'Don't buy lily flowers if you own cats': And Other Unexpected Plants That Are Dangerous To Your Kitties That Every Cat Owner Should Know About

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Feb 16, 2024 11:00 AM EST

We have been cat owners for many, many years at this point. We think we know our stuff. When new cat owners ask us for advice, we're pretty sure we give pawsome advice. But we have made enough mistakes over the years to know that even after many years of owning cats, there is always something to learn, and there is absolutely no shame about it. 

Cat ownership is not easy. Don't let anyone fool you. It only looks easy from the outside. But cats are animals, and when taking care of animals, there is always a lot that you need to know. We have all kinds of questions over time about cats. Questions like: why do our cats still bite us sometimes? And how do we help cats stay cool on hot days? And is using a squirt bottle actually harmful, and if it is, what can we use instead? It's better to ask than to make a mistake, and it's better to remind other cat owners as well, even if you think it's something that they know already. 

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    Posted by u/Specialist_Ad340 3 days ago Don't buy lily flowers if you own cats Advice
    via u/Specialist_Ad340

    Better to learn now than never - that's the motto we're going for today. We can tell, by the tone of writing in this thread, by this person's concern and by the fact that they're paying all this money to take care of their kitty, that they love their cat endlessly. A mistake was made, and now, we can only hope that your kitty pulls though with full health. 

  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 9879511552
    via u/Specialist_Ad340

    Honestly, we are glad that this person posted about this incident. We think that some aspects of cat ownership certainly don't get talked about enough, and a thread like this one gaining attention will hopefully help some other cat owners to avoid making a mistake like this one as well.

  • 03
    This is kind of an all in one advice/medical question/with cat pictures. Sorry this post might be rambled I'm just very frustrated and sad and scared for my babies. Lillies are EXTREMELY toxic. Just in no one told you. This needs to be made more aware, people need to know, it's like dogs and chocolate. Cats and lilies. There should be a warning label on $4
    via u/Specialist_Ad340
  • 04
    flowers that says POISONOUS AS because now that $4 spent on a pretty little flower has turned into a $2k+ vet bill tbd as my 2 cats are currently on IVs having blood work done being monitored for the next 3 days for kidney failure. And I blame myself every second and regret every time I ever bought flowers. The pollen is poisonous, the leaves, the petals, the
    via u/Specialist_Ad340
  • 05
    stems, and even the water they sit in are extremely toxic and most cats die within the first 72 hours of even cleaning their paws of some pollen. The pictures show my babies, Basil (black and white, 1yo M) and Cricket (ginger, 2yo M) who don't deserve to die just because I didn't _know that lilies are
    via u/Specialist_Ad340
  • 06
    bad. I hope everything turns out okay. If you have experience with cats and poisonous things please let me know. Basil got a big mouthful of pollen and pollen all over his face, I don't know if Cricket did but I brought him to the vet regardless just in case.
    via u/Specialist_Ad340
  • 07
    Itsallforthebuddies 3 days ago I didn't really know this until I started working in ER. I would argue cats and lilies are even worse than dogs and chocolate. Sounds like you got them to the clinic in a good time frame for treatment. If it helps, I have seen countless cats recover just fine from lily toxicity with proper treatment. Hope your kitties do well and keep us posted!
    via u/Itsallforthebuddies
  • 08
    Also want to add the PSA that any time your pet has ingested anything (medications, plant materials, food, etc) that you aren't sure of call the ASPCA Pet Poison Control at 888-426- 4435. It costs around $100 but cheaper than a vet visit and will let you know if treatment is needed! It's also covered by most pet insurance
    via u/Itsallforthebuddies
  • 09
    Obvious_Amphibian ASPCA website also has an extensive list of toxic plants for a variety of critters. It's available free at their website. 270 · 3 days ago
    via u/Obvious_Amphibian270
  • 10
    sunni_lemon 3 days ago aloe, tulips, and other flowers are also toxic 798 Reply Share
    via u/sunni_lemon
  • 11
    Reefers69 3 days ago · edited 3 days ago As soon as I bought the Trader Joe's hyacinths I googled if it's toxic to cats. It is, guess I should have googled before purchasing but at least I did before bringing it home! Always do research before bringing cleaners or plants home to cats!
    via u/Reefers69
  • 12
    Dewdlebawb 3 days ago I hope everything turns out well and this is a lesson to always always always research things that are toxic for any pet in your home. Some floor cleaners and essential oils are also very bad for cats just a heads up. Reply Share 699
    via u/Dewdlebawb
  • 13
    Specialist_Ad340 OP · 3 days ago Yes.. I knew about those and I thought I knew about some plants but just not lilies. It's hard to imagine that with just how toxic they are it's not talked about more often.
    via u/Specialist_Ad340
  • 14
    Onk Brilliant Tension7848 3 days ago . edited 3 days ago When I was in high school my step father was trying to surprise my mother with some lilies for Valentine's Day. He laid them down on the stairs and my cat wandered over and ate them. It was very scary. BUTTT after getting him some help he was able to live a nice long life afterwards with a few urinary
    via u/BrilliantTension7848
  • 15
    hiccups along the way... I share this to give you some hope that everything will be alright. This happened when I was about 14 and I am now almost 30 and he has only just now passed away within the last few months at 17 years old ♥
    via u/BrilliantTension7848
  • 16
    Sir_Remington 1294 · 3 days ago Unfortunately it goes deeper than this. Lots of flowers have the name Lily in them when they are not true lilies and won't kill your cat. Lilies in the genus lilium (oriental and Asiatic) as well as hemerocallis (day lilies) are the deadly one. Calla lilies, peace lilies, alstroemeria (called Peruvian lilies) are all examples of mildly toxic "lilies". I've included pictures of oriental and asiatic lilies.
    via u/Sir_Remington1294
  • 17
    Specialist_Ad340 OP · 3 days ago Mine were Asiatic unfortunately. The span between the cats getting into the lilies and me taking them to the vet was about 5 hours inbetween. I was at work when someone told me after I ignorantly showed them a picture of Basil with pollen on his face like "haha silly cute kitty" then rushed home and to the vet after finding out.
    via u/Specialist_Ad340
  • 18
    A_Dodge 3 days ago Not to take away from the seriousness of the situation, but that first picture gives off overlord vibes. That's someone I could see ruling the world one day. Best of luck, and I hope everything turns out well
    via u/A_Dodge
  • 19
    Specialist Ad340 OP He will rule!
    via u/Specialist_Ad340

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

cat thread educational advice flowers information viral Reddit Cats
Scroll Down For The Next Article