Plants poisonous to pets?

I just had a week's holiday and put some effort into planning, buying and planting my garden ahead of spring and summer. However, I was annoyed with myself for only realising slightly into my plan that many plants can be bad for our pet cat. He has access to gardens around so I can't really do that much to protect him other than making sure our own patch of land isn't going to poison him!

Information about poisonous or toxic plants for pets is quite limited online though. And it feels like a large number of common garden plants are in fact dangerous (lily, snowdrops, delphinium, sweet pea, Silver Queen etc). There are some websites with short lists without that great amount of detail. For instance, are all toxic plants a no-no? Or is it highly unlikely a cat would actually even consider trying to eat the vast majority?

I thought it might be helpful to start a discussion on this (if one doesn't already exist) so other cat and dog owners can share advice.

One thing I'm struggling with at the moment is finding out if my particular kind of Lobelia is toxic or not. The lists online say 'bedding lobelia' might not be but don't go into specifics. I'm growing the standard low growing kind from seed.

 

I know Lilly pollen can kill cats when they lick it off their fur, not sure about the rest, be interesting to see what the members come up with.

 

I dont think you need to worry too much, most adult animals are pretty good at sorting out what is good to eat.
Having said that, I think there are cases of cats being poisoned by Lilly pollen, they walk along touching the flowers and get the pollen on their coats.
They then lick it off whilst cleaning themselves, it is apparently fairly toxic.

 

I only know that Lily pollen is toxic to cats, but apparently there has never been a recorded case of poisoning in the garden but only when lilies have been inside the house, we have had cats for many years & never had a problem dispite growing various poisonous plants in the garden.

 

Perhaps I'm worrying too much. He's been out and about for three years and never been poisoned by our apparently toxic daffodils!

He did have diarrhea recently though which I think might have been down to my newly planted snowdrops. Apparently they can mistake the new shoots for grass.

I hadn't ever really thought about poisonous plants for cats until I read about lillys. Apparently lots of common plants are equally as bad.


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In one! They're much smarter in that respect than children.

I have two cats at the moment (many over the years), although for the first time I am without a dog, and have grown plants such as Aconitum, Datura, Lilies and Oleander without any problems. I should maybe avoid dwarf Lilies but I don't. Cats (and dogs) see and smell their surroundings very differently to us.

 

Thanks everyone. Perhaps I'll steer clear of the really bad ones and worry less about the others. I wish there was more practical advice on this online. The only articles I could find were quite scaremongering.


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The Kennel Club has a list of plants poisonous to dogs here: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/get...nt/house-and-garden-plants-poisonous-to-dogs/

I agree with the others though. The only things in the garden my dogs eat are grass and perfectly ripe fruit that I was about to pick!

 

Without wanting to sound complacent, that is definitely the answer.

Whilst not wanting tempt fate and it to happen to you, or me, such things are incredibly rare. There are myriads of plants in the garden that are poisonous, but almost none that will kill you, or a little child even, as they usually cause upset stomach rather than death. Many poisonous plants are very bitter, or have some other "keep off" signal, such that they don't get eaten. Wash your hands after working in the garden as you may have been handling poisonous plants without realising / knowing / remembering which ones are dangerous. Educate your kids to do the same (they will be in other people's gardens, not just your own ) ... but good luck with extending that approach to your Cats