Mixing Cut Flowers And Cats: Choosing Flower Bouquets Cats Won’t Eat

cat with bouquet

(Image credit: Konstantin Aksenov)

last updated 25 December 2021

Having cut flowers in the home adds beauty, fragrance, cheer, and sophistication. If you have pets, though, especially cats that can get into high places, you have the added worry of possible toxicity. There are cat-safe plants available, so knowing what cut flowers for cats are friendly before putting bouquets in your home or giving them to other cat owners is important.

Keeping Cats Away from Flower Arrangements

Any bouquet that contains something toxic to cats is a risk, no matter how cat-safe you think you have made it. Even with cat-friendly flowers, there are still good reasons to cat proof your arrangements. You would probably like to keep the flowers looking nice for one. If your cat nibbles the plants, though, eating too much of even a safe plant can lead to vomiting.

Keep your bouquets somewhere your cats can’t reach, if at all possible. Placing a wire cage around the plants is an option as well as using a terrarium for tropical plants. You can also try placing sticky paw tape around cut flowers. Cats don’t like the feel of it on their feet.

Cat Safe Bouquets and Plants

Before putting flowers and bouquets on the dining room table, or gifting a cat owner with cut flowers, know what’s safe for your furry friends. Not all cats are into nibbling on plants, but many are. Here are some common cut flowers for cats (and cat owners) that are safe:

Cut tulips in a vase are safe for cats but never let them near the bulbs. Tulip bulbs are toxic to cats and dogs and may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Ferns provide safe greenery for cut bouquets as well.

Toxic Cut Flowers and Cats – Keep These Away

There is no such thing as flower bouquets cats won’t eat. You can’t ever know for sure if your cat will take a taste or not. So, if in doubt, keep flowers well out of reach or dispose of them if necessary. Here are some known flowers that should never be in a bouquet within reach of a cat:

Greenery to avoid in cut flower arrangements includes ivy, eucalyptus, Carolina jessamine, winter daphne, and snake plant.

Mary Ellen Ellis has been gardening for over 20 years. With degrees in Chemistry and Biology, Mary Ellen's specialties are flowers, native plants, and herbs.