Many flower enthusiasts love daffodils because they’re low-maintenance plants that emerge during spring. Also known as Narcissus (their botanical name), these showy flowering bulbs belong to the Amaryllidaceae family.
Other common names for daffodils include “jonquil” and “paper white.”
Unfortunately, you can’t have daffodils at home if you’re a cat owner as they’re toxic to cats. They can also cause severe poisoning in other animals like dogs and horses.
In today’s article, I will explain why daffodil is poisonous to our companion animals, list the signs of daffodil poisoning in cats, suggest alternatives to daffodils that aren’t poisonous to cats, and mention other toxic plants cat owners should avoid, so let’s dive right in.
Is Narcissus Poisonous to Cats?
Daffodils can make your home look really pretty. Their springtime blooms spread joy wherever they grow because they’re cheerful and bright.
However, they’re not safe for cats, so they’re also not suitable for pet owners. In fact, they’re toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so if you have any of these animals at home, you should avoid daffodils.
They have mild-moderate toxicity; however, it’s best to be on the safe side and keep your curious kittens, puppies, and horses away from this plant.
Are Cut Daffodils Poisonous to Cats?
ASPCA claims that daffodils and felines can’t coexist in the same home as cats sniff and nibble plants, and these plants pose a danger to their health. (*)
More specifically, they can cause serious issues if eaten by your cat, dog, or horse. Even cut daffodils can be poisonous to these animals.
These plants have lovely flowers. Unfortunately, they contain crystalline lycorine. (*) If cats ingest this alkaloid, they will likely vomit.
The toxin is present in the entire plant. However, it’s most concentrated in the bulb. So, the whole plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, especially the bulb.
Also, the outer layer of a daffodil’s bulb has needle-like calcium oxalate crystals that can cause skin irritation and drool in felines, says Pet Poison Helpline. (*)
Why Are Daffodils Toxic to Cats?
Daffodil, also known as Narcissus (scientific name), is usually seen in various happy colors such as white and yellow.
It’s a very popular spring plant that produces unique flowers. Unfortunately, it’s toxic to cats or any pets for that matter, so they’re not suitable for cat owners. (*)
If your cat ingests a smaller amount of the stems, leaves, or petals of daffodils, they can experience stomach upset.
Eating a larger number of this plant’s stems, bulbs, and leaves can cause low blood pressure, respiratory problems, heart rhythm abnormalities, difficulty breathing, and neurological abnormalities like tremors, seizures, and ataxia.
Also, a foreign body obstruction is possible if your kitten ingests large bulb pieces.
As I already established at the start, the plant’s calcium oxalate crystals can cause GI and oral pain and irritation.
Daffodils also have phenanthridine alkaloids in the leaves, stems, and bulbs that cause serious GI distress, respiratory issues, and hypotension.
That said, I strongly advise against growing daffodils in a household with cats, dogs, or horses.
What if My Cat Eats Daffodils?
Since the whole plant is toxic to cats, especially the bulb, if your cat eats daffodils, they can experience threatening toxicity.
The flowers have lycorine, which has strong emetic properties (induce vomiting) in cats. Furthermore, the bulb’s outer layer has crystals, which cause tissue irritation and drooling.
Ingestion of the flower, plant or bulb can initiate shivering, seizures, vomiting, rapid heart rate, decreased blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea, tissue irritation, arrhythmia, stomach pain, and difficulty breathing.
Call your vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms in your cat or suspect your cat has eaten a small or large amount of this plant.
What To Do if My Cat Eats Daffodils?
First, don’t panic. Remember that medical intervention isn’t always necessary in this situation, especially if your feline has ingested a very small amount of the plant.
Therefore, stay calm and remove any piece of plant you notice from your cat’s fur or mouth. Also, although daffodil poisoning isn’t fatal in cats in most cases, you should still call your vet clinic and ask for veterinary advice.
If they suggest treatment, take your cat to the vet clinic as soon as possible.
Moreover, if possible, disclose to your vet which part of the plant your cat has eaten and how much.
You can also bring a small piece of the daffodils you suspect your cat has ingested to help your vet determine the plant’s toxicity level and act accordingly.
A photo of the plant on your smartphone will also do the trick.
To treat the poisoning, your vet can give your cat medication that induces vomiting. They can also use activated charcoal to pass the toxins through your cat’s digestive tract.
