Most of us probably know that many houseplants are poisonous for cats. However, have you ever thought about bouquets you bring home?
Do you also know this situation – cat grass is in every window of your apartment but your cat is still after anything green you happen to have at home, from carrot leaves to a large rose bouquet? All plants have to be out of reach of the cat which means they don’t have much space, so it’s not very green here.
And getting a bouquet was always a bit of a punishment for me. A cat almost jumped on me the second I showed up at home with it. It was very persistent until I put the flower somewhere out of sight. As I wasn’t sure it’s okay for the pet, the poor bouquet usually ended up in the bathroom or in any other (not really presentable) place where it couldn’t show off its beauty and pleasant smell.
That’s why I’m happy I found out several kinds of flowers I can have on the kitchen cupboard or on the windowsill knowing that nothing worse than some spilled water might happen. And there’s no threat for me to have at home a withered bouquet because the cat will be able to tear it apart before it could come to that.
One general tip first – avoid mixed bouquets and opt for those with one kind of flowers instead. It also applies to decorative leaves around. A now let’s move to the safe kinds of flowers.
The first kind you don’t have to worry about because of your cat is rose. Stick to the traditional roses from Rosacea family. Roses are classic that won’t be bad for any occasion and their smell is amazing.
Also, alstroemerias, the so-called Lily of the Incas, are safe flowers. CAUTION – they are not traditional lilies, those are extremely toxic for cats! On the other hand, alstroemerias are safe, relatively cheap and they are nice for a long time. They occur in many beautiful colours.
One of my favourites are gerberas. They don’t last as long as alstroemerias but they have stunning large petals available in many colours. It is the fifth most popular cut flower, so it will be no problem to buy them.
Finding out that also orchids belong to non-toxic plants for cats was quite a surprise. This flower is a small artwork and it lasts years if you take care of it well. Of course, if the cat doesn’t eat it, destroy its roots or otherwise ruin it.
The last safe flowers for cats are sunflowers. It’s quite an ordinary flower but its nice, large yellow petals can brighten up the entire apartment.
If you get a bouquet and you aren’t sure it’s safe for your cat, rather put it somewhere out of its reach. Even in the case your cat doesn’t usually bite flowers. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
You can check whether the plant is safe or not for example in the Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List – Cats.
It's no secret that dogs like to visit the vet about as much as we like to visit the dentist. For most dogs, it causes stress that lasts for several hours. Thanks to their instincts, they sense it before you even leave for the vet's clinic. How can you...
When we let nature work and we don't interfere with it, it can do wonders. Letting the wolves into Yellowstone National Park and leaving them to their our own fate shows us what a complex system nature is and how dozens of wild beasts can transform...
58-year-old Chris found a new life purpose in rescuing and caring for cats after his son died. It helps him cope with his grief, and it gives him something to do.
Many of us love essential oils, whether it's because of their smell or their curative effects. Every other home has an aroma lamp or diffuser. But did you know what effects these fragrances have on your cats, and that they can seriously harm them?...
You've surely seen the viral videos where cats jump away in fright and are in complete shock because of a cucumber. Would you like to know the reason for this? Are cats afraid of this harmless vegetable, or is there another reason?
This little dog is very dependent on its owner. It is boundlessly dedicated to its owner and will do anything to cheer him up. It's not surprising that it's also referred to as an antidepressant dog. After all, just looking at this dog will put...
Although their appearance and nature is somewhat similar to that of the Norwegian Forest cat and Maine Coon cats, Siberian cats are not as popular. Outside of Russia and the former Eastern Bloc, they are not well known and are not seen very often. In...
Dogs are an inseparable part of our lives. But how to do it when your dream is to travel around the world on a sailboat or any other adventure? Take your furry friend with you. What shouldn’t you forget when preparing for a long journey wherever it...
The second day of Hindi festival called Tihar is devoted to dogs. Their loyalty and devotion is celebrated, they are honoured as companions, guardians and friends. A holiday which is full of lights and colours doesn’t forget about stray dogs and it is...
Brown rats are very cleanly animals. You can see them licking themselves several times a day and thus keeping their fur in a perfect condition. They suffer if their environment is not suitable, even though they can survive it. Many people think they...
For us, devoted dog parents, changes in our lives often include our dog companions. Moreover, the stuff we do to keep our furry friends happy and healthy also commonly influence us as well. We owe them for better life and they deserve to get the same...
It is sometimes fine to disrupt dogs’ routine by an interesting activity and what might be better than to teach your dog some tricks. Dogs hate boredom, even the greatest lazybones welcome some distraction. Here you have a couple of tips for tricks you...
