Pet-Friendly Flower Guide: Safe Blooms for Cats and Dogs

A good number of customers ask me this before ordering, especially anyone with a curious cat or a dog that treats the coffee table as a snack bar. It's a fair question. Some of the most popular flowers in a florist's fridge are genuinely dangerous for pets, and one in particular is far more serious than most people realise.

The One to Really Worry About: Lilies

If you only take one thing from this guide, make it this: lilies (including Easter, Asiatic, Stargazer, Tiger and Day lilies) are extremely toxic to cats. Every part of the plant is dangerous, including the pollen, and a cat doesn't need to eat the flower to be affected. Simply brushing past a lily and later licking pollen off their fur can be enough to cause acute kidney failure. If you have a cat in the house, or visiting relatives do, it's best to leave lilies off the order altogether. Dogs are less severely affected by lilies, but it's still worth avoiding them if you can.

If you suspect your pet has had any contact with a lily, don't wait to see how they go. Contact your vet or the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline immediately.

Other Toxic Flowers Worth Avoiding Around Pets

A few other popular flowers can also cause problems if chewed, licked or eaten, generally an upset stomach at best and something more serious at worst:

• Tulips and hyacinths (the bulb is the highest toxin concentration, but the flower head isn't risk-free)
• Chrysanthemums (mums), which are genuinely toxic to cats and can affect dogs too
• Daffodils
• Cyclamen
• Azaleas and oleander, more common in gardens than bouquets, but worth knowing

None of these are usually life-threatening the way lilies are, but they can cause vomiting, drooling and gastrointestinal upset in a curious pet, so it's better to steer around them if your dog or cat likes to investigate the vase.

Cat-Friendly Flowers That Are Safe for Cats and Dogs

The good news is there's still plenty to choose from. These are considered safe flowers if a curious pet has a nibble or a sniff:

• Roses, by far the most pet-friendly classic. Even the petals are fine.
• Orchids
• Gerbera daisies
• Sunflowers
• Snapdragons
• Freesias
• Waxflower
• Zinnias and statice, often used as fillers

As with anything, a large mouthful of any plant material can still cause a bit of stomach upset in a sensitive pet, so it's still worth keeping the vase out of reach. Baby's breath is one filler flower worth avoiding too. It isn't seriously toxic, but it can upset a pet's stomach.

Are Orchids Poisonous?

Orchids are generally considered non-toxic plants and are usually safe for cats and dogs. They're a popular choice when you want peace of mind, especially if you're ordering flowers for a home with furry friends.

Ordering a Pet-Safe Bouquet

If you'd like a bouquet built entirely from cat-friendly flowers, just mention it when you order online or give us a call. We're happy to put together something beautiful using roses, gerberas, orchids or seasonal safe blooms instead of the riskier varieties.

If you're ever concerned your pet may have eaten something they shouldn't have, contact your vet or the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline straight away. It's always better to check than to wait and see.

Order Fresh Flowers in Berwick

At Berwick Flowers, every arrangement is made fresh to order on the day of delivery. Let us know if you'd like a pet-safe bouquet and we'll take care of the rest. Order online or call us on (03) 9707 1800. Same-day delivery available across Berwick, Beaconsfield, Officer, Pakenham, Narre Warren, Clyde, Clyde North, Cranbourne, Hallam, Dandenong, Noble Park, Clayton, Monash Hospital, Dandenong Hospital and Casey Hospital. When you order before 2 pm.

Berwick Flowers. 1/10 Adams Lane, Berwick VIC 3806.