Also, if your pet has been vomiting excessively, they may need intravenous fluids to fight dehydration.
Signs of Daffodil Poisoning in Cats
The severity of daffodil poisoning will vary from case to case, depending on two key factors: which part your cat consumed and how much.
Nevertheless, if poisoned, cats display common symptoms such as the following as soon as two hours after ingestion. The ASPCA suggests you watch for these clinical common signs of daffodils poisoning:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Drooling and salivation
- Respiratory depression
- Lethargy
- Shivering
If your feline has consumed a large amount of the plant, they can also display more severe symptoms such as tremors, low blood pressure, and arrhythmias.
Moreover, gardeners who deal with lots of daffodils can experience skin reactions to the plant. The daffodil pickers rash can appear due to the daffodil’s calcium oxalate crystals.
They’re sharp particles that irritate the skin, and they’re mostly present in the sap of the stems and bulbs of this plant.
They can also cause skin irritations in cats.
How Long Will The Symptoms Last?
Usually, common symptoms of daffodils poisoning will disappear within 12-48 hours; however, if you suspect your cat has eaten this plant, don’t wait for the symptoms to show; take immediate action and consult your vet for advice. (*)
Your vet will know how to treat daffodil poisoning in cats.
How to Stop My Cat From Eating Daffodils?
If you have daffodils in your home or garden, you probably they arrive together with spring and show off their lovely flowers.
However, as much as you, as a responsible cat owner, love your daffodils, I assume you love your furry friend more.
If I’m right, you should ensure your cat’s safety by removing your beautiful daffodils. Or make sure your cat can’t reach your daffodils by placing them in a room your cat doesn’t visit or on a high shelf they can’t climb on.
Monitor your cat’s outdoor play if they’re allowed outside and if you have daffodils in your yard or garden to prevent daffodil poisoning.
You can also block your feline’s access to plants with fencing or netting, especially if they habitually nibble on plants.
Also, consider replacing daffodils with cat-friendly alternatives, such as sunflowers, roses, orchids, and zinnias.
If you don’t want to remove your daffodils, you can deter your cat from ingesting the plants using anti-cat sprays.
Most felines won’t ingest daffodils. However, some cases have proven the opposite, so stay alert.
Plants and Flowers That Aren’t Poisonous to Cats
If you’re in love with the cheerful look of daffodils, don’t worry; you can enjoy my favorite cat-friendly plants and flowers that will embellish your home or garden, such as the following:
- Rose
- Orchid
- Gerbera daisy
- Limonium
- Snapdragon
- Spring crocus
- Waxflower
- Sunflower
- Statice
- Fressia
- Zinnia
- Lipstick plant
- Burro’s tail
- Bromeliads
Other Flowers and Plants Poisonous to Cats
Nature has granted the world numerous lovely plants and flowers, so knowing which can be toxic to cats and which aren’t dangerous can be hard.
Fortunately, experts have determined common plants you should avoid if you own a cat or any other pet for that matter, so let’s take a closer look:
- Azaleas
- Japanese yew
- Rhododendrons
- Oleander
- Lily of the valley
Important note: Consumption of any part of Lilies in the Lilium and Hemerocallis families can cause acute kidney failure in felines.
If you’re a cat parent and passionate plant lover or gardener, consider growing pet-friendly plants that won’t harm your cat.
Lastly, check the common poison list by Pet Poison Helpline. (*)
Final words
In a nutshell, daffodils can poison your cat, so it’s best to keep them away from your feline. If you have these plants around your home, watch your cat outside.
Daffodil poisoning is rarely fatal. However, if your cat has ingested daffodils, they can have a lot of issues. You can easily prevent this by removing daffodils entirely.
I highly suggest planting pet-friendly alternatives such as the ones I listed above in your yard or garden, and rest assured your feline won’t get poisoned when roaming free outside.
If someone gave you daffodils, keep them somewhere your curious cat can’t reach them.
Lastly, don’t forget that daffodils can also harm dogs and horses. If you suspect your kitten, dog, or horse has eaten daffodil, don’t panic. Instead, call your vet immediately and ask for advice.
And make sure your pet doesn’t get access to daffodils in the future.
See more: Are tulips poisonous to cats?
*image by [email protected]/depositphotos