Top 10 Flowers Dangerous to Cats — The Ones You See at Florists
Ten flowers you'll commonly find at florists and grocery stores that are toxic to cats. Check before you receive them, and before you bring them home.
Bringing flowers into a home with a cat always calls for care. People often gift a beautiful bouquet without realizing it could be dangerous. Here are the flowers you'll commonly see at florists that are toxic to cats.
1. Lily
The single most dangerous flower for cats. Eating one leaf, or even licking pollen once, can cause acute kidney failure. This includes tiger lilies, Oriental lilies, and Asiatic lilies. As a rule, a bouquet with lilies should never enter a home with a cat.
2. Daffodil (Narcissus)
Toxins are concentrated in the bulb, but the flowers and stems are dangerous too. Ingestion can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and heart problems. It's often included in spring gift bouquets, so stay alert.
3. Tulip
Toxins are heavily concentrated in the bulb. The flowers and leaves carry a smaller amount too. If your cat chews the plant or gets at the bulb, call your vet.
4. Hyacinth
As with tulips, the bulb is the most dangerous part. Eating the flowers and leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. It's a popular spring potted plant, but best avoided if you have a cat.
5. Poinsettia
A common sight during the Christmas season. The white sap that seeps out when you cut the stem is an irritant and can cause mouth irritation, vomiting, and drooling. It isn't deadly, but it can make a cat uncomfortable.
6. Chrysanthemum
A compound called pyrethrin is toxic to cats. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, and skin irritation. It's a frequent flower in fall and memorial arrangements, so take care.
7. Aloe Vera
Known for its skincare benefits, aloe is toxic when a cat eats it. The latex in aloe can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and a change in urine color. It's a common houseplant, so keep it out of reach.
8. Dieffenbachia
The leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals, so chewing causes immediate mouth pain, swelling, and drooling. In severe cases it can lead to airway swelling. It's a popular foliage plant but risky in a home with cats.
9. Monstera
Hugely popular as a decor plant, Monstera is also toxic to cats. It contains calcium oxalate, so ingestion causes mouth irritation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
10. Ivy
A vining plant grown widely indoors and out, ivy is toxic to cats. The berries are more toxic than the leaves, and ingestion causes vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and drooling.
How to check the flowers you receive
If you have a cat, it's important to get into the habit of checking the contents every time you receive a bouquet. When ordering from a florist, ask in advance — "I have a cat, so please leave out lilies, tulips, and daffodils" — and most will adjust.
Type a flower's name into flower cat to instantly check whether it's toxic.