Lilies toxic to cats

[Sunnyside4]

I'm sure many people know, but just wanted to raise awareness even if you don't have cats.

I've had a couple of late birthday gifts this week, both containing lilies - they are beautiful and one type smell gorgeous, but sadly I've had to bin them as they're toxic to cats, can even be fatal. The people who gave me them both know I absolutely adore my cats, but obviously don't realise they're toxic. Obviously can't stop people growing them outside, but just thinking it's not the best present for a cat lover (also a waste of money).

It's one of the reasons I always worry when people let their cats roam. We have a HUGE patch of lilies growing in the garden (I love lilies and don't have cats of my own) and a few times I've had to shoo a cat out from around there. Because of where they grow, they are in the prime spot if you wanted to hunt baby birds and the cats seem magnetically attracted to that bit of the garden. Especially when the lilies are in full bloom as that's when the young birds tend to fledge and attract the cat's hunting attentions.

It's good to raise awareness but couldn't you just have given them away?

Are you cats going to eat the lilies? I’ve never had any issues with this ever, bit dramatic to be binning flowers.

On the rare occasion I get lilies I just cut the stamens off and keep them where the cats don’t go. But everyone knows what works best for their cat and their household!

You can just cut the stamens off and put the vase up where the cats aren’t…