Flowers That Are Non Toxic to Cats: ASPCA-Checked List

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists these common flowers as non-toxic to cats. Each was checked on its ASPCA entry or the ASPCA cat plant list on 2026-09-25:

• Rose (Rosa species). Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The thorns are the hazard, not the plant chemistry.
• Zinnia (Zinnia species). Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
• Snapdragon (Antirrhinum). On the ASPCA non-toxic list for cats.
• Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii). On the non-toxic list as Barberton daisy. Other "daisies" are not: see below.
• Camellia (Camellia japonica). Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
• Petunia (Petunia species). Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
• Baby's breath (Gypsophila elegans). Listed non-toxic, but the ASPCA notes vomiting and diarrhoea may be seen if eaten. The entry names G. elegans; a florist label that names another Gypsophila species is not covered by it.
• Sunflower. The ASPCA entry is for Helianthus angustifolius, the swamp sunflower, listed non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
• Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) and African violet. Both on the ASPCA non-toxic list; see our orchid and African violet entries.
• Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria). Despite the name it is not a true lily; the FDA says it causes only mild stomach upset if a large amount is eaten.

"Non-toxic" in the ASPCA's sense means no systemic poisoning is expected. It does not mean a cat can eat a bouquet: any plant material can cause vomiting.

True lilies come first. The FDA says lilies in the true lily (Lilium) and daylily (Hemerocallis) groups are very dangerous for cats: every part, including pollen and the water in the vase, can cause kidney failure. See our lily entry.

The ASPCA cat plant list also puts these bouquet and garden flowers on its toxic list: lavender, carnation (mild stomach and skin signs), chrysanthemum and daisies in the Chrysanthemum group, tulip, daffodil, hydrangea, iris, gladiola, peony, amaryllis and calla lily.

Yes, according to the ASPCA, which lists Lavandula angustifolia as toxic to cats and dogs. The toxic principles are linalool and linalyl acetate, and the signs reported are nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. That makes it a poor choice for a bouquet or windowsill a cat can reach. Our lavender entry has the details.

• "Lily" in the name. Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria) is not a true lily and the FDA rates it mild; calla lily and peace lily are not true lilies either; the FDA says their calcium oxalate crystals irritate the mouth and throat, and both are on the ASPCA toxic list. The FDA names Asiatic, Easter, Japanese show, Oriental, rubrum, stargazer, tiger and wood lilies, plus daylilies, as the dangerous ones.
• "Daisy" in the name. Gerbera (Barberton) daisy is on the non-toxic list; "daisy" in the Chrysanthemum group is on the toxic list.
• "Sunflower." The ASPCA entry covers the swamp sunflower species; the common garden sunflower is a different species of the same genus.
• Mixed bouquets. A bouquet of roses may still carry a stem of lily or carnation as filler. Check every kind of flower in it, not just the main one.

If you are not sure what a flower is, photograph it; a plant ID app gives the species name you need to check against the ASPCA list.

For any lily or daylily, even a little pollen licked from fur, the FDA says to call your veterinarian or a pet poison control centre immediately; do not wait for symptoms. For other flowers, note the flower, how much and when, keep a sample or photo, and call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435. Do not give home remedies or make the cat vomit unless a professional tells you to.

Research and drafting for this page were done with the help of AI, and every figure was then checked line by line against the sources listed at the end of the page. Sources were opened on 2026-09-25. If you find a mistake, tell us and we will correct it.