Are Gerber Daisies Poisonous to Cats?

No, Gerber daisies are not poisonous to cats. However, showy and poison daisy varieties are poisonous to cats, dogs and horses, warns the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center. Therefore, gardeners desiring to grow a cat-safe garden need to plant the Gerber daisy.

  1. Significance

    • The main staple in a cat's diet is meat. When a cat eats something green, such as a garden or houseplant, it's trying to ease a digestive woe. Cats eat plants to help them regurgitate fur balls. They also eat plants to ease constipation. Gerber daisies are not toxic to cats, so if a feline grazes on one to settle its stomach, it does not run the risk of being poisoned.

    Fun Fact

    • Experts surmise that domesticated cats learned to like eating greens from their big cat counterparts. Big cats ingest greens when they eat their vegetarian prey. When the house cat feeds off of the garden, it's most likely following its "big cat" instinct for something green. Fresh-cut Gerber daisies make colorful and cat-safe bouquets for flower lovers indoors.

    Prevention

    • Cat owners may not want their felines grazing off of the freshly planted and/or cut Gerber daisies, even though they cannot poison the cat. To prevent the cat from eating the Gerber daisies, make sure to provide plenty of fresh cat grass for the feline to graze from when it has an upset stomach or just wants something green.