plants, ferns, and my peace lily are up high and he can’t get ’em – despite temptation! I couldn’t live without plants any more than I could without cats. (and grass just makes ’em barf, joy)
As a general comment, as given to a friend on FB – put them up high out of kitty-reach if possible – if that isn’t possible then just don’t have them! – and trim out the entire centre of the flower before it goes to pollen, so it doesn’t drop pollen all over. A good idea in any case, as lily pollen is a terrible stain and removing the culprits early doesn’t hurt the bloom and saves your carpet/furniture/walls – and even your kitties.
The reason I don’t have plants in my home is because my cats like to nibble on it. Hence the reason I’m looking for nice fake ones.
But thanks for this post! I’ll reblog. 🙂
Dianda I had a cat who even nibbled on the fake ones and even once almost choked (she had actually passed out after having a piece of the fake plant get stuck in her throat). Fortunately we figured out what had happened and were able to pull out the faux leaf and revive her in time.
heretherebespiders 
I constantly have to find ways to deal with well meaning people who bring me flowers, more at Christmas than Easter, but the potted lily, daffodil or narcissus is becoming a more popular gift and a fall back for people who want to offer something to their nice massage therapist (alas). . Very few flowers are free of some toxicity to cats (their little livers just don’t know what to do with the alkaloids) and the best rule is, if in the slightest doubt, don’t expose them. They’ll eat any plant they can get indoors, whereas in the natural environment they just eat the grass and are happy..
My Siamese just wants to eat insects. Bengal boy is the evil plant-eater. I do have lilies, but they are outdoors in pots. I’ll be especially careful not to bring in pollen after this, though. As below, grass-eating isn’t a pleasure, either…
OH NOEZ! I have three cats. I don’t keep living plants around anymore. And they do their very best to chew up the false ones I have (like from arrangements from my WEDDING!)
I’m a house (and garden) plant nut, but I know one of my boys will eat anything ‘stringy’ so I put them up high. Aloes, orchids, jade (or ‘money’ plants, depending on where you live) are safe from him. Spider plants, ferns, and my peace lily are up high and he can’t get ’em – despite temptation! I couldn’t live without plants any more than I could without cats. (and grass just makes ’em barf, joy)
As a general comment, as given to a friend on FB – put them up high out of kitty-reach if possible – if that isn’t possible then just don’t have them! – and trim out the entire centre of the flower before it goes to pollen, so it doesn’t drop pollen all over. A good idea in any case, as lily pollen is a terrible stain and removing the culprits early doesn’t hurt the bloom and saves your carpet/furniture/walls – and even your kitties.
Is anything out of kitty reach, really? LOL My cats throw up enough!!!
The reason I don’t have plants in my home is because my cats like to nibble on it. Hence the reason I’m looking for nice fake ones.
But thanks for this post! I’ll reblog. 🙂
Dianda I had a cat who even nibbled on the fake ones and even once almost choked (she had actually passed out after having a piece of the fake plant get stuck in her throat). Fortunately we figured out what had happened and were able to pull out the faux leaf and revive her in time.
Now I don’t want to buy fake plants anymore. 😮
That sounds horrible. I don’t want that to happen to my cats.
Reblogged this on Cats & Co and commented:
Warning: Lilies Kill Cats.
Thanks for sharing this information. It’s so important!