Plants not to have in the garden with cats?

[Bogburglar99]

Hi

After reading the advice on lilies my poor cat-besotted DH is off to dig up his prized Hemerocallis.

Are there any other plants which are as bad as that for cats? DH loves BogBastardKitten but also loves his garden (as do I), and a happy compromise ensuring the well being of both would be welcome!

www.yourcat.co.uk/Outdoor-cats/why-are-kittens-in-danger-from-poisonous-plants.html

:)

Do you really need to dig them up? What about toxic plants in neighbours' gardens? I've always assumed animals stay away bt instinct from what's bad for them.

lilies yes, because its the pollen thats toxic, if a cat brushes up against it then cleans themselves it can be deadly.

So how do you stop your cat brushing up against lillies in other people's gardens?

I have a peace lily houseplant and a 6mth old kitten. It hasn't flowered since we've had her. Should I remove the plant?

Just cut the stamens out of the lilies when they open.

Lilies are just not worth the risk. Yes they might come into contact with them in neighbours gardens, but you certainly don't want to increase the risk by having them in yours.

Skullyton get rid of the peace lily altogether - don't just cut the stamens out. Even a tiny bit of pollen can be fatal and other parts of the plant are also poisonous if eaten, and house plants tend to be chewed by cats much more than outdoor plants (as I suppose they are the only bit of greenery in sight).

MrsLeigh - I've seen a lot of lily-related cat deaths unfortunately so you certainly can't rely on cats to avoid them. And of course they only need to walk past lilies and so get pollen on their paws or coats, rather than actually eat them, for them to be fatal.

I'm just really glad that lily beetle is so prevalent here in Southern England that very few people manage to successfully grow them in gardens.

Thanks for the good advice! skullyton that's a very helpful list.

MrsLeigh I was of the same opinion as you but thought I would ask advice at our vet checkup and like thecatneuterer she was absolutely clear on the subject. So I think the day lilies have to go. Can't help thinking its no bad thing I got DH to agree to a cat (and become besotted with him) before he knew the price was digging up his lily border. I might never have got him to agree - now, there is no question!

I'm glad I read this post now then! Thanks for the tip everyone.

Any more house plants I should avoid when I'm replacing my peace lily?

(I've had it for years and its huge )

Sorry I namechecked incorrectly.

Anyway Mrs Leigh the only other house plants to definitely avoid are poinsettias. But I would google anything you bring into the house as, as I said above, house plants tend to be more of a problem than garden plants because they are much more likely to be chewed. Outside cats generally have grass which they really like.

There are lots of other poisonous garden plants, but they don't tend to cause death and yes require actual eating, and yes, cats do seem to avoid them. So it's really only the lily family you need to be really worried about. And incidentally arum lilies are ok. Apparently they cause mouth blistering if eaten, but I've never seen a cat trying to eat one, and they don't cause death and the pollen isn't a problem.

And it's a shame about your peace lily. Do you have any cat-free friends who could give it a good home?

Thank you. I'll find another home for my plant. Maybe in the bathroom, cos the cat doesn't go in there. Or otherwise I'll have to donate tona friend though the pot it's in was v v expensivo