Recently I brought home a pot of Narcissus for my lovely Wife. We set it in the window our two Cats love to sit in. Two days later they both had diarrhea and were vomiting. I had considered the effect the flowers would have on the love of my life but not the cats.
People worry so much about Garden products but ignore what we plant or creeps in as a weed which most of the time are far more dangorous.Dont get me wrong plant these Enjoy these but be aware. So I did some research and I hope it helps
Your garden may be a relaxing retreat, but it's not a place to let your guard down, especially when it comes to small children and the family pet. Some popular plants you prize for their ornamental beauty can turn into toxic killers within minutes if ingested, whether consumed out of curiosity or by mistake. With this list you'll know what flowers, shrubs, and berries to warn young, inquisitive minds about and which bushes and flowers to keep out of paw's reach. You'll also learn the symptoms of poisoning because—after prevention—rapid treatment is the only defense against death.
Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)
Why we grow it: Give them moisture and shade, and rhododendron shrubs offer showy red, white, pink, or purple flower clusters in spring and thick, glossy leaves that thrive into the winter.
Deadly parts: The entire plant.
Toxic toll: Who knew both West Virginia and Washington's state flower was a silent killer? Swallow any part of this plant, and you're going to look as bad as you feel. While drooling from the mouth and teary-eyed, you'll begin vomiting violently, just as your pulse slows down and low blood pressure sets in. Death can occur shortly after falling into a coma or during a violent seizure.
Deadly parts: The entire plant.
Toxic toll: Who knew both West Virginia and Washington's state flower was a silent killer? Swallow any part of this plant, and you're going to look as bad as you feel. While drooling from the mouth and teary-eyed, you'll begin vomiting violently, just as your pulse slows down and low blood pressure sets in. Death can occur shortly after falling into a coma or during a violent seizure.
Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Deadly parts: The entire plant, particularly the leaves.
Toxic toll: Sure, they make for an attractive flower arrangement, but even the water you place cut lily-of-the-valley flowers in contains deadly traces of convallatoxin, which intensifies the heart's contractions. Just a bite causes headaches, hot flashes, hallucinations, and irritability, not to mention red blotches on cold, clammy skin. The heart will also slow down, potentially leading to coma and death.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Why we grow it: The large, pink, blue, or white flower clusters on these shade-loving shrubs perk up any landscape, blooming at the start of summer and into the fall.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, especially the flower buds.
Toxic toll: Swallowing hydrangea is like popping a cyanide pill. The present poison, hydragin, is a cyanogenic glycoside, meaning it will cause shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and a rapid pulse, along with a drop in blood pressure that can cause convulsions and death.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, especially the flower buds.
Toxic toll: Swallowing hydrangea is like popping a cyanide pill. The present poison, hydragin, is a cyanogenic glycoside, meaning it will cause shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and a rapid pulse, along with a drop in blood pressure that can cause convulsions and death.
Poet's Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus)
Why we grow it: Also known as poet's daffodil, these pretty white bulb flowers, with a yellow center cup much smaller than the common daffodil's, stand up to deer, rabbits, and voles better than other blooms, making them a prime choice for adding a bit of cheer to your beds.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, especially the bulbs, which are potent emetics, inducing vomiting.
Toxic toll: If the scent of a narcissus bouquet in a closed room is strong enough to cause a headache, just imagine what eating an entire bulb might do. Think severe nausea, convulsions, fainting, paralysis and eventual death. Still want to plant them? Watch any open wounds you may have while tending to them—coming into contact with their bulb secretions has produced staggering, numbness, and heart paralysis.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, especially the bulbs, which are potent emetics, inducing vomiting.
Toxic toll: If the scent of a narcissus bouquet in a closed room is strong enough to cause a headache, just imagine what eating an entire bulb might do. Think severe nausea, convulsions, fainting, paralysis and eventual death. Still want to plant them? Watch any open wounds you may have while tending to them—coming into contact with their bulb secretions has produced staggering, numbness, and heart paralysis.
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Why we grow it: With purple, pink, and white bell-shaped blossoms growing in tall, tower—ing spires, it adds drama and height to your garden.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, especially the leaves of the upper stem, which are rich in digitalin, digitoxin, and digitonin—chemicals, that while used medicinally, are deadly in high doses.
Toxic toll: The same thing that makes these lookers toxic to deer won't sit well with your—or the family pet's—digestive tract. Twenty minutes after a little nibbling, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea set in. Depending on the amount ingested, untreated poisoning leads to death by bradycardia (lowered heart rate) or ventricular fibrillation (a rapid, irregular rhythm in the lower heart chambers). Keep in mind, however, that children have died just from sucking on a part of the plant
Deadly parts: The entire plant, especially the leaves of the upper stem, which are rich in digitalin, digitoxin, and digitonin—chemicals, that while used medicinally, are deadly in high doses.
