Roses come in many different sizes and shapes.
If you are a fan of roses in your home, you might be wondering if they are safe to have around your cat.
However, the answer isn’t as simple as a yes or a no. The answer to “are roses poisonous to cats?” is, “it depends.”
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Are Roses Poisonous to Cats?
When it comes to roses, there are the traditional roses that bring on images of gorgeous Valentine’s day bouquets, and there are also other plants that contain the word rose in their name.
While the conventional rose is considered non-toxic to cats, that rule doesn’t apply to any plant with rose in its name.
It also doesn’t mean that roses can’t harm your cat.
The common rose is not toxic to cats but may cause an upset stomach to your cat, and the thorns may hurt it’s paws and mouth, stinging it in the process. There are also other plants with “rose” in the name that can harm cats.
Roses and Your Cat
There are different parts to the rose that can affect your cat differently.
It is important to know how each part of the rose plant can affect your cat so you can keep him safe.
There are around 150 species of roses, classified “Rosa Genus” on the planet.
They come in a variety of colors and can produce single or double flowers. Roses themselves are not toxic to cats. But they can still hurt him. (1.)
Thorns
Roses are a thorny plant.
You know the saying, “every rose has it’s thorns?“
If your cat gets into a rosebush or even into a bouquet of roses, there is a chance that the sharp needle-like thorns can hurt him.
The thorns can scratch the cat’s skin or eyes, and if he ingests them, they can cause damage to his throat, stomach, or intestines.
Leaves
Cat owners know that the leaves of many plants are poisonous to their cats. Luckily, the leaves of the rose bush are non-toxic.
If your cat does eat the leaves of a rose bush or from a rose bouquet, they aren’t going to suffer any life-threatening side effects.
Petals
Like the rose leaves, the rose petals are also non-toxic to your cat.
There is one thing to keep in mind, though.
While the petals aren’t toxic to your cat, they can cause illness in your cat, which can lead to other complications.
Eating one or two rose petals isn’t likely to hurt your cat, but the ingestion of too many can result in an upset stomach or diarrhea.
Also read: How to calm down a cat that is upset.
Other Plants with the Word Rose in Their Names
While roses themselves are fairly non-lethal to your cat, this rule does not apply to all flowers that have the word rose in their name.
Many other plants have the word rose in their name and aren’t safe for your cat leading to severe reactions and even death.
While we can’t list every single one here, the following “rose” flowers are the ones you are most likely to come across.
Christmas Rose
Also known as Easter roses, the Christmas rose is popular from December to April and is extremely poisonous to your cat.
Known by the scientific name Helleborus Niger, this ornamental plant is commonly used in Christmas decorations, so be wary of any fresh décor that you might be gifted or use in your home.
It can feel amazing to be gifted a beautiful set of exotic looking roses, but it does not feel as amazing to discover that it might just hurt your little best furry friend…
Dessert Rose
The desert rose is a plant that produces a white or lavender flower with a dark throat that looks similar to an azalea.
While the entire azalea plant is poisonous to cats, it is only the sap of the desert rose that is toxic.
If you are going to plant a desert rose in the garden, ensure that your cat will not be outdoors.
Primrose
There are 450 species of primrose or Primula vulgaris.
This oil from this plant is commonly used as a topical ointment for many human conditions. In cats, primrose is toxic and will lead to vomiting.
While the toxicity isn’t fatal to cats, if your cat eats a large quantity of the primrose plant, the vomiting can lead to dehydration, which can be fatal.
Rosebay
Also known as azalea, the rosebay is very toxic to cats. Even a tiny nibble of the leaves of this plant can be fatal to your cat.
The best thing to do is to keep the rosebay, or Genus Rhododendron, far away from your cat at all times.
Rose of Sharon
The rose of Sharon is a plant that seems to draw cats to it with its smell.
While eating part of the Rose of Sharon is not likely to be fatal to your cat, it is considered to be moderately toxic.
The rose of Sharon, or Hibiscus syriacus, can cause your cat to experience seizures and disorientation.
Moss Rose
The moss rose, or Portulaca oleracea) can thrive in the poorest of soil conditions and can withstand heat and drought. Some people use the petals of the moss rose in salads and stir-fries for a sour punch.
For cats, consuming the moss rose can lead to kidney failure.
The poisonous properties of this flower are fast-acting and will cause your cat to fall sick pretty instantaneously.
