Spring is a great time for us kitties- we love lounging in open windows, napping in the sun, and chasing the occasional buggies that manage to fly in while the door is open. But a big part of spring- the beautiful flowers that begin to bloom- can be exceptionally hazardous to your cats' health.
We found this great article in WebMD's Healthy Cat section:
" The entire lily family- including easter lilies, asian lilies, the elegant calla lily and even the feline named tiger lily- should be OFF LIMITS for cat owning households. The toxic substance in lilies is unknown but the toxin appears to affect only the cat and not the dog. In addition to finding a freshly mangled plant on the windowsill, cat owners will see vomiting and diarrhea following lily ingestion. Blood tests often reveal kidney failure which in some cases can require treatment with dialysis and may be fatal.
Lily ingestion is a year round problem because some cats cannot resist sampling the vegetation used to decorate the house — and the problem is not just with lilies. Many other ornamental plants can be toxic to cats. Common springtime flowers on this list include amaryllis, crocus, narcissus, daffodil and azalea. Cat owners must carefully select their houseplants to avoid a trip to the emergency room following unplanned consumption of a toxic cat salad.
If your cat inadvertently ingests one of these plants or any other plant for that matter, contact your veterinarian’s office to determine if treatment is necessary. You may also contact one of the animal poison control services or 24hour emergency vet clinics in your area."
So as much as we love chomping on your beautiful flowers- and believe me, we do- it's in our best interest to have them kept out of our reach.
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