Is it ok for a cat to eat rose petals?

This question was asked by others but I would like a definitive answer from someone who knows. Maybe a veternarian or vetinary student? My cat likes the red rose petals (Lincoln Roses) from our garden. Ok for the cat to eat, yes or no? And why?

Is it ok for a cat to eat rose petals?
Your cat can still enjoy the rose petals...and clover, too! Our cats loved our rose garden, but would only eat the botton flowers, so we didnt' mind. We even planted extra for them! I worked as a volunteer to ASPCA for many years. It is okay!
Reply:NO!!! Your cat is going to die a slow, yet horrible death!!! Just Kidding. The cat will be fine.
Reply:Most of us are surrounded by plants, both wild and cultivated, in our homes and gardens and come to no harm. However, a small percentage of these plants have the potential to cause harm to ourselves and our cats.





Who is at risk ?





Most cats are fastidious creatures and are careful what they eat. Poisoning in cats is therefore generally rare. It is the young, inquisitive cat or kitten that is most at risk of eating harmful plants, particularly household ones. Boredom also has a part to play. When a cat is confined to a run or lives entirely indoors hazardous plants should be removed from its environment. Cats given free access to the outside world tend to have other things to occupy their minds than sampling unfamiliar vegetation. But even free roaming adult cats may accidentally ingest needles or seeds that have become entangled in their coat during grooming.





Cats don't eat plants !





All plants, even grass, can have an irritating effect on a cat's gastrointestinal system causing them to vomit. But, given the opportunity, cats like to nibble on grass. When not available their attention may turn to often less suitable household plants. Tender plants are generally a favourite. Particularly dangerous is Diffenbachia (dumb cane).





Preventive action





Remove all potentially hazardous household plants to prevent unnecessary exposure. This is especially important for kittens or cats kept indoors. A list of plants that are unsuitable to grow in a house with cats is given below.





Outdoors the story is not so simple. Free roaming cats have access to many gardens so it will be impossible to prevent all possible contact with potentially harmful plants. You can however remove the most toxic plants from your garden and make a note of any in your neighbour's gardens that are potentially dangerous. List common and Latin names. This list may help your vet if poisoning is suspected.





You can also ensure that any new additions to the garden are safe. The Horticultural Trade Association has a code of practice for its members and most garden centres and nurseries label plants that are toxic or cause skin reactions. Plants are grouped into three categories: A Poisonous; B Toxic if eaten; and C Harmful if eaten. You are unlikely to find a category A plant on sale - Poison Ivy being one example. Category B plants should be avoided. After gardening, never leave hedge clippings or uprooted plants near pets. Their novelty value may encourage inquisitive chewing. Sap from damaged stems can cause skin irritation as well as being poisonous. Bulbs, rhizomes and roots can be the most hazardous parts of some plants.





Hazardous plants





The following is a fairly comprehensive list of plants that are potentially poisonous or harmful to your cat when eaten. Contact with some of the plants listed may be sufficient to cause skin irritation (marked *) It is often the fruit or seeds of plants that are potentially harmful. Many of us are already familiar with plants that carry really toxic berries such as Deadly Nightshade. Only a small quantity of these need to be eaten for a fatal result. Other plants in the list may come as a surprise - Daffodils for example. Here, however, it is the bulb that causes harm if ingested.





The fact that the list contains some very common plants should not be cause for concern. Most of these potentially harmful plants taste bad and are unlikely to be eaten in sufficient quantities to cause permanent damage. Woody garden plants are also unlikely to be eaten by your cat - tender household plants pose most risk.











