As spring approaches, daffodils are starting to bloom in our gardens and add a bit of colour to our homes, but did you know? These pretty, yellow flowers can potentially be toxic for cats.
The delightful, seasonal flower can be toxic if the bulb is eaten, and the heads and leaves of the flower can also be dangerous when consumed. If digested they can cause stomach upsets, vomiting, or worse, so please be careful, and alert your vet immediately if you think something is wrong.
The spring flowers contain a poisonous alkaloid that can trigger vomiting, while crystals in the bulbs are severely toxic and can cause serious conditions such as abnormal heart rhythms or breathing problems in both cats and dogs.
Read more about which plants are toxic to cats here.
It is best to simply remove all potentially hazardous household plants, to prevent unnecessary exposure. This is especially important for inquisitive kittens and indoor cats.
Outdoors the story is not so simple. Free-roaming cats have access to many gardens so it will be impossible to prevent all possible contact with potentially harmful plants. You can, however, remove the most toxic plants from your garden, and make a note of any in your neighbours’ gardens that are potentially dangerous.
Read more about which lilies are toxic to cats here.
Plants that are toxic to cats
Many plants are toxic to cats and some, like lilies, may even be fatal. This list is part of a more comprehensive list put together by International Cat Care:
- Aconitium
- Arum
- Azalea
- Alstroemeria
- Brugmansia
- Chrysanthemum
- Colchicum
- Crocus
- Daffodil
- Daphne
- Digitalis
- Euphorbia
- Ferns
- Foxglove
- Galanthus
- Holly
- Ivy
- Laburnum Larkspur
- Lilium
- Lily of the Valley
- Mistletoe
- Morning Glory
- Narcissus Nerium
- Oleander Nicotania
- Papaver
- Physalis
- Phytolacca
- Poinsettia
- Ricinus
- Rue
- Solanum
- Taxus
- Tomato
- Tulipa
- Yew
