Are Roses Safe for Dogs and Cats? List of Pet-Friendly Flowers

Pet owners love their pets just as much as their children, and the last thing they want is for something bad to happen to the animal. If there are flowers in your garden or you were presented with a bouquet in your room in a vase, you are probably wondering if this plant is dangerous for your pet.

In fact, there are flowers that are safe for cats and dogs, such as roses, gerberas, orchids, sunflowers, petunias, asters, and lilium. There are also very dangerous and poisonous such as tulips, iris, aloe, begonia, exotic roses, and kalanchoe.

The owner of the cat or dog may be madly in love with his animal, he can also be fond of gardening, and then the question arises of what to do if the flower in the garden is unsafe for the pets. There are some tips that we will tell you about. They will help you keep your animal safe and not give up gardening.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the types of safe and poisonous flowers, as well as what can be done so that the animal does not consume poisonous flowers.

List of Safe Flowers for Cats and Dogs

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, there are safe plants for cats and dogs. So if your pet is too curious, you don't have to worry if the pet decides to taste it. 

Let us consider which popular flowers are not poisonous to cats and dogs.

Roses

In fact, there are over 100 types of roses. The Rosaceae family's woody perennial shrubs are chemically harmless to pets. But do not forget that not all plants or flowers called roses are entirely safe. There are a number of exotic roses that are dangerous toxic flowers for pets, especially cats.

You should also consider that the thorns of long-stemmed roses can be pretty dangerous for your pets, as there is always a risk that they can run into the thorns of the rose and get significant scratches and wounds.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are large, cheerful yellow flowers that can make any day beautiful just by looking at them. One of the great facts about sunflowers is that they are not poisonous. They are safe flowers for humans and animals such as cats and dogs. Sunflowers can even be eaten for medicinal purposes and are generally free of side effects. Sunflower leaves and petals are used to make anti-cough tinctures.

Sunflower seeds are a good snack option and source of nutrients such as manganese, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B6, folic acid, and niacin.

Thus, we can confidently say that the sunflower is a plant that is safe for the animal, and you don’t have to worry if your pet decides to eat it.

Gerberas

Graceful bouquets of gerberas, which come in various bright colors such as pink, red, yellow, and white, in addition to being quite popular, also symbolize happiness, cheerfulness, and purity.

Gerberas are pet-friendly flowers that are not dangerous to pets.

However, since any flowers and plants of any kind are not part of a pet's daily diet, gerbera bouquets should be kept away from curious furry pets.

Orchids

Orchids are also pet-friendly flowers. If you have a bouquet of orchids at home, you don't have to worry about your animals chewing on the flower. Even if this happens, it will not negatively affect their health.

Some types of orchids can be called safe for animals:

• Brazilian Orchid;
• Crimson Cattleya;
• Christmas Orchid;
• Cirrhopetalum or Old World Orchid;
• Cocktail Orchid;
• Dancing Doll Orchid;
• Easter Cattleya or Easter Orchid;
• Fiery Red Orchid;
• Scarlet Orchid;
• Florida Butterfly Orchid;
• Ghost Leafless Orchid or Leafless ghost orchid.

If you're concerned that your cat might chew on orchid leaves or petals, sprinkle some cinnamon powder or cayenne pepper on them. Cats hate this smell because the flower will not be too interesting for them.

Petunias

These vibrant flowering plants native to South America have gorgeous flowers. The shades of the petals can be very different colors other than true blue, the plant itself grows quite wildly, especially in summer. 

Petunias are on the ASPCA list of non-toxic flowers for cats and dogs. If you have petunias in your garden, you also don't have to worry if your pet decides to taste them.

Asters

Asters are perennials and plants that are also suitable for pets. Aster flowers are similar to daisies and come in delightful shades of pink, blue, and white. They look great in the garden, attracting birds, butterflies, and bees. Asters are also animal-safe flowers. You can safely grow them in your garden and not worry about the consequences.

Lilium

The ASPCA states that Lilies are non-toxic flower species only for pets such as dogs and horses.

However, cats are strictly forbidden to approach lilies. These flowers pose a considerable risk of severe kidney failure or even death for cats. Cats can not only gnaw the flower but even drink water from a vase.

The Pet Poison Hotline says there are both harmless and dangerous types of lilies.

Experts say that you should refrain from the following types of flowers if you have pets:

• Tiger lily;
• Easter Lily;
• Stargazer Lily;
• Lily Red;
• Lily of the valley.

Among the consequences of a pet's contact with these types of lilies, there can be terrible symptoms up to the animal's death.

