Are Roses Poisonous or Toxic to Cats? Rose Safety Tips

Hey Pet Parents & Pet Lovers,

Whether it’s for Valentines Day, your anniversary or even for a regular date night, roses can be a romantic gift. Just because these flowers are popular, doesn’t mean that they are a safe gift for every household. It’s important to understand which plants are considered safe, especially if you live in a pet-friendly household.

While it’s true that cats are obligate carnivores, it doesn’t mean that they don’t like to chow down on some greens every so often. Actually, our cat Beau loves to eat things like cat grass. Cats do this for a number of reasons, including boredom, hunger or even to clear their stomachs. As much as cats enjoy nibbling on these greens, greens are not the nicest on their stomachs. That being said, let’s jump into more about roses!

SHORT ANSWER

While Roses are classified as non-toxic to cats, dogs as well as horses by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). While this is true, there are some extra things you want to think about for safety.

ROSES ARE SHARP AND CAN CUT YOUR CAT

If you are thinking about gifting roses to a cat parent or the receiver of some roses, always make sure to check for thorns immediately. You may not think that your cat is going to be interested in the flower, but it’s best not to risk it. Rose thorns have been known to cut both paws and mouths of cats and while cut can heal over time, they can become problematic dependant on how many and how deep.

ROSES WILL CAUSE STOMACH PROBLEMS

We covered the reason why cats fart a few weeks ago, but did you know that roses can actually be a cause of gastrointestinal issues? Not only are cats unable to digest the roses, but the thorns can also harm their stomachs and if they eat too much they may be the victim of a bowel obstruction, which can be fatal. 

SIGNS THAT YOUR CAT HAS EATEN A ROSE

• PAWING AT THE MOUTH
• VOMITING
• DIARRHEA
• DROOLING
• INAPPETENCE
• ABDOMINAL PAIN OR DISCOMFORT
• LETHARGY

AFTERCARE AND THERAPY ADVICE

1. Begin by assessing the mouth and paws for signs of trauma, cuts or irritation.
2. If cuts seem minimal and only appear on paws use antiseptic wipes to clean cuts or scrapes.
3. If cuts appear on the mouth or deep cuts appear on paws it is recommended that you take your cat to the vet for an immediate examination.
4. Vets may want to do a thorough examination and dependant on the severity of the symptoms may even put your cat under sedation.
5. Medications can include anti-vomiting medications, pain medications and antibiotics.
6. It’s very common for cats to heal successfully with care.

OKAY, NON-TOXIC, BUT HOW MUCH CAN MY CAT EAT BEFORE IT’S A PROBLEM?

It will be different for each cat, but, typically it takes as little as two leaves before a cat gets sick and needs a vet’s attention. Again, if your cat takes a nibble, you should be fine, but even eating that amount of 

ARE THERE ANY FLOWERS WITH THE NAME “ROSE” THAT ARE TOXIC?

There are a number of flowers with the name “Rose” that are toxic. The following are images of the most common flowers that are called “roses” and whether or not they are toxic. In general, it is better to practice extra safety by making sure that all of these plants are out of reach of your cat (whether toxic or non-toxic), however, this should give you a better idea of what’s an immediate emergency and what isn’t.

STANDARD ROSE Other Names: N/A Toxic/Non-Toxic: Non-Toxic

HELLEBORUS NIGER Other Names: Eastern Rose, Lenten Rose, Christmas Rose Toxic/Non-Toxic: Toxic

ADENIUM OBESUM Other Names: Desert Rose, Impala Lily, Kudu Lily, Desert Azalea and Sabi Star Toxic/Non-Toxic: Toxic

PORTULACA OLERACEA Other Names: Moss Rose, Rock Moss, Purslane,  Pigweed, Pusley, Portulaca Toxic/Non-Toxic: Toxic

PRIMULA VULGARIS Other Names: Primrose Toxic/Non-Toxic: Toxic

HIBISCUS SYRIACUS Other Names: Rose of China, Alethea, Rose of Sharon Toxic/Non-Toxic: Toxic

ROSEBAY Other Names: Rhododendron, Azalea and Great Laurel Toxic/Non: Toxic: Highly Toxic (Especially the leaves)

 

ARE THESE ALL OF THE ROSES I SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT?

No, they are not. Unfortunately, there are over 150 different types of roses and listing them and finding images for them would prove to be unnecessary. This is especially due to how uncommon some of these types are. Again, it’s probably better to err on the side of caution.

CONCLUSION

Although not toxic, Roses shouldn’t be the first choice of snack for your little one. It’s best to keep these beautiful flowers away from your cats, even if it means telling your friends not to bring them over or letting them know you need to keep them outside. The flowers, not your friends! 😉 

So, did this article help you out? Did you learn anything new? Let me know in the comments below!

Other foods you might be curious if cats can or can’t eat:

Nuts/Legumes: Peanuts | Cashews | Pecans
Fruits/Vegetables: Olives | Watermelon  | Bananas
Treats/Liquids: Ice Cream | Almond Milk | Coffee | Soy Milk
Misc. Plants: Roses