Toxic toll: The same thing that makes these lookers toxic to deer won't sit well with your—or the family pet's—digestive tract. Twenty minutes after a little nibbling, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea set in. Depending on the amount ingested, untreated poisoning leads to death by bradycardia (lowered heart rate) or ventricular fibrillation (a rapid, irregular rhythm in the lower heart chambers). Keep in mind, however, that children have died just from sucking on a part of the plant
Larkspur (Delphinium consolida)
Why we grow it: Part of the buttercup family of flowers, larkspur adds a high-impact, low-maintenance dose of color to your garden with its clustered blooms and colorful petals, typically ranging from white to blueish purple.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, though the young leaves and the mature seeds contain the highest concentration of toxic alkaloids
Toxic toll: These enticing blue growers are definitely just for looking—not eating. Immediately after ingestion, nausea, burning in the mouth, vomiting, and slowing of the heartbeat set in. Seek treatment right away, because six hours is all it takes for this flower to become lethal.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, though the young leaves and the mature seeds contain the highest concentration of toxic alkaloids
Toxic toll: These enticing blue growers are definitely just for looking—not eating. Immediately after ingestion, nausea, burning in the mouth, vomiting, and slowing of the heartbeat set in. Seek treatment right away, because six hours is all it takes for this flower to become lethal.
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Why we grow it: Its fragrant white buds and thick, dark green leaves make it a popular ornamental shrub for gardens across the country.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, including its nectar and sap
Toxic toll: Think twice about growing one of these babies in your yard, especially if you have little ones: a single leaf contains enough toxins to be lethal to an infant or small child. Like other poisonous plans, ingesting it first affects the digestive system with vomiting and diarrhea, then poisoning progresses into life-threatening circulatory problems. If your heart's still ticking after that trauma, oleander can also deal a fatal blow to your central nervous system, causing seizures, tremors, and coma that can lead to death.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, including its nectar and sap
Toxic toll: Think twice about growing one of these babies in your yard, especially if you have little ones: a single leaf contains enough toxins to be lethal to an infant or small child. Like other poisonous plans, ingesting it first affects the digestive system with vomiting and diarrhea, then poisoning progresses into life-threatening circulatory problems. If your heart's still ticking after that trauma, oleander can also deal a fatal blow to your central nervous system, causing seizures, tremors, and coma that can lead to death.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Why we grow it: If you live in a warm, subtropical area like southern California, you might add the leggy poinsettia shrub to your yard. But most people bring the potted variety into their homes during the holiday season to deck out wreaths, dining room centerpieces, or fireplace mantles with its bright red leaves.
Deadly parts: The milky sap found in the veins of the plant.
Toxic toll: Despite its toxic reputation, poinsettias will never top the list of most poisonous plants, as there's only been two documented cases of them causing human death. But you'll want to teach kids not to touch or consume the plant, nonetheless. And as far as cats and dogs are concerned, keep poinsettia plants out of reach—unless you want to clean up after pet vomit and diarrhea. Take extra precautions if you have elderly, ill, or young pets.
Deadly parts: The milky sap found in the veins of the plant.
Toxic toll: Despite its toxic reputation, poinsettias will never top the list of most poisonous plants, as there's only been two documented cases of them causing human death. But you'll want to teach kids not to touch or consume the plant, nonetheless. And as far as cats and dogs are concerned, keep poinsettia plants out of reach—unless you want to clean up after pet vomit and diarrhea. Take extra precautions if you have elderly, ill, or young pets.
Purple Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
Why we grow it: Though rarely cultivated, the curvy, greenish-purple blooms are sometimes grown for their upright habit and eye-catching, shiny berries. Native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, it has naturalized in parts of North America, favoring shady, moist locations with limestone-rich soils.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, particularly its berries, roots, and leaves.
Toxic toll: Don't mess with this one—pop a handful of berries in your mouth, and you'll physically be unable to call for help. After you lose your voice, respiratory complications, intense digestive disruption, and violent convulsions begin, the combination of which has proven fatal.
Deadly parts: The entire plant, particularly its berries, roots, and leaves.
Toxic toll: Don't mess with this one—pop a handful of berries in your mouth, and you'll physically be unable to call for help. After you lose your voice, respiratory complications, intense digestive disruption, and violent convulsions begin, the combination of which has proven fatal.
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Deadly parts: Leaves, twigs, flowers, and pollen.
Toxic toll: Mountain laurel parts are full of andromedotoxins, which go to town on your gastrointestinal tract. Watering of the mouth, eyes, and nose are common, as is shortness of breath and slow heartbeat. Kidney failure can occur, as well as convulsions, paralysis, coma, and death.
Mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens)
Why we grow it: A parasitic plant that grows out in the wild, you might spot some in your yard using a black poplar, ash, sycamore, or hawthorn as a host tree. A bough of mistletoe, with its sticky, white berries, has long been used as a traditional decoration indoors during the Christmas season.
