Bought tulips, but are they safe for cats on a high shelf?

Tulips are part of the lily family and can be toxic to cats. They contain a chemical known as Tulipilan A that can cause allergic reactions in humans just from touching a tulip. But because humans are larger than cats and don’t typically eat tulips, the toxin doesn’t pose as much risk for us. Tulipilan A is found in all parts of the tulip, but it is found in the highest concentrations in the bulb of the plant. The flower, leaves, and stem all contain smaller amounts of the toxin, but it is still enough to cause respiratory issues for small animals such as cats. Although your cat eating a tulip flower or leaf is still cause for concern, it’s not as bad as it would be if he were to consume some of the tulip bulbs.Tulips may or may not pose serious problems for your cat. It just depends on how much of the plant your cat ate, what part of the plant he ate, and how big he or she is. But, even with eating a small amount of tulip, your cat is likely to exhibit symptoms. Even if you didn’t see your cat eat the tulip, noticing any of the following signs are good indications that he did.If your cat took a small bite out of the less toxic part of a tulip, including the flower, leaf, or stem, he or she may exhibit minor symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive drooling. Your cat also may seem depressed or lethargic or express a general sense of not feeling well. Although these symptoms are considered minor compared to what your cat will experience when eating a large amount of tulip, it doesn’t mean that he will recover on his own. You should still seek treatment for your cat to prevent the symptoms from becoming more serious. That means a trip to your trusted vet. You do not need to worry unless the cat ingests the bulb portion of the flower.

Hello, thank you for your question. Ultimately this depends on your comfort level. In my opinion if the cats have any time at home/in your room that is unsupervised I would be worried about having the primroses out. Cats are curious animals and may try to jump onto the shelves to investigate the new addition. However, if you are home all the time with them or keep them out of your room while you're away, I don't think it would be wrong to keep the flowers. Hope this helps!

Hello. It is always best to be safe than to be sorry. If you are at all unsure about a plant, it may be best to either move it to a room the cat cannot get access to, or rehome the plant. This is much cheaper & less heartbreaking than dealing with a sick kitty. I am so glad you are thinking agead. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If Hiccup only bit it and didn't ingest any, he'll likely be OK. However, if you are concerned or know how much he ingested, you can contact the Pet Poison Helpline - https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ - (there is a fee for this service) to see if any action needs to be taken. If he does start showing any signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, drooling, etc, seeking veterinary care immediately is best.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That sounds like a beautiful gift. I agree that I would keep Mirz away from the plant, and ensure that she cannot access it when you are not there. It is fine for you to touch her after touching the plant. The toxicity comes from ingesting/chewing any part of the plant, not from the contact itself.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Louie! Unfortunately, EVERY part of the Lily is very toxic and deadly to cats. It causes acute kidney failure. Time is of the essence and I urge you to take Louie to an open Veterinary Emergency hospital for care. It is not wise to wait until tomorrow because sadly it could be too late to reverse the damage to his kidneys. You could also call the Pet Poison hotline (there is a charge) but they will tell you the same thing. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ I hope this helps and I wish Louie the best! https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-plants-that-are-poisonous-to-pets/

I'm finding some information to suggest that yes they could be toxic to cats, but not a definitive answer to your question. My recommendation is to keep your pachyphytum succulent out of reach of your cat to keep Jackson from chewing at it. You can keep in up on a high shelf or in a cage to keep him away from it. If you want to plant it outside, I recommend not doing it if he is allowed outside. Hope this helps!