Poinsettia are NOT Poisonous to Pets

(An update of our popular story from last year.)

Have you hesitated to bring poinsettias into your home lest you be causing injury to your feline companions? Well, it turns out that all the hype about poinsettias being a problem for our pets is overblown and inaccurate. Our friends at the National Garden Bureau recently shared the following post straightening out that misconception: 

Poinsettia are NOT Poisonous

It is a common belief that poinsettia plants are poisonous. But the fact is, they’re NOT. An Ohio State University study, conducted in 1971, debunked this myth. Researchers found the plant is not toxic, even in high doses. The POISINDEX® Information Service, the primary resource used by most poison control centers, states that a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 500 poinsettia bracts to surpass experimental doses. Based on the rodent tests, accepted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the commission denied a 1975 petition filed by a New York citizen demanding that poinsettia plants carry caution labels that indicate they are poisonous. 

So how did the myth that poinsettias are poisonous get started? 

"The myth may have arisen from an unsubstantiated report in 1919 of a small child who died after chewing on a poinsettia leaf. Or perhaps it is due to the fact that many members of the poinsettia’s botanical family, Euphorbia, have highly toxic latex sap. Poinsettia sap is innocuous enough that only people with a latex allergy are likely to have a reaction if they get it on their skin."

Poinsettias are NOT poisonous to Dogs and Cats

Most veterinary medicine websites state that poinsettias can be mildly toxic to dogs and cats. Washington State University says “Poinsettias have received bad publicity in the past. They do contain a milky sap that can irritate the mouth, but symptoms are usually mild if they develop.”

Meanwhile, there are other holiday plant favorites that are FAR more worrisome for pets. They include amaryllis, holly, lilies, and mistletoe. They can cause kidney failure and other fatal interactions.

For more about poinsettia selection and care, go to: https://ngb.org/tips-for-making-your-poinsettia-shine/

Use Caution at Easter Time: Lilies are Toxic to Felines

Keep cats away from Easter Lilies and other Asiatic Lilies (Lilium spp.) as cats can suffer acute kidney failure within a very short period of time from just licking a few pollen grains off their fur. (Daylilies, by the way, are not true lilies and so are not a plant of concern around cats.)

See more about Lilies and Cats at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm393028.htm

Read more about Cat-Friendly Gardening here:
http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/10/gardenig-is-more-fun-with-cats.html

Here is a List of SAFE Plants for Cats:
http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/11/nontoxic-plants-for-cats.html

In the last several years, many veterinary webpages and cat-related websites have sprung up to educate cat owners on the dangers of lilies, such as noliliesforkitties.com. Here is a graphic shared on one of them:

Top Photo Source: FDA 
(This is an update of an earlier Cats in Gardens blog post.)

Poinsettia are NOT Poisonous

Have you hesitated to bring poinsettias into your home lest you be causing injury to your feline companions? Well, it turns out that all the hype about poinsettias being a problem for our pets is overblown and inaccurate. Our friends at the National Garden Bureau recently shared the following post straightening out that misconception: 

Poinsettia are NOT Poisonous

It is a common belief that poinsettia plants are poisonous. But the fact is, they’re NOT. An Ohio State University study, conducted in 1971, debunked this myth. Researchers found the plant is not toxic, even in high doses. The POISINDEX® Information Service, the primary resource used by most poison control centers, states that a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 500 poinsettia bracts to surpass experimental doses. Based on the rodent tests, accepted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the commission denied a 1975 petition filed by a New York citizen demanding that poinsettia plants carry caution labels that indicate they are poisonous. Learn more.

Poinsettias are NOT poisonous to Dogs and Cats

Most veterinary medicine websites state that poinsettias can be mildly toxic to dogs and cats. Washington State University says “Poinsettias have received bad publicity in the past. They do contain a milky sap that can irritate the mouth, but symptoms are usually mild if they develop.”

For more about poinsettia selection and care, go to: https://ngb.org/tips-for-making-your-poinsettia-shine/

Keep Easter (and other) Lilies Away From Your Cats

Keep cats away from Easter Lilies and other Asiatic Lilies (Lilium spp.) as cats can suffer acute kidney failure within a very short period of time from just a licking a few pollen grains off their fur. (Daylilies, by the way, are not true lilies and so are not a plant of concern around cats.)

See more about Lilies and Cats at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm393028.htm
 
Read more about Cat-Friendly Gardening here:
http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/10/gardenig-is-more-fun-with-cats.html

Here is a List of SAFE Plants for Cats:
http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/11/nontoxic-plants-for-cats.html

Photo Source: FDA 
(This is an update of an earlier Cats in Gardens blog post.)

