My mother received a bouquet of flowers including lillies today for her retirement. We have put them high up on the mantlepiece where our cat cannot possibly reach them. Is this safe?
2007-01-31 11:43:32 · 10 answers · asked by martina_ie 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
She definitely can't get up to this particular spot. However I'm afraid that we may pass the pollen onto her if we touch the flowers and then her, etc..
Does this happen? Should we just get rid of them?
2007-01-31 11:57:49 · update #1
Why not cut the stamens out of the lillies - that way you can enjoy the petals without the harmful pollen? Plus, you won't have to worry about the pollen dropping off onto your fingers or onto your mantlepiece & staining it.
Oh - hang on a minute - I've just found this article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/06/nlilly06.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/05/06/ixhome.html
rather shocking article plus I didn't know that all parts of the lily are poisonous. I must admit to having lillies in the house in the past - but I'd cut off the pollen bearing stamens thinking that made it safe.
See also:
http://www.cfa.org/articles/lilies.html
I definately won't be having lillies again. I was going to suggest that, once you'd removed the stamens, if you were sure that they were up high & that the cat would never be left alone in the room with them, that I would keep them until they started to fade. After reading those articles - I'm not going to suggest it ... instead ....
Why not take a couple of photos of the bouquet - then remove & throw away the lillies? I think I'd then put the photos into one of those plastic coaster things & then Mum will have a lasting memory of her beautiful retirement flowers - while still enjoying the safe ones left in the arrangement.
2007-01-31 12:33:41 · answer #1 · answered by Solow 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum, Japanese show lily, some species of day lily, and certain other members of the Liliaceae family can cause kidney failure in cats.
Within only a few hours of ingestion of the plant material, the cat may vomit, become lethargic, or develop a lack of appetite. These signs continue and worsen as kidney damage progresses. Without prompt and proper treatment by a veterinarian, the cat will develop kidney failure in approximately 36-72 hours.
All parts of these lilies are considered toxic to cats and consuming even small amounts can cause severe poisoning. If there is a lily in your home, there is always the chance that your cat could be accidentally exposed. For this reason, cat owners should avoid exposing their cats to same. Although I love lillies I love my cats more and would not now have them in the house!
>^..^<
As for the term 'out of reach' to a cat....errr I don't think so...! determined little critters!
2007-02-01 01:20:04 · answer #2 · answered by Cockneyrebel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a small piece of card and a small pair of scissors, jhold the card under to catch the pollen and cut off the stamens. Its the pollen thats toxic.
The stamens are the bits that stick out from the middle with yellow or orange dust on them.
I just read the other posts; if your cat eats plants I'd get rid, since all parts of the plants are toxic! Theres no such thing as out of reach to a cat.
2007-02-01 04:17:34 · answer #3 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would remove the lillies from the bouquet and keep the other flowers. The cat will be safe and you still will have most of the bouquet to enjoy. I would not risk your cat over a few flowers which only last a few days.
2007-01-31 20:06:08 · answer #4 · answered by monkeymanelvis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term "out of reach of the cat" might as well be an oxymoron because there's no such thing! A closed door is just about the only way to keep a cat away from something or someplace. Lilies are so highly toxic to cats, that I wouldn't risk it. Have your mom put them in her bedroom and close the bedroom door instead. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Whenever I received lilies, I would bring them to work where I seem to spend more time anyway! :-)
2007-01-31 20:00:00 · answer #5 · answered by Alleycat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Errrr. . . .lillies are -very- poisonous to cats and constitute an instant trip to the emergency vet if the cat should nibble them.
In my experience, there is no place beyond a locked cabinet that a truly determined cat cannot reach. Most cats can jump about 5ft up, so a mantlepiece isn't necessarily off limits to them.
You know your cat's athletic abilities best, and his past behavior/interest in plants brought into the house. If you are satisfied that it is a low risk, then it is up to you.
2007-01-31 19:52:44 · answer #6 · answered by Sunflower81 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As long as there is no possible way that your cat can get to them. Lillies won't just cause vomitting and diarrhea in your cat-they can cause acute renal (kidney) failure. Untreated, this will lead to death. Dialysis is often the only option.
See if you can just shut your cat out of whatever room the bouquet is in, so your kitty can't get into them while you're not looking.
2007-01-31 19:53:38 · answer #7 · answered by BL 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as you are POSITIVE the cat can't get up there. Our cats can get to anything if they are determined enough, and they love to eat plants, then throw up all over the place.
2007-01-31 19:47:50 · answer #8 · answered by citrus punch 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes as long as the cat doesnt reach it and you can and if its not wobbly then yeah i would say so
2007-01-31 19:47:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you would be surprised how cats get to things they want!
2007-01-31 19:52:25 · answer #10 · answered by kat_luvr2003 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