table of contents
- Toxicity of roses
- Injuries from roses
- Be careful with purchased roses
- measures
- frequently asked Questions
Roses (Rosa) are very popular both as cut and garden flowers. And that also with cat owners. But are the noble flowers poisonous for the house tigers or do they pose another danger?
In a nutshell
- Roses are non-toxic
- however, they have dangerous thorns
- in addition, purchased roses are often chemically treated
- not all cats nibble on flowers
Toxicity of roses
Basically all are Rose varieties completely non-toxic. Not just for humans, but also for pets. This affects all parts of the plant. So it doesn't matter if a cat eats the leaves or buds of its own or wild roses.
Injuries from roses
Roses can be dangerous for cats in other ways. Almost all roses have thorns. This not only applies to the cut flowers in the vase, but also to plants in the garden. There the cats usually keep their distance from thorny rose bushes of their own accord. In the house, however, curious cats can try to play with the roses. Then it is better to put the roses out of reach of the cats or remove the thorns so that there is no injury.
Note: There are some thornless rose varieties for the garden.
Be careful with purchased roses
Even if roses from the florist are very tempting and represent a noble gift, they can be even more dangerous for cats than simple flowers from the garden. However, this does not refer to a possible toxicity of the plant itself, rather the danger then comes from the treatment of the roses during their growth. Cut flowers are often treated with chemical agents even before they reach the florist. Some examples:
- Fertilizers and means that regulate growth
- Antifungal agents
- Weedkiller remains
- Agents against pests
Since the plants are not intended for consumption, the requirements for the means used are not so strict. If the cat eats the flower, it can be poisoned by the remains of the pesticides. This does not always have to be severe poisoning, it can also just cause vomiting or diarrhea.
measures
So there are many reasons why it is advisable not to let the cat eat the roses that have been given as gifts. But preventing this is not always that easy. Some ways that can help:
- avoid teaching the cat how to play with flowers
- distract you with other toys
- Give the opportunity to eat cat grass or harmless plants
- Bring roses into a room the cat cannot access
Note: If the roses are simply placed in a supposedly inaccessible place, this can encourage the cat to climb or jump.
frequently asked Questions
If you like to use bouquets of flowers to decorate your living room and have cats, you always have to use non-toxic flowers. Cut flowers of unknown origin, even if they are from the florist, should remain out of the reach of cats for the reasons mentioned above. It is easier with flowers from the garden. The following types are suitable for cats: dahlias, lavender, daisies, marigolds and sunflowers.
All bulbous plants are more or less poisonous. This also includes all early bloomers and house plants with bulbs. In order to show symptoms of poisoning, a cat would have to eat a lot of it. In addition, many garden plants are poisonous for cats, such as monkshood, delphinium or chrysanthemums.
Roses and all other non-toxic flowers from the garden can be safely used in cat households. It is important that pesticides are not used in the garden.
