Plants safe for cats: A full list of toxic vs. cat-friendly flowers.

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read

No matter the reason, giving someone flowers is a beautiful and stylish way to demonstrate your love. There are hundreds of different varieties to customize a bouquet and fit the taste of friends, family or romantic partners.

When curating the picture-perfect arrangement, the last thing you might consider is a pet's health. But, flowers can pose problems for our furry friends, particularly cats if they eat them.

Many flowers and plants deemed safe for humans are toxic for cats, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). So, before you buy flowers for your next big occasion, here's a rundown on some cat-friendly alternatives.

Cat-safe flowers

According to PetMD, there are several popular cat-friendly flowers, including:

  • Alstroemeria

  • Asters

  • Freesia

  • Gerbera daisies

  • Lisianthus

  • Orchids

  • Roses

  • Snapdragon

  • Statice

  • Sunflowers

  • Wax flower

Are roses toxic to cats?

Ingesting any flower could lead to a mild upset stomach, but roses are not considered extremely toxic for cats, according to the ASPCA.

The main concern is a rose's thorns. If a cat were to eat or chew a rose's stem, it could cause injuries to the mouth or paws, the ASPCA reports. Floral stems can also get stuck in a cat's throat, causing a gastrointestinal obstruction.

What flowers are poisonous to cats?

Similar to humans, cats can also have allergies to plants causing irritation to the skin, mouth and stomach, PetMD reports. In some cases, they can lead to more drastic impacts, such as kidney or heart damage.

There are countless flowers categorized as poisonous to cats. The best way to determine whether or not something is safe for your pet is to consult the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant list.

Here are some common flowers that are toxic to cats:

  • Amaryllis

  • Daffodils

  • Oleander

  • Lillies

  • Peace Lilies

  • Tulips

  • Chrysanthemums

  • Cyclamen

  • Azaleas

  • Rhododendrons

Toxin concentration levels vary depending on the type and part of the flower, PetMD reports. It's safe to assume any plant labeled as "toxic" is off-limits for decoration.

My cat ate a plant, what should I do?

Typically, cats experience inflammation or irritation – such as eye swelling or skin redness – when exposed to irritants like flowers. However, if a cat ingests a plant, this can cause more serious complications, including vomiting and diarrhea.

If your cat experiences any of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian and seek immediate medical attention:

  • Trouble breathing

  • Drooling

  • Difficulty swallowing

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Increased thirst

  • Excessive urination

  • Irregular heartbeat

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "When do cats stop growing?" to "Are poinsettias poisonous to dogs?" to "Can cats eat watermelon?" − we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What flowers are safe for cats? Unpacking toxic vs cat-friendly plants

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • I’m a Bank Teller: 9 Reasons You Should Never Ask for $2 Bills From the Bank

    Two dollar bills -- what grandfather doesn't love giving them and what kid doesn't love getting them? But they're not all whimsy and fun times -- in fact, bank teller Rachael P. said they can be more...

  • Couple says goodbye to beloved home on Quebec coast after erosion put safety at risk

    Joanne Audet and Marcel Breton say they have lived an extraordinary life by the sea, but the coastal erosion along the shores of Maria, Que., has become too much for the couple."We were hit by three enormous tides within a year. You can't stay here anymore. At home, it was scary. It was rumbling, it shook. The water hits your windows. You become surrounded by water everywhere," Audet said. "We no longer had a choice. We had to leave."Their residence is among eight homes threatened by imminent co

  • Man airlifted to hospital after bear attack in B.C. Rockies: RCMP

    A British Columbia man was airlifted to a Calgary hospital with "significant injuries" Thursday after fending off a grizzly bear attack on a mountainside in the Rocky Mountains near the B.C.-Alberta border, according to RCMP and wildlife officials.Police said a father and son were tracking a bear west of Highway 43 south of Elkford, B.C., when the 36-year-old son was "attacked suddenly by an adult grizzly bear" around 3 p.m. PT.The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) later said the man was

  • Councillor's dog to be destroyed after attack on cocker spaniel

    Maria Charlesworth's shar pei is to be put down after the attack in a Worksop park.

  • 'I don't think that's wise': Video captures herd of bison charging tourists in Yellowstone

    In case you needed a visual reminder of why you are supposed to keep at least a 25-yard distance from bison and other national park wildlife.

  • Rescue Wants Answers After Finding a 'Very Scared' Cat Abandoned in a Cave with No Food or Water

    The cat is now in the care of the RSPCA, after a Good Samaritan dropped the feline off at a veterinarian.