Also read: Why are cats so afraid of cucumbers?
Is It Okay to Have Rose Bouquets Around Cats?
When you are gifted a rose bouquet, you often want to display it for everyone to see.
If you remove the thorns from the roses and ensure that he won’t ingest too many of the petals, the roses are safe enough to have around your cats.
However, you might be wondering about some of the other things that are often included in a rose bouquet, like baby’s breath, ivy, or lily of the valley.
Baby’s breath, ivy, and lily of the valley are all toxic to your cat in varying degrees.
Ingesting baby’s breath can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, or lethargy. However, ivy and lily of the valley can lead to seizures and death in cats.
If you are going to place out a bouquet of roses somewhere that your cat might get them, ensure that you remove any of the filler flowers.
In general, if you aren’t sure that a plant is safe to be around your cat, the best thing you can do is to keep it away from your cat.
You don’t want to learn the hard way that the plant isn’t safe.
What Happens If Your Cat Eats Roses?
Cats are not able to digest roses if they do eat them.
If they have eaten many roses in your home, they could experience a bowel obstruction, which can be fatal if not treated.
If you suspect that your cat may have gotten into roses and ingested some, you can watch for the following signs.
– Pawing at the mouth: This can be a sign that there is a wound or a thorn in the cat’s mouth
– Vomiting
– Diarrhea
– Drooling
– Lack of appetite
– Abdominal pain, or discomfort
– Lethargy
If you notice any of the above symptoms or witness your cat getting into your roses, follow these steps to ensure that your cat is treated correctly and recovers from his adventures.
– Assess your cat’s mouth and paws for any signs of trauma, cuts, or irritation from the roses’ thorns.
– if you have identified cuts and they seem minimal and are only on the paws of your cat, you can use antiseptic wipes to clean them up
– if there are cuts in your cats’ mouth or the cuts on the paws appear deep, you should bring your cat into the vet for an immediate examination. You should also get your cat into the vet if you suspect he has eaten many roses, and he is showing signs of bowel obstruction, such as vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal swelling and pain.
– The vet will likely want to do a thorough examination, depending on the severity of your cat’s symptoms. In some situations, the cat might need to be put under sedation. If your vet suspects a bowel obstruction has occurred, he will do x rays and surgery to correct it.
– Your cat might be given anti-vomiting medications, pain medications, and antibiotics for treatment after getting into a rose plant.
It is essential to follow directions on your cat’s medications and remember to always to to the vet if you are in doubt just to be on the safe side.
How Much of the Roses Can My Cat Eat Before There is a Problem?
The amount of the rose that will need to be ingested before there is a problem will vary from cat to cat.
A small kitten will need much less to feel the effects then a ten-pound cat will.
Generally speaking, even just two leaves off the rose plant can be enough to cause a cat to be sick enough to need to be seen by a vet.
Ultimately, if you suspect that your cat was in your rose plant, monitor him, and have him seen by his vet if you have any concerns.
While the rose plant is not considered toxic for your cat, it can cause problems. The best thing to do is to keep these flowers away from your cat.
If you are gifted a bouquet of roses from a friend, ensure that you place them somewhere your cat will not get into them.
If your cat does get into them, he will probably be okay, but you must keep an eye on him.
Have him seen by the vet if he develops any symptoms of bowel obstruction or dehydration.
So, while roses can be stunning to look at and make us weak in the knees when someone we love gifts them to us, we should definitely take some good old precaution when it involves our cute cats.
The common rose may not be toxic to cats, but the thorns are a different story as they are known to sting and hurt those who aren’t careful.
A playful cat or a kitten full of joy and careless energy may just hurt himself in the mouth or paws if he gets to close to these beautiful flowers and they can sting quite a bit.
There are also other plants that actually are toxic to cats, with rose in their name and we should keep that in mind for our pets well being and safety.
So, it is definitely a good idea to keep a close eye on your little four legged friend and not let him “smell the roses”, or he just might get stung.
Now that you have read all about “are roses poisonous to cats?”, and “are roses toxic to cats?”, you may also enjoy reading our post about cat body language.
Our cats may not express themselves with traditional words but they do give so much away about their current mood or feelings with the strangest body gestures and actions.
It is a really fun read and it is fascinating how much of a difference it can make when you know how to read your cats body language and mood, just from how it is acting and carrying itself at the moment.
