Do you have any toxic to pet plants in your front garden?

[Anotherusername13]

I am just wondering what the done thing is. I'm new to gardening and have realized that some of the plants I like could be toxic to cats if ingested. My front garden doesn't have a gate so anyone or any pet can walk into it. I don't know if these plants would actually really hurt an animal , probably be more likely to give them a tummy upset.
Do you take this into consideration when planting and avoid these sorts of plants? I have seen a couple of outdoor cats roaming and obviously would not want them to be harmed, however I really love some of these plants and how they look and would love to have them in my front garden.

I honestly have no idea...

I've no idea either. It's not something I would ever think to check.

I have a few that I know are toxic to dogs, mine have never gone near them though.

Tend to.find most dogs/cats are aware of poison x

We have cats and there’s some toxic to cat plants in our garden and next door. We are trying to gradually eliminate them from ours but don’t expect the neighbours to-and we previously lost one to Lillies ☹️

I have lilies in my front. They pre-date my cat. I wouldn't plant any now, and I won't have them in the house. But I don't know what other plans are toxic to cats, I don't restrict my cat's roaming, and I have neither any idea nor any control of what others in the neighbourhood plant. So I don't see any point in being fussy about it.

I do and it doesn't bother me. Keep your pets out of my garden.

I wouldn't worry about this at all. If it was that great a hazard, cats would be getting ill with enough frequency for there to be a lot more public messaging than there is.

I have a dog, and several toxic plants in my garden. Although it was to some extent an issue during his puppyhood (when everything goes into the mouth - and at an age where kittens aren't free-roaming), I think it would only matter after puppyhood if he was close-confined with the poisons and at risk of worrying at them to compensate for under-stimulation. I imagine something similar is true of cats.

Exactly.

I'll plant I like in my own space.

If you don't want your animals to be harmed then be more responsible with them Keep dogs on leads and out of random gardens and your cats at home or purpose build garden space.

If I didn't have anything that was poisonous to ds, ddogs or visiting cats, might as well just concrete it all. Some is planted, some is weeds I am working on. DS has been taught always to ask before picking anything. Dogs are mostly interested in grass, apples to chase or cat 💩

I think lilies are the big thing to avoid because they are poisonous to pets just brushing past them (pollen on fur which is then licked) but as for other toxic plants I think the likelihood of them eating your plants is low.
It is lovely that you are thinking about this though.

Our dogs don't go into the front garden as its not enclosed - only the back

So animal safe plants in the back - and the pretty plants, sometimes toxic - are in the front - my general opinion is that if someone elses animal comes in - it isn't their garden... on their own heads be it

I don't grow lilies, and if I get given a bouquet I cut off the pollen. Some of the houseplants are out of reach.

Any other plants - most cats are sensible enough not to chew random plants that don't look like grass, and dogs should be under control by the owner. I'm not giving up my foxgloves for anyone!

I don't have any lillies but do have foxgloves and larkspur in my garden and a cat. IME pets usually know not to eat them.

Even if you had a gate, I suspect cats would still be able to get in so you should plant what you like.

Yes, at least foxglove in the the front and the back - but it’s largely as a wild flower as the they pop up everywhere round here.

I have DDog that has free roam of the back garden so evening I know is toxic goes in the front, in the back I check toxicity if it’s likely to drop seeds etc, but Ddog doesn’t generally bother with plants so I’m not super vigilant.

Just to add you can get pollen free lillies if you're wanting to add some.

Are foxgloves poisonous to cats? I didn't know.

I have a cat that roams. I would not expect anyone to consider my cat in their planting.
I keep my garden and home free from toxic plants and flowers - but he can go anywhere!

We have lilies, tulips, daffodils, peonies, fox gloves, cyclamen, crocus, hyacinth, solomon's seal, alliums all apparently poisonous to cats according to a quick google. I'd have no garden left if I got rid of all of them! (not that I would anyway).

There was a post a few months ago about a newcomer to a neighbourhood who had a cat. She knocked on the op’s door and asked her to remove a plant from her front garden which would be toxic to her free range cat. Responses agreed with the OP that the request was grossly unreasonable. I doubt animals would be munching on plants that would be toxic to them.

Well they are poisonous to humans.

I only recently planted lilies , as I don’t get cats in my garden any more (next door used to have a cat). I’ve planted a tall variety so that it’s unlikely for a cat to be able to brush against the flowers, but if a close neighbour got a cat I would dig them up.
Other than that I have lots of Foxgloves and things like Lily of the Valley, that are toxic but I’ve never had an issue with any animal eating them, even when ddog was a puppy.

I have no idea and I would not change them if I did.

Think how many plants are toxic to humans. Yet we roam and let our children roam in gardens and parks because largely we don't go around munching the undergrowth.

I remember Chris van tulleken's UPF book talking about how smart cows were and that when offered different feeds when they were short of a nutrient they would beeline for the one that contained what they needed.

I think cats are pretty smart and even if one was fairly stupid they are likely to either dislike the taste/smell or vomit it up.

No idea as I don't have pets who go in front garden

Yup, loads of my front garden plants are poisonous; daffodils, crocus, monkshood, foxgloves, ivy, rhubarb, yew topiary etc. Animals and children don't eat growing garden plants, it just doesn't happen and isn't an issue.