A Guide to Cat-Friendly Flowers for Your Home

tips, health

Nothing beats receiving a nice bunch of flowers, whether on Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or your birthday. However, as a cat parent, it can be hard to keep your feline companion from eating whatever strikes their desire. Cats can be curious; some might be attracted to plants and flowers in your home or garden. Unfortunately, some flowers are toxic and can cause severe harm or even be lethal to cats if ingested.

While it’s always good to keep your beautiful floral arrangements out of reach of your feline friends, you can still enjoy your new bouquet by choosing cat-safe flowers.

Here are some of the most cat-friendly flowers you can mix and match to create gorgeous arrangements that your feline friends can safely enjoy:

There are similar flowers from the same daisy family, known as chrysanthemums or mums, which can be toxic to cats. Be sure to read the label carefully when purchasing Gerbera Daisies.

Gerbera Daisies
Gerbera Daisies are a must-have for cat parents and are perfect for sprucing up your home during springtime. They come in bold and pastel colors of red, white, yellow, orange, pink, salmon, and lavender. Gerbera Daisies have tiny petals surrounded by rings of larger flat petals and a flat center ranging from black to light bronze or yellow.

Close-up photo of Gerbera daisies. The colors of the daisies are white-yellow with a black center and sit in a clear glass vase against a wall.

If your rose bouquets have thorns, it’s recommended that you remove them or use a taller flower vase to help cover them.

Roses
Roses are always a great choice to gift your mom, a loved one, and, of course, yourself. They smell lovely, and you won’t have to worry about the fallen petals that can make your feline friend sick if accidentally chewed on or eaten. These flowers come in various colors, making them perfect for any occasion.

Aerial view of three red roses in a vase surrounded by their green leaves.

Orchids
Orchids and their family members in the Orchidaceae are non-toxic to cats and safe to have in your home. These stunning monosymmetrical flowers are elegant and surprisingly easy to care for. Orchids are tall and tube-like in shape, and they have three smooth petals on each flower.
While orchids might cause an upset stomach if your cat happens to take a bite, you won’t have to rush to your vet since they are not poisonous. However, it’s good to keep them in a place away from your feline friend to avoid any contact and allow the flowers to bloom.

Cluster of light pink orchid flowers with red inner petals on a branch.

It's good to stop them immediately if you notice your cat is making a habit of eating any flowers.

Sunflowers
Also known as Helianthus annuus, sunflowers are perfect for sprucing up your home and are a favorite for summertime photos. These bright and attractive flowers are also safe around cats and are often available at your local market or florist.
Sunflowers may catch your cat’s attention, and they might be tempted to play with the petals or even take a bite. While the flowers might cause mild stomach upset if ingested by your kitty, they won’t cause significant health issues.

Vase of yellow sunflowers on a table runner atop a wooden table.

One of the best ways to keep your cat away from your African violet is to place the pot in a difficult-to-reach area.

African violets
African violets are popular houseplants that are relatively easy to care for. They come in various leaf forms and produce pretty and dainty flowers. African violets are non-toxic for cats, meaning pet parents can have as many of them in their homes as they want.
African violets can be enticing for your feline friend, but watch out for their soft leaves. Although they are not poisonous to cats, it can still be annoying to find bitten leaves or turned-over flower pots, thanks to your inquisitive kitty.

Close up of dark purple petals with a lavender border and a tiny yellow center.

Wax flowers
Wax flowers are usually filler flowers that make stunning additions to floral arrangements. The flowers are small, have dark red or dark purple needle-like leaves, and are non-toxic to cats.
These wildflowers have a citrusy scent and can last up to 3 weeks in a vase. As with other flowers, wax flowers can cause mild stomach discomfort if ingested. However, they shouldn’t cause any serious risks to your feline friend’s health.

Close up of tiny purple wax flowers on their stems.

To protect your asters from your curious cat, surround them with a fence, hardware cloth, or chicken wire.

Asters
Asters are other beautiful, cat-safe flowers you can have in your home or grow in your garden. With white, blue, and pink colors, asters are perfect for anyone looking for colorful spring flowers. There are also autumn-blooming aster varieties if your fall garden needs some flowers.
However, the selenium found in woody asters can lead to stomach upset (vomiting and diarrhea) if overly consumed. Fortunately, cats and kittens aren’t typically drawn to these brightly colored flowers, and they prefer staying away from the unpleasant texture of their stems and leaves. Thankfully, it is harmless if your cat ingests any part of the plant.

beautiful light blue flowers with a round, fuzzy yellow center.

Keep these non-toxic blooms safe from your kitty by elevating them! Try vertical garden shelves or hanging baskets placed high enough to be out of reach of even the most acrobatic feline.

Freesias
Freesias are usually available as a potted plant or a filler flower in a bouquet at your local Trader Joe’s store. They are tall, beautiful, funnel-shaped flowers with sword-like leaves that always bloom during springtime.
These lemon-scented flowers come in shades of red, white, pink, mauve, blue, or purple. As with other flowers on this list, Freesias are non-toxic to cats apart from the potential stomach discomfort if ingested by your feline friend.

light and dark pink bloomed freesia flowers.

Wrapping it up
Smalls understands that your cat is more than just a pet. They're a family member, and every cat parent wants to keep their fur baby as safe as possible.
While having flowers in the house can feel like an unnecessary risk, you can still enjoy having beautiful blooms in your home if you choose non-toxic flowers for cats. The listed flowers are kitty-approved, so you can gift cat parents with roses or a bunch of orchids without worry!