Neighbours growing lillies

[colachive]

Recently started letting 3x 1-year old cats outside, as it’s impossible for them to cope with the heat being stuck inside. I’ve also got a 4 year old cat who is used to going out already and happily sleeps in a bush all day.

we’ve had all the doors open today, with the cats playing in the back gardens in our terraced street, running in and out, climbing through the undergrowth and keeping cool.

however - I’ve just looked out the back window and seen an adjacent neighbour growing a big planter of bright red lillies. I know for a fact that my older girl likes sniffing around in that garden and sleeping under their bench. The other cats have been in there over the last couple of days too.

we’ve messaged him and he’s offered to cut the anthers out, to get rid of the pollen, which is very nice - but we’re wondering if this will do anything?

another neighbour has now said that they might have lillies growing too (piped up on a street WhatsApp type thing) and now I’m so so paranoid about letting them out!

my older girl has been lethargic today but no other symptoms and ofc it’s 30 degree heat so lethargy would make sense. We feel like we have no other option but to keep them all indoors.

what would you do? Help!

I have cats and lillies. It's really a non issue unless your cat eats them. I'd never dream to ask or expect my neighbours to accommodate MY cats who are wandering onto THEIR private property! That's pretty batshit tbh.

Someone else who hasn't bothered to rtft... or the OP properly...

Ah, insults. The last resort of the narrow-minded.

I have read the whole thread thanks. By OP asking the neighbour "ooooh what type of lillies are those?.... I'm just wondering how toxic they will be to my cat....." Hint hint. Was clearly hoping they'd instantly rip them all up to accommodate her cat. OP clearly thinks her cats freedom trumps her neighbours rights to do what they please with their own garden.

I’ve had lilies and cats for years(ignorance) they’re really not interested.

I think you're focussing on the wrong thing. You are accepting the risk of cats being run over - 230,000 per year, vs accidental poisoning about 10,000 per year.

Me too. I have cats and actively grow lillies indoors and out. In fact I'm sat looking a a stunning bunch my neighbours just bought as a gift for me! My cats never touch them and I wouldn't stop growing them to accommodate someone else's cat...

In short OP my point is don't worry too much. Hopefully you won't have any issues 😺

This 100%

Keep your cats safe, keep them on your property!

Exactly.
There are cat owners both sides of me and I have had cats in the past yet not only grown lilies but had them in bouquets etc, they’re actually my favourite flower.
If you’re that worried about your cats then fence them in to stop them clapping on other people’s gardens 🤬

we’ve messaged him and he’s offered to cut the anthers out, to get rid of the pollen

In the OP, does this sound like someone who hasn't asked her neighbours to do something about the lily's? The backtracking was when she, quite rightly, was called a CF.

Honestly your cat could roam ANYWHERE , a good distance away from your house and into somewhere with lillies. Probably has a million times before. It’s just the risk with outdoor cats and there’s nothing you can do about it.

WTAF with some of these replies? The OP didn’t ask her neighbours to remove the plants and she only came on here for some reassurance. Honestly, do some people just enjoy bringing others down and being nasty for no reason?

OP I understand what you meant and I wouldn’t worry. Like others have said there’s lots of lillies around in gardens. And just ignore the batshit comments!

We’ve cat proofed our garden so they can’t get out - they’ve got a huge space to roam still, but means we have that piece of mind that they aren’t going to disappear or eat something they shouldn’t!

Get a Catio. It will allow the cat to be outside safely, and you can relax knowing it won't shit in neighbours' gardens/kill wildife/get run over/poisoned/attacked etc. Or cat-proof your fencing (I've seen lots of examples online) so mog can only roam on your property. Win win for you and cat (and the neighbours, wildlife, road users, etc) 😎

She messaged the neighbour though ..as her post says so. He then cut the pollen parts off. He shouldn't even have to do anything to his plants.

Op could of googled it or came here asking before messaging the neighbour if all she wanted was reassurance. But by messaging her neighbour about a problem that isnt even his to sort out or do anything about is quite frankly not very nice and wasting their time.

She has cats and she needs to accept other ppl will grow what they like in their garden she cannot control what other ppl do on their property. Its pretty much common sense.

@upyoursgrandad in fairness OP did say she'd messaged the neighbour to enquire about the lilies. OK, she didn't directly ask him to remove them but something must've been said about them being poisonous to cats for him to have removed the anthers. Otherwise what was her motive for approaching the subject with him 🤔

Agree with this

Or you could get off your outraged high horse and read the OP again. They haven't asked the neighbour to do anything. They asked what lollies they were so they could research them.

Thanks to all who gave great advice, we have reinforced the fencing with some mesh from B&Q to discourage them and handed the neighbour a bottle of wine for being so kind as to remove the pollen. It’s really not a big deal! And for the record, the neighbours are lovely, they like seeing the cats and giving them a stroke, were unaware of the risk, and wanted to remove the pollen more out of concern and care for the cats than due to any awkwardness from us messaging them. I find it hard to imagine that you wouldn’t want to confirm whether your pet had potentially come into contact with something that could kill them, so you know what to look out for and can keep them away from it in future. All I can say is, I’m glad I live next to these lovely people rather than some of those who replied (on the cat owners board) about wanting to murder neighbourhood cats… !

You know not all cats do that? Mine couldn't catch a cold and in 8 years brought me a leaf. And a crisp packet
The neighbours loved him visiting for the fact he would come back inside to use his litter tray as he refused to even wee outside
His only bad habit was snoring on their trampoline

Don't have poisonous plants in your home if your cat isn't allowed outside because a cat that needs grass for a hairball will eat houseplants in desperation in the.absence of grass.

Otherwise, you don't need to worry much unless your cat is exceptionally stupid. Their noses tell themselves what to avoid. Lily pollen is a problem but your neighbour is removing the polleny bits, yes?