Just like us, our pets often love flowers and it’s common for them to be drawn to them when they’re displayed around their home. However, some flowers are toxic and can cause harm to our companions. Some common symptoms of plant toxicity in pets include: 

- Vomiting and diarrhoea 

- Lethargy and weakness 

- Excessive drooling 

- Loss of appetite 

- Difficulty breathing 

- Irregular heartbeat 

- Seizures or tremors 

- Pawing at the mouth or face 

Early detection is key to keeping your pets safe and healthy so make sure to contact your vet immediately if they display any of these symptoms. And of course, you can prevent your fur babies from coming to harm by choosing non-toxic flowers and plants. 

So, what flowers are safe for pets? The following flowers are considered non-toxic for both cats and dogs: 

- Roses: A timeless classic. 

- Gerberas: Funky, vibrant and absolutely unmissable. 

- Freesia: Delightfully scented and fantastically delicate. 

- Sunflowers: Bright and cheerful. 

- Snapdragons: Colourful annual flowers. 

- Pansies: Beautiful and available in a range of colours. 

- Limonium (aka sea lavender): A great option for adding texture to a bouquet 

- Lisianthus: Elegant and long-lasting, resembling roses in their beauty. 

- Pittosporum: Neat evergreen shrubs. 

- Stocks: Brightly coloured with a delicious scent. 

According to Cats Protection, these flowers are toxic to cats so should be avoided: 

- Azalea 

- Chrysanthemums (contains pyrethrin found in dog flea treatment) 

- Delphinium (larkspur) 

- Foxglove (digitalis) 

- Fritillary (snakeshead)  

- Lilies (all types) 

- Nerium oleander (dogbane family) 

- Ornithogalum umbellatum (star of Bethlehem) 

- Rhododendron 

The following flowers aren’t technically toxic to cats but can still be harmful: 

- Alstroemeria 

- Amaryllis 

- Carnations 

- Clematis 

- Cyclamen 

- Daffodils 

- Hyacinth 

- Lavender 

- Peonies 

- Ranunculus 

- Sweet William 

- Tulips 

This is a selection of the most common flowers, but you can see more in the Cats Protection pamphlet on dangerous plants and flowers. 

If your cat ingests a toxic flower, remove any plant material from its mouth, keep it calm and minimise stress and movement, and provide plant details to your vet and follow their advice. 

It’s easy to make simple swaps that replace harmful flowers with safe and equally beautiful alternatives. For example, orchids instead of lilies, Christmas cactus instead of amaryllis, and snapdragons instead of tulips. 

And beyond flowers, there are plenty of pet-friendly plants too. Popular types include Boston ferns, spider plants and African violets. Care for these by ensuring they get the right amount of water and light and prune regularly to encourage growth. Make sure you only use pet-friendly fertilisers and pest control treatments.