Pet friendly plants and safety tips

Whether you already have a selection of plants and you want to get a pet or you have a pet and you’d like a new plant, safety is important. You need to make sure that you have pet friendly plants or you could end up with a very sick dog or cat. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Out of reach

If you already have a plant or two in your home that may cause your dog or cat harm, you could take the necessary steps to place them out of reach. Keep them on higher shelves or you could opt for hanging displays for plants that are suited for such conditions.

Non-toxic options

If you are looking for new plants to add to your home you should ask about pet friendly plants and avoid anything with toxic properties. Even if the leaves are not poisonous but the roots are, you should still avoid them. You never know when a potted plant could get knocked over and your precious fluffy could nibble on those roots.

Popular plants that are toxic to cats:

Amaryllis

Azaleas

Chrysanthemums

Cyclamen

Kalanchoe

Peace Lilies

Pothos

Popular plants that are toxic to dogs:

Azaleas

Baby’s breath

Chrysanthemums

Cyclamen

Kalanchoe

Peace Lilies

Daffodils

Tulip bulbs

Donate to a friend or loved one

If you would rather not risk keeping these plants in your home around your pets, you could always send them to a good home. Perhaps you have a friend without pets or at least a spot where they can safely display the plant or plants that are toxic to your pets.

a When shopping for pet friendly plant, make sure that you do a fair amount of research. Sometimes the flowers are toxic, sometimes it’s the sap and sometimes the entire plant. Ask your florist for their recommendations if you are uncertain. Of course, the safest option of all would be a silk arrangement or potted plant.