Lilies And Cats.... Warning

  According to the National Animal Poison Control Center, certain types of lilies can cause renal failure in cats that have ingested any part of the lily. The Society of American Florists recommends keeping lilies out of the reach of cats. It is important to note that lilies do not pose a problem for other pets or humans.

The beautiful Lily is often the focal flower used in many floral arrangements. They are also a very popular plant that are often brought come into our homes during the spring and Easter seasons. But be aware, that lilies, if eaten by cats, can be lethal.

Follows are the symptoms that result from the cat eating a Lily:

Vomiting, Vomiting occurs within approximately an hour of eating any part of the lily plant.

Depression is the next stage that takes place for about a half a day.

If untreated for a few days a cat may show signs of kidney failure. You can tell when there are problems with the kidneys if your pet begins urinating more frequently, is dehydrated, depressed, has no appetite, and shows signs of an has an upset stomach.

The bottom line is if you suspect your cat has been eating a lily plant, rush it to the veterinarian immediately.

We at Canada Floral Delivery ask you to please consider the above when purchasing floral arrangements or plants that may contain lilies and may be in contact with cats.

Further Information By Carol Finch

Cats And Plants -- Can Your House Plants Poison Your Cat?

Cats are, by their very nature, inquisitive animals. And, let’s face it, they don’t always advertise their bad behavior! Step out of a room with a cat in it for just a few minutes and you can come back to a real mess whilst your cat sits on the couch looking as innocent as a baby. They really are masters (and mistresses) of the guilt-free ‘Who Me?’ look! Most of the time this might not be a real issue. Messes can be cleaned up after all. But, what if you come back into the room to find that kitty has eaten part of  a plant and is now throwing up all over the floor? You may have health issues to worry about here and not just mess. Fact is some plants are toxic to cats and can cause them severe health problems that can sometimes lead to death.

One problem that cat owners face is that many cats will chew plants. The problem here is that they can’t actually digest what they chew which is why they will generally simply throw it back up again. This can actually be a real useful trick. A cat that knows it has a fur ball may well simply go in the yard and chew some grass to make itself vomit. Grass comes up and, hopefully, brings fur ball with it. Job done.

But, the average cat has no idea what is safe to eat and what isn’t. So, even if they’re just chewing for fun they could cause themselves some serious problems. As a responsible cat owner you may be better off thinking about the plants and flowers you have in and around your home. In some cases you may want to NOT have certain species around your cat at all. Let’s take a look at some of the most problematic plant/flower species.

The worst offender here (and one you simply should not have in your home at all) is the lily. For some reason lilies and cats just do not mix. Even brushing against a few cut lilies and getting pollen on their fur could lead to severe health problems for many cats. Minimal exposure to lilies can lead to serious damage to their kidneys. At the worst here your cat could die if it doesn’t get treatment in time.

Azaleas, whilst popular plants in many homes, could also be a problem here. These plants contain grayantoxins which can cause problems with your cat’s central nervous system. In some cases this has led to severe cardiovascular problems and death. Tulips can also cause a range of heart and nervous system problems. With these flowers it is the bulbs that cause the problems in most cases so they are worth avoiding if you have a ‘digger’ cat.

Many plants will simply upset your cat’s stomach or its gastrointestinal functions. This can have some long-term effects in severe cases but even mild cases can be distressing to you and to your cat. For this reason, you may want to avoid planting plants such as Cyclamen, Yew, Crocus, Chrysanthemum and certain types of Ivy.

It can be almost impossible to stop your cat from chewing on greenery and flowers. As a cat owner you most likely already realize just how stubborn and untrainable cats can be! You may be better suited, therefore, to make sure that the flowers and plants you have in your home and your yard are as non-toxic as possible.  

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