Deadly parts: All parts, especially the berries
Toxic toll: Munching on a couple of leaves, berries, or shoots—or drinking mistletoe-flavored tea—will cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Cases where mistletoe ingestion were fatal involved gastroenteritis (an inflammation of the stomach and small intestine), followed by cardiovascular collapse. The berries are particularly potent when it comes to pets, so mind your cats and dogs around this plant.
Deadly parts: All parts, especially the berries
Toxic toll: Munching on a couple of leaves, berries, or shoots—or drinking mistletoe-flavored tea—will cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Cases where mistletoe ingestion were fatal involved gastroenteritis (an inflammation of the stomach and small intestine), followed by cardiovascular collapse. The berries are particularly potent when it comes to pets, so mind your cats and dogs around this plant.
Why we grow it: An unintended by not uncommon garden trespasser—with its small, white flowers growing in umbrella-like clusters—this perennial doesn't look too menacing. It may be growing on the edges of your property, especially if you live near a meadow, pasture, or stream.
Deadly parts: The whole plant, especially the roots of early growth.
Toxic toll: This wildflower has been dubbed "the most violently toxic plant that grows in North America" by the USDA. True to its killer reputation, water hemlock can strike you dead within 15 minutes of ingestion. The poison cicutoxin wastes no time in attacking the central nervous system, causing severe seizures and convulsions that turn deadly as a result of asphyxia and cardiovascular collapse.
Deadly parts: The whole plant, especially the roots of early growth.
Toxic toll: This wildflower has been dubbed "the most violently toxic plant that grows in North America" by the USDA. True to its killer reputation, water hemlock can strike you dead within 15 minutes of ingestion. The poison cicutoxin wastes no time in attacking the central nervous system, causing severe seizures and convulsions that turn deadly as a result of asphyxia and cardiovascular collapse.
There are many common plants, both indoor and outdoor, that are poisonous to dogs as well as cats. Several of these plants can cause symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and convulsions. In some cases, these plants can cause your pet to have complete respiratory failure, kidney failure, or other fatal illness. It is important to assist your cat immediately if it eats a toxic plant.
Lilies
Perhaps the most toxic and common form of plant that can be fatal to your cat are lilies. Pretty much every form of lily can cause death to your pet. This includes the Tiger lily, the Easter lily, the Japanese show lily, the Rubrum lily and the Day lily. If your cat ingests any part of one of these plants, even a small amount, it will result in complete kidney failure in about 36 to 72 hours.
After ingesting a lily, your cat will begin to show symptoms within a few hours. Symptoms include a lack of appetite, lethargy, and vomiting. As the damage to the kidneys worsens, the symptoms will become worse. If your cat has ingested any part of a lily plant, it will need prompt attention from a veterinarian in order to prevent kidney failure.
Monkshood
All parts of the monkshood plant, including the water in its vase, are toxic. Contents of the monkshood plant cause disruption in the nerve impulses when ingested in low doses. When ingested in large doses, it completely inhibits these nerves. Monkshood also causes irritation to the mucus membranes when ingested, which can lead to vomiting and excessive salivation. Some animals appear to go blind after eating monkshood, which is followed by cardiac dysrhythmias and death. Your cat needs to visit the vet right away in order to recover from monkshood poisoning.
Anemone
The entire anemone plant is toxic. It is irritating to the mucous membranes and often causes blisters to form after it is chewed. If it is ingested entirely, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis can occur, which can lead to shock, convulsions, and death. If your pet ingests anemone, administer activated charcoal and see the vet immediately.
Lilies
Perhaps the most toxic and common form of plant that can be fatal to your cat are lilies. Pretty much every form of lily can cause death to your pet. This includes the Tiger lily, the Easter lily, the Japanese show lily, the Rubrum lily and the Day lily. If your cat ingests any part of one of these plants, even a small amount, it will result in complete kidney failure in about 36 to 72 hours.
After ingesting a lily, your cat will begin to show symptoms within a few hours. Symptoms include a lack of appetite, lethargy, and vomiting. As the damage to the kidneys worsens, the symptoms will become worse. If your cat has ingested any part of a lily plant, it will need prompt attention from a veterinarian in order to prevent kidney failure.
Monkshood
All parts of the monkshood plant, including the water in its vase, are toxic. Contents of the monkshood plant cause disruption in the nerve impulses when ingested in low doses. When ingested in large doses, it completely inhibits these nerves. Monkshood also causes irritation to the mucus membranes when ingested, which can lead to vomiting and excessive salivation. Some animals appear to go blind after eating monkshood, which is followed by cardiac dysrhythmias and death. Your cat needs to visit the vet right away in order to recover from monkshood poisoning.
