Cats & Carnations

Carnations are part of the compositae family. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the flowers from the compositae family have toxic chemicals that are innocuous to humans but harmful to animals, especially to cats.

  1. Usage

    • Carnations are often worn on special occasions, especially Mother's Day, and are also used in wedding bouquets, since they are commonly used to express love and gratitude.

    Cats and Carnations

    • Cats tend to eat plants (mostly grass), after they have eaten large amounts of food. This is because plants have fiber, and this settles their stomachs. Cats will also nibble on flowers for the same reasons.

    Symptoms

    • If a cat nibbles on a carnation, its mood will be negatively affected, as well as its eating habits and nervous system. Moreover, its digestive system will be altered due to uncontrollable bowel movements. If a cat eats several carnations, it will begin drooling and will lose coordination of its limbs, causing it to stumble against anything.

    Veterinarian

    • The symptoms will gradually disappear. Nevertheless, the toxic chemicals will remain in the cat's body for a period of time and might provoke digestive disorders or turn healthy organs into malfunctioning ones. So, if a cat eats carnations on a regular basis, the owner should take it to the veterinarian immediately.

    Prevention

    • If the owner has carnations in his garden, then he should keep his pet interested in something else, so that it won't venture outside. If it's an outdoor cat, the safest way will be either cutting down all the carnations or growing them in a place where the cat can't access (a greenhouse).