50 Pet-Safe Plants for Cats and Dogs

I received the following press release and thought it was helpful, so am sharing it here:

>With Spring in full swing, certain plants can be a health risk for both cats and dogs. To prevent this, Veterinarians.org has listed a variety of indoor and outdoor plants including ferns, herbs, and flowers that are pet-safe.

• Flowering houseplants: Gloxinia, Lace Flower Vine, African Violet, Hoya, Orchid, Lipstick Plant, Bromeliad
• Flowing, climbing, and cascading plants: Boston Fern, Swedish Ivy, Spider Plant, Aluminum Plant, Baby Tears, Staghorn Fern
• Foliage houseplants: Royal Velvet Plant, Prayer Plant, Calathea, Bird’s Nest Fern, Chinese Money Plant
• Herbs: Basil, Rosemary, Dill, Thyme, Sage, Cilantro, Savory
• Succulents: Echeveria, Burros Tail, Christmas Cactus

To see the entire list of plants, click here.

“A few gorgeous pet-safe alternatives include roses, sunflowers, snapdragon, Gerber daisies, impatiens, camellia, and marigold– the last of which is also a form of natural pest control!” 

- Jamie Freyer, DVM

 

Lilies are Deadly Poison to Cats

 

Keep cats away from Easter Lilies and other Asiatic Lilies as cats can suffer acute kidney failure within a very short period of time from just a licking a few pollen grains off their fur.  Even a small nibble on a lily flower of foliage can be deadly to cats.

BEWARE of it, if it has "Lilium" in the Latin name. 

Similarly, Gloriosa Lily or Flame Lily (Gloriosa sp.) are also very dangerous to have around cats.

Another plant to be cautious about handling and bringing inside your home is the Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) as it is toxic to cats and poisonous to humans. Wash your hands after touching them.

Note that some other kinds of lilies are just fine to have around felines -- such as daylilies and waterliles.

See more about Lilies and Cats at:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm393028.htm 

Read more about Cat-Friendly Gardening here:

http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/10/gardenig-is-more-fun-with-cats.html

Here is a List of SAFE Plants for Cats:

http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/11/nontoxic-plants-for-cats.html

Photo Source: FDA.gov
(This is an updated blog post from Spring 2014 and 2021)

Lilies are Deadly Poison to Cats

Keep cats away from Easter Lilies and other Asiatic Lilies as cats can suffer acute kidney failure within a very short period of time from just a licking a few pollen grains off their fur.  Even a small nibble on a lily flower of foliage can be deadly to cats.

BEWARE of it, if it has "Lilium" in the Latin name. 

Similarly, Gloriosa Lily or Flame Lily (Gloriosa sp.) are also very dangerous to have around cats.

Another plant to be cautious about handling and bringing inside your home is the Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) as it is toxic to cats and poisonous to humans. Wash your hands after touching them.

Note that some other kinds of lilies are just fine to have around felines -- such as daylilies and waterliles.

See more about Lilies and Cats at:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm393028.htm 

Read more about Cat-Friendly Gardening here:

http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/10/gardenig-is-more-fun-with-cats.html

Here is a List of SAFE Plants for Cats:

http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/11/nontoxic-plants-for-cats.html

Photo Source: FDA.gov
(This is an updated blog post from Spring 2014 and 2020)

WARNING: Permethrin and Cats

Because few people are aware of this issue, I thought I'd share this video here with my fellow Cat and Garden lovers.

"Permethrin is a type of insecticide. It is a pyrethroid – a synthetic compounds derived from pyrethrins, which are naturally occurring substances extracted from Chrysanthemum flowers."

It is used in flea and tick repellents for dogs, "natural" mosquito sprays, scabies and lice treatment cream, etc. The most danger is when it is still wet and the cat is exposed to it. Once dry, it is low-risk, but I'd still avoid use of it around any cats.

See more at:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/11/627843581/if-you-spray-your-clothes-with-permethrin-be-careful-around-the-cat
and
https://icatcare.org/permethrin/owner-info

Happy Easter!

 
Keep cats away from Easter Lilies and other Asiatic Lilies as cats can suffer acute kidney failure within a very short period of time from just a licking a few pollen grains off their fur.
 
See more about Lilies and Cats at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm393028.htm
 
Read more about Cat-Friendly Gardening here:
http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/10/gardenig-is-more-fun-with-cats.html

Here is a List of SAFE Plants for Cats:
http://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2015/11/nontoxic-plants-for-cats.html

Photo Source: FDA 
(This is an updated blog post from Spring 2014)

Happy Easter!

 
Keep cats away from Easter Lilies and other Asiatic lilies as cats can suffer acute kidney failure within a very short period of time from just a licking a few pollen grains off their fur.
 
See more about Lilies and Cats at: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm393028.htm
 
Read more about Pet-Friendly Gardening in the Washington Gardener Enews June 2013 issue:
http://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2013/06/pet-friendly-gardening-in-washington.html

Photo Source: FDA