Hazardous plants





House plants








Amaryllis


Aphelandra


Castor Oil Plant, see Ricinus


Christmas Cherry, see Solanum


Chrysanthemum, see Dendranthema


Codiaeum


Croton, see Codiaeum


Cyclamen


Dumb cane, see Dieffenbachia


Dieffenbachia *


Devil's Ivy, see Epipremnum aureum


Elephant's Ear, see Alocasia, Caladium


Epipremnum aureum


Ferns


Holly, see Ilex


Hypoestes phyllostachya


Hyacinthus


Ivy, see Hedera


Mistletoe, see Viscum


Nerium oleander


Oleander see Nerium


Ornithogalum


Poinsettia, see Euphorbia


Senecio


Star of Bethlehem, see Ornithogalum umbellatum


Umbrella Plant, see Schefflera


Zebra Plant, see Aphelandra





Garden plants








Abrus precatorius


Aconitum *


Actaea


Aesculus


Agrostemma githago


Aleurites


Allium


Alocasia


Alstroemeria *


Anagallis


Anemone


Angel's Trumpets, see Brugmansia


Angel Wings, see Caladium


Apricot, see Prunus armeniaca


Aquilegia


Arisaema


Arum


Astragalus


Atropa


Avocado, see Persea americana


Azalea, see Rhododendron


Baneberry, see Actaea


Bird of Paradise, see Strelitzia


Black-eyed Susan, see Thunbergia


Bloodroot, see Sanguinaria


Box, see Buxus


Broom, see Cytisus


Brugmansia


Bryony


Buckthorn, see Rhamnus


Burning Bush, see Dictamnus


Buttercup, see Ranunculus


Buxus


Cherry Laurel see Prunus laurocerasus


Chincherinchee see Ornithogalum


Caesalpinia


Caladium


Caltha *


Catharanthus


Celastrus


Centaurea cyanus


Cestrum


Chrysanthemum see Dendranthema


Clematis


Colchicum


Columbine see Aquilegia


Conium


Convallaria majalis


Corncockle, see Agrostemma githago


Cornflower, see Centaurea cyanus


Cotoneaster


Crocus, see Colchicum


x Cupressocyparis leylandii *


Cyclamen


Cytisus


Daffodil, see Narcissus


Daphne *


Datura *


Delphinium


Delonix


Dendranthema *


Dicentra


Dictamnus


Digitalis


Echium *


Euonymus


Euphorbia *


Elder, see Sambucus


False acacia, see Robinia


Fems


Ficus


Flax see Linum


Frangula see Rhamnus


Fremontodendron *


Foxglove see Digitalis


Four o'clock: see Mirabilis jalapa


Galanthus


Gaultheria


Giant Hog Weed, see Heracleum mantegazzianum


Gloriosa superba


Glory Lily see Gloriosa


Hedera *


Helleborus *


Hemlock, see Conium


Henbane, see Hyoscyamus


Heracleum mantegazzianum


Hippeastrum


Holly, see Ilex


Horse-chestnut, see Aesculus


Hyacinthus


Hydrangea


Hyoscyamus











Impatiens


Ipomoea


Iris


Ivy, see Hedera


Ilex


Jasminum


Juniperus sabina


Kalmia


Laburnum


Lantana


Lathyrus


Larkspur, see Delphinium


Lilium


Lily of the Valley, see Convallaria


Linum


Ligustrum


Lobelia (except bedding Lobelia) *


Lords and Ladies (Cuckoo pint), see Arum


Lupinus


Lycopersicon *


Lysichiton


Madagascar periwinkle, see Catharanthus


Marigold, see Tagetes


Melia


Mirabilis jalapa


Monkswood, see Aconitum


Morning Glory, see Ipomoea


Narcissus


Nerium oleander


Nicotiana


Nightshade, deadly, see Atropa


Nightshade, woody, see Solanum


Oak, see Quercus


Onion, see Allium


Oxytropis


Paeonia


Papaver


Parthenocissus


Peach, see Prunus persica


Peony, see Paeonia


Pernettya


Persea americana


Philodendron


Physalis


Phytolacca *


Pokeweed, see Phytolacca


Poppy, see Papaver


Polygonatum


Primula obconica *


Privet see Ligustrum


Prunus armeniaca


Prunus laurocerasus


Prunus persica


Quercus


Rhamus (including R.frangula)


Rhododendron


Rhus *


Ricinus


Robinia


Rosary pea, see Abrus precatorius


Rubber plant, see Ficus


Rudbeckia


Rue