Anemone
The entire anemone plant is toxic. It is irritating to the mucous membranes and often causes blisters to form after it is chewed. If it is ingested entirely, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis can occur, which can lead to shock, convulsions, and death. If your pet ingests anemone, administer activated charcoal and see the vet immediately.
Here is a partial list of other known poisonous plants commonly found in homes or yards:
Alocasia Aloe Vera Amaryllis Apple seeds Apricot Arrowgrass Asparagus Fern Autumn Crocus Avocado Azalea Babys Breath Baneberry Bayonet Beargrass Begonia Bird of Paradise Bittersweet Black Locust Bleeding Heart Bloodrot Bluebonnet Boxwood Bracken Fern Buckeye Burning Bush Buttercup Cactus Caladium California Poppy Calla Lily Candelabra Carnation Castor Bean Ceriman Cherry seeds or leaves Chinaberry Chinese Bamboo Chinese Evergreen Chives Choke Cherry Christmas Cactus Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum Cineraria Clematis Cordatum Coriaria Cornflower Corn Plant Cornstalk Plant Corydalis Creeping Charlie Crocus Crown of Thorns Crown Vetch Croton Cuban Laurel Cyclamen Daffodil Daphne Datura Deadly Nightshade Death Camas Delphinium Devils Ivy Dicentra Dieffenbachia Donkey Tail Dracaena Dragon Tree Dumb Cane Dutchmans Breeches Easter Lily Eggplant | Elderberry Elephant Ears Emerald Feather Eucalyptus Euonymus Evergreen Ferns Ficus Fiddle Leaf Fig Flax Florida Beauty Berry Four O Clock Foxtail Fruit Salad Plant Geranium Gladiola Golden Glow Golden Pothos Gopher Purge Grapes and Raisins Hellebore Hemlock Hemp Henbane Holly Honeysuckle Horsebeans Horsebrush Horse Chestnut Hops Hurricane Plant Hyacinth Hydrangea Indian Rubber Plant Inkberry Iris Ivy Jack in the Pulpit Japanese Yew Java Beans Jerusalem Cherry Jessamine Jerusalem Cherry Jimson Weed Johnsongrass Jonquil Jungle Trumpets Kalanchoe Lambs Quarter Lantana Leaves and Berries Larkspur Laurel Lobelia Locoweed Lords and Ladies Lupine Macadamia Nuts Madagascar Dragon Tree Malanga Mandrake Marble Queen Marsh Marigold Marigold Marijuana Mayapple Mexican Breadfruit Milkweed Mistletoe Mock Orange Morning Glory Mother in Law Tongue Mountain Laurel Mushrooms Narcissus Nephthytis | Nettles Nightshade Oak Tree Buds and Acorns Oats Oleander Onion Oriental Lily Peace Lily Peach Pencil Cactus Peony Periwinkle Peyote Cactus Philodendron Pigweed Pimpernel Plumosa Fern Poinciana Poinsettia Poison Ivy Poison Hemlock Poison Oak Poison Sumac Pokeweed Poppy Potato leaves and stems Pothos Precatory Bean Primrose Privet Red Emerald Red Princess Red Root Red Sage Rhododendron Rhubarb Ribbon Plant Rosary Pea Rubber Tree Sago Palm Schefflera Scotch Broom Shamrock Plant Skunk Cabbage Snake Plant Snowdrops Snow on the Mountain Sorghum Spurge Staggerweed Starleaf Star of Bethlehem Stinging Nettle Stinkweed String of Pearls Sweetpea Swiss Cheese Plant Tansy Mustard Taro Vine Tiger Lily Toadstools Tobacco Tomato Plant Tuffroot Tulip Umbrella Plant Virginia Creeper Walnut Hulls Water Arum Water Hemlock Weeping Fig Wild Calla Wisteria Yellow Calla Yew |
Scary - isn't it? There is no real need for alarm though, most adult cats are 'streetsmart' and will not touch the majority of these plants. In fact, with the exception of houseplants you may have, they may not even grow or be accessible in your area.
Help for your Cat
If your vet is not immediately available and you suspect your cat has ingested a toxic plant, inducing vomiting is generally appropriate. Mix 1 teaspoon of Hydrogen Peroxide with one cup of water and administer it to your cat. Or you can mix 1-2 tablespoons of salt with one cup of water or administer ½ mil of Syrup of Ipecac per pound of your cat. In addition, your vet should be contacted as soon as possible.
What to do for shock
When a cat is in shock, body temperature is often below normal, its heartbeat might be escalated, or, it might have an irregular or very slow pulse. The tongue might appear to be curled and the gums may be pale and have very little color.
A cat that is in shock needs immediate veterinary care so it can have medication and intravenous fluids administered. While driving to the vet or emergency facility, the animal should be kept warm and it would be helpful to have someone along to hold the cat and try to comfort it along the way.
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