  • Grey-headed chickadee listed as endangered in May

    The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) updated the status of twelve Canadian animals this month, and it included the Grey-headed Chickadee among the animals newly considered "endangered."Dr. Louise Blight is the co-chair of the COSEWIC advisory committee on birds. She said Grey-headed Chickadees live at the edge of the treeline in the Pacific Northwest, and were historically common near Old Crow. The bird is so rare that it is hard to estimate its population, she

  • 4 downy chicks born to Moncton pair of rooftop peregrine falcons

    Moncton has welcomed some new feathery friends. Two peregrine falcons that have been living in a nesting box atop the Assumption Building in the city for the last 13 years have just hatched four chicks. Earlier this year, the Magnetic Hill Zoo and Nature Moncton partnered to set up a livestream on the pair's nesting box, so viewers waited anxiously for about a month, closely watching the eggs. Jill Marvin, the director of the Magnetic Hill Zoo, said she first noticed something unusual when she c

  • 'Ozzy Osbourne' no match for stubborn Colorado bear in neighborhood tree

    Wildlife officials said the bear had gotten in the trash and found food. When the rangers arrived, the bear was already in a tree.

  • 30+ May long weekend deals to shop on Amazon — save up to 68% on home, tech and more

    Don't miss your chance to save up to 68 per cent on earbuds, skincare & more.

  • Will a new livestock worrying law reduce attacks?

    We ask those affected if tougher punishments and greater police powers will make a difference.

  • Here's Your Worst Love Match, Based on Your Sign

    Understanding your compatibility can help prevent potential challenges in your relationship

  • One week ago, the northern lights stunned America. When will it happen again?

    Even though experts say conditions are primed for more aurora shows over the next few years, predicting exactly when and where is a challenge.

  • How to check your dog for ticks: Why a Canadian veterinarian recommends you 'get in the habit' of regular pat downs

    Just like checking yourself for ticks, you want to make sure you're checking every inch of skin on your pets.

  • Roaming Black Bear Amazes Residents of Michigan Beach Town

    A black bear was seen wandering the streets of Ludington, Michigan, on Thursday, May 16, before police said it returned to its natural habitat.Footage recorded by Trinja Henrickson shows the bear as residents of the beach town look on in amazement.Henrickson told Storyful she was heading to work when she heard about the bear on the loose, and stopped to look for it when she happened to spot it coming down an alleyway.The animal was first reported more than a mile away.The Ludington Police Department said on Thursday that the bear had “safely returned to its natural habitat.” Credit: Trinja Henrickson via Storyful

  • "UNSPEAKABLY CRUEL": Not uncommon to find dogs, cats kept in 'shocking' conditions: Rural Manitoba animal advocate

    After years of seeing animals in her community suffering in “unspeakable” conditions of abandonment and squalor, Michelle Neufeld says she was shocked, but not all that surprised when she heard that almost 70 dogs were removed from a Winnipeg home this week. “I was shocked but I wasn’t,” Neufeld, the president of the Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue (SAAR) said, after Winnipeg Police (WPS) and Animal Services announced Wednesday 68 dogs were discovered and removed from a home in the Richmond Wes

  • Residents of Canadian oil town menaced by wildfire can return home

    Residents of the Canadian oil town threatened by an out-of-control wildfire can return home, authorities said Saturday, even as they warned the community will have to contend with the blaze for the foreseeable future. Thousands of residents of Fort McMurray, in northern Alberta, had been ordered to leave their homes earlier this month. "With the current and forecast weather conditions, specifically the amount of rain that has fallen on the fire, combined with continued fire suppression and community protection efforts, I am pleased to announce it is now safe for us to end the current evacuation and allow people to return to their homes," said Sandy Bowman, mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo that includes Fort McMurray.

  • Man wins nearly $2 million placing $5 side bet at Las Vegas casino

    Joseph Nardello made the win through the Millionaire Progressive, which allows customers to place a $5 side bet while playing table games at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas.

  • Botanists are scouring the US-Mexico border to document a forgotten ecosystem split by a giant wall

    JACUMÉ, México (AP) — Near the towering border wall flanked by a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle, botanist Sula Vanderplank heard a quail in the scrub yelp “chi-ca-go,” a sound the birds use to signal they are separated from a mate or group. Vanderplank was among several botanists and citizen scientists participating in the Border Bioblitz near the Mexican community of Jacumé, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of Tijuana. On a recent day, Bioblitz volunteers scrutinized a bright yellow blooming carpet of common Goldfields, a sharp contrast to the imposing steel bollards of the border wall topped with rolls of razor wire.

  • Ford begs suppliers to help stem EV losses: 'We will all win or lose together'

    Ford is soliciting manufacturing money-saving ideas for its electric vehicles in a new memo sent this week.