Valentine's Day Plants and Flowers May Be Fatal to Felines

Cat lovers, like others, may enjoy receiving flowers, pretty potpourri, potted plants and beautiful blooms on Valentine's Day and other special occasions. At the same time, many plants and flowers may prove poisonous to pets.

Countless fragrant and attractive plants can be totally toxic to felines. Curious cats may be tempted to dig in the dirt of potted trees and plants and to pick at pretty blooming flowers. Then these same felines naturally lick their paws, thus ingesting plant juices, pollens and other ingredients. Many forms of decorative vegetation, from bouquets to bushes, can cause serious health problems for cats.

What popular plants are poisonous to cats?

More than 700 plants may be listed as toxic to felines.

The most commonly purchased plants that are poisonous for cats include Aloe, Amaryllis, Asiatic lily, Asparagus fern, Azalea, Baby's breath, Begonia, Bird of paradise, Boxwood, Calla lily, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Climbing lily, Coleus, Cyclamen, Daffodil, Dahlia, Daisy and Dieffenbachia.

Additional cat-poisoning plants are Easter lily, Eucalyptus, Gardenia, Gladiolus, Hibiscus, Holly, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Iris, Ivy, Jonquil, Larkspur, Lily, Lily of the valley, Lobelia, Mistletoe, Morning glory and Moss rose.

Still more plants that are toxic for cats include Mum, Narcissus, Oleander, Paperwhite, Peace lily, Peony, Philodendron, Poinsettia, Pothos, Primrose, Shamrock, Stargazer lily, Sweet William, Tiger lily, Tulip, Vinca, Yarrow and Yucca.

The ASPCA has published an exhaustive online list of feline-toxic plants.

What adverse symptoms might cats experience after eating poisonous plants?

Actual physical effects may vary among individual cats, depending upon which plants they happen to ingest and the overall health condition of those felines.

Generally, cat symptoms caused by the eating of poisonous plants may include abdominal pain, central nervous system weakening, dehydration, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, drooling, gastrointestinal irritation, heart problems, hypothermia and increased heart rate.

More feline symptoms of poison plant ingestion may be increased thirst, liver failure, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, seizures or tremors, twitching muscles, vomiting, weakness and more.

Such symptoms usually appear within the first few hours after a cat has consumed perilous plant parts. In some cases, adverse effects may be evident almost immediately.

Professional veterinary assistance is advised, if a cat has eaten a toxic plant, particularly if these dangerous symptoms may be seen. The ASPCA offers a 24-hour toll-free emergency poison hotline for pet owners (1-888-426-4435).

In the most severe cases, a cat ingesting a toxic plant may experience coma or even death, so plant poisoning is considered a veterinary emergency.

What plants are not poisonous for pussycats?

Several popular plants and flowers are considered non-toxic for cats. Valentine's Day celebrants who wish to bless pet-loving loved ones with plants may opt for these vegetation varieties.

These include African violet, Aster, Bachelors' button, Bamboo, Boston fern, Bottlebrush, Bride's bonnet, Camellia, Canna lily, Canterbury bell, Cat brier, Celosia, Chicks and hens, Coral bells, Coreopsis, Cornflower and Gerbera daisy.

More plants deemed non-poisonous to cats are Gloxinia, Grape hyacinth, Hollyhock, Impatiens, Jasmine, Marigold, Moss fern, Moss phlox, Myrtle, Nasturtium, Orchid, Painted lady, Petunia, Pincushion flower, Rose, Sego lily, Silver bell, Snapdragon, Spider plant and Sunflower.

Animal nutritionists and veterinarians would certainly not advise feeding such vegetation to pets, but accidental consumption of these plants is not considered harmful.

How can cat owners protect their pets from poisonous plants?

Most felines will not naturally seek out flowers and foliage that could be fatal to them. However, for safety's sake, smart pet owners try to set such plants out of cats' reach.

This can be a difficult proposition, however, as cats tend to be both nimble and inquisitive. Many a feline will seem to regard the entire house as his or her domain. Clever cat owners may place poisonous plants under glass domes or safely ensconced in closed-door rooms, where cats cannot gain unsupervised access.

If such a solution seems impossible, the cat owner may simply take Valentine's Day flowers or plants to the workplace or elsewhere for display, rather than keeping these items at home.