Foxgloves but I have cats...

[PrettyPuss]

Always had cats and therefore have never planted foxgloves (toxic to cats). I love foxgloves and would love to plants some. A fellow cat lover has recently told me that there are many other plants that are toxic to cats, many of the plants she mentioned, already grow in my garden and my cats have never been interested in consuming them. She also made another good point; her neighbour grows foxgloves and her cat goes into the neighbours garden.

Is planting foxgloves in my garden too risky for my cats?

Foxgloves are beautiful but not nice to handle as a cat or a human. All of them is toxic. I considered planting some in my front garden where my dog doesn't really go but on balance decided it wasn't worth the stress (but I do also have kids).

I don't plant them but wild ones self-seed. Always had cats and they have never touched them.

Foxgloves are toxic full stop. I have two cats and a dog and have foxgloves. Cats are now 10+ years old (dog still a stupid puppy/teen but still alive despite his best attempts sometimes...). I don't think I've ever seen my cats attempt to eat anything but grass. Certainly never flowers.

I've always had foxgloves and cats. They've never attempted to eat them. I do wear gloves when I plant them out/cut them back though, as they are toxic.

The only plant I would avoid with cats is lilies, because even the pollen (which might fall on their fur) could kill them if they lick it.

Thank you all!

There’s loads of plants that are toxic to cats BBC Gardeners World website is the one I consult the most.
I had no idea how many until I got a cat who at the very least tastes and sometimes actively eats ALL new things green in my house and garden. The other one doesn’t eat anything green except occasional grass.
I can’t stop him trying other people’s plants, but reduce the risk by not having anything that can harm him here.If it was just the other one I’d be less circumspect and would have plants from bulbs, foxgloves, wisteria, clematis, the works…. ETA but never lillies!!

I have had clematis and wisteria for years! Clematis grows over the shed where one of my cats has often slept in summer for 12 years!

I shall plant some lovely foxgloves this weekend.

Thank you.

I too have had foxgloves and cats sharing the same garden for years. They ignore one another just fine.

It is lilies you need to worry about. Hemerocallis too. The pollen is the issue - if a cat brushes past one and gets pollen on their fur, they can lick it off and ingest it when grooming. Seriously toxic.

I've got lots of foxgloves and have had a few cats, none of them have bothered with them.

I now have a beautiful ‘Apple Blossom’ foxglove. I shall plant a few more purple ones I know the local plant seller will have at the market this week. It looks quite magical at the end of my garden, in a shady area with a backdrop of Virginia Creeper.

Ive had many cats over the last 30 odd years and even more foxgloves and nowt awful has ever happened

@PrettyPuss Remember foxgloves aren't perennial, so don't spend too much! If you're lucky they will self-seed, but it's not guaranteed. I find they rarely self-seed in my garden, I suspect because I mostly have them under a tree where it's very dry in summer.

I always sow a few seeds in mid-summer and leave them in a sheltered spot outside to grow on over winter, then plant out in March.