I think that nowadays there's so much information out there that responsible owners will find the information they need - all they have to do is buy a book on cat ownership or log onto a website for the same and learn about what they're doing - just as keen gardeners visit this site and other gardening websites and buy magazines and books.
A few seconds' googling came up with with this http://www.bluecross.org.uk/1957-2756/hidden-dangers.html - which reveals it's not just lilies, but amaryllis, cyclamen and poinsettia as well. Our garden's been full of cyclamen for years but as far as I'm aware the neighbours' cats who all visit us have only been poisoned by anti-freeze (not ours I hasten to add!)
There is of course no accounting for the irresponsible or know-it-all cat owners who don't find out how to look after their pets, but I'm afraid that's one of the facts of life.
I hope it doesn't appear that I'm anti cats - I'm not - as I've said before I love cats and have owned (or been owned by) many wonderful cats. I don't want other people's cats in my garden, but that's another matter. On this thread I just think we should remember that life is dangerous - breathing is bad for us - it causes oxiditave stress on our body cells and results in aging and death - eventually.
Just because something might harm our pets it's not everyone else's responsibility - the onus is on the pet owner.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I couldn't agree more dove, unfortunately these days seems no-one wants to take responsibility for their actions, or lack of. If we r honest, we could go through many of our common garden plants and find some part of it that is toxic to some species or other- If enough were ingested! And many of our household products and foodstuffs, chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions. ......I could go on all night and frankly it would ridiculous and no-one would ever do anything!! I see far more cats poisoned (accidentally or otherwise) by ethylene glycol than lilies, and far more than that injured from road traffic accidents! Ok rant over!
As far as I have been able to work out it is only Oriental lilies that are the problem and it is ingesting pollen that has got on to their fur whilst grooming that will cause kidney failure. As far as I can tell the Oriental lily is the only plant that will kill a cat. Most dangerous compounds to humans or animals I had always thought were well known or a matter of common sense. I don't think Lilies fall into that category. I am dismayed to see that the latest email from Gardeners World urges us to plant lilies but no mention of their threat to cats. If nothing else raising it in this forum might raise awareness and my neighbours cats will be safe.
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I think that nowadays there's so much information out there that responsible owners will find the information they need - all they have to do is buy a book on cat ownership or log onto a website for the same and learn about what they're doing - just as keen gardeners visit this site and other gardening websites and buy magazines and books.
A few seconds' googling came up with with this http://www.bluecross.org.uk/1957-2756/hidden-dangers.html - which reveals it's not just lilies, but amaryllis, cyclamen and poinsettia as well. Our garden's been full of cyclamen for years but as far as I'm aware the neighbours' cats who all visit us have only been poisoned by anti-freeze (not ours I hasten to add!)
There is of course no accounting for the irresponsible or know-it-all cat owners who don't find out how to look after their pets, but I'm afraid that's one of the facts of life.
I hope it doesn't appear that I'm anti cats - I'm not - as I've said before I love cats and have owned (or been owned by) many wonderful cats. I don't want other people's cats in my garden, but that's another matter. On this thread I just think we should remember that life is dangerous - breathing is bad for us - it causes oxiditave stress on our body cells and results in aging and death - eventually.
Just because something might harm our pets it's not everyone else's responsibility - the onus is on the pet owner.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I couldn't agree more dove, unfortunately these days seems no-one wants to take responsibility for their actions, or lack of. If we r honest, we could go through many of our common garden plants and find some part of it that is toxic to some species or other- If enough were ingested! And many of our household products and foodstuffs, chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions. ......I could go on all night and frankly it would ridiculous and no-one would ever do anything!! I see far more cats poisoned (accidentally or otherwise) by ethylene glycol than lilies, and far more than that injured from road traffic accidents! Ok rant over!
I've seen far more garden birds killed by cats, than I've seen cats killed by lilies.
As far as I have been able to work out it is only Oriental lilies that are the problem and it is ingesting pollen that has got on to their fur whilst grooming that will cause kidney failure. As far as I can tell the Oriental lily is the only plant that will kill a cat. Most dangerous compounds to humans or animals I had always thought were well known or a matter of common sense. I don't think Lilies fall into that category. I am dismayed to see that the latest email from Gardeners World urges us to plant lilies but no mention of their threat to cats. If nothing else raising it in this forum might raise awareness and my neighbours cats will be safe.
Ive grown Lillies for years, many cats visit my garden including my 20 year old cat.
Never seen any problems, but I know the dangers and am careful where I place them.