Which Flowers Are Very Dangerous For Cats And Dogs

Unfortunately, not all types of flowers are safe for dogs and cats. They are:

This is not a complete list of hazardous flowers. We will consider all types of dangerous flowers in the article below.

Some plants can lead to poor health and even death. If your animal is curious enough, try to remove the plant for as long as possible. In addition, not only the flower itself can be dangerous for the animal, but also its pollen.

Tulips

Tulips are popular flowers. Some people even prefer to grow tulips in their garden. However, these flowers are not cat-friendly flowers.

The most toxic part of tulips is their bulbs. However, any part of this flower can harm the cat. Tulips contain allergenic lactones, which, if swallowed, can cause several negative symptoms.

Iris 

Irises are beautiful flowers, but they are quite dangerous plants for pets, especially dogs. If your dog chooses to taste irises, it may experience a range of symptoms such as salivation, vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, or loss of energy.

Irises are poisonous to animal plants as they contain several toxic compounds. In addition, irises can cause skin irritation in pets. Therefore, zoologists advise against contact between animals, especially dogs and irises.

Aloe

Aloe is a popular plant that is used to make medicinal products. The liquid obtained from aloe is suitable as an ointment for the treatment of burns. Aloe is also taken orally for certain diseases.

However, Aloe contains saponin, which is a toxic substance similar to soap. This substance can harm pets if ingested. Even though the use of aloe is quite dangerous for pets, the accidental ingestion of an aloe flower by pets does not lead to serious consequences.

Begonia

Begonia is a typical garden and indoor plant. Begonia is a somewhat toxic plant for animals. Calcium oxalates, found most often in underground tubers, are a poisonous component for pets.

Exotic types of roses

Traditional types of roses are safe for pets; however, there are some exotic roses that are dangerous and toxic flowers for pets, especially cats.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is a houseplant that is unpretentious in cultivation and resistant to a wide range of conditions.

Any type of kalanchoe is poisonous to pets. Due to contact with Kalanchoe, the condition of the animal may worsen. Symptoms can range from mild, such as lethargy, to severe, such as seizures.

How To Protect Your Pets From Dangerous Flowers

Some pet owners are excellent gardeners and are not willing to give up their flowers even though they are not useful and even poisonous to cats and dogs. However, there are tips by which animals and plants dangerous to them can safely be in the same area.

Use Special Spray

Many pet stores sell sprays that make flowers unattractive for cats and dogs. For example, strong citrus smells are repellent to cats. You can also try making a homemade spray using lemon, lime, or orange juice.

Keep Plants Out of Reach

Zoologists recommend not to put pots with dangerous flowers on the shelf. Your animal can jump on the pot, drop it and eat poisonous flowers. Hanging baskets can be used to store flowers around the house safely. Hang them as high as possible and away from objects that the animal can climb on.

However, in addition to the fact that the animal can eat poisonous flowers, there is also a danger in the form of pollen from poisonous flowers. If the pollen gets on an animal and the pet licks it off its paws, the consequences can be as dire as eating the flower itself.

Therefore, ensure that your pets and flowers that are poisonous to them are far from each other.

Give Fresh Cat Grass

This advice may seem strange to you because you are trying to wean your pets from eating houseplants. However, if you give your cat fresh grass that is edible for cats, it will help divert the cat's attention away from the flowers that are poisonous to pets and keep them busy eating the fresh grass. Ensure that your cat does not consume too much grass; grass should not be the central part of the pet's diet.

Teaching Your Pets

Teaching your cat not to touch dangerous plants for pets will increase the chances that the pet will not contact them when you are away. You can leave your animal unattended with successful training, knowing it will not eat a dangerous flower.

So, for example, in training, you can stick to methods such as consistency and positive reinforcement. Use food or friendly petting as a reward. Also, try to distract the animal from dangerous plants and keep it busy with more exciting and acceptable things. Try to figure out what your pet loves the most and use that as a motivation for exercising.

Common Symptoms If Your Pet Is Poisoned

If your animal has been in contact with flowers that is dangerous to pets, this can have hazardous consequences for it in the form of a deterioration in the well-being of the animal and can be expressed in the form of the following symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Uncontrollable urination or thirst
• Diarrhea
• Skin irritation
• Lacrimation

Bottom Line

Summing up; we can say that there are a number of flowers that are both safe for animals and poisonous. There are some tips to prevent the deterioration of the animal's well-being as a result of contact with a dangerous flower for it, which will help you be calm that the animal will not be interested in the flower.

By the way, our Rosaholics flower shop sells roses and sunflowers, safe for animals. Therefore, you can safely buy flowers from our store and not worry that the animal will pay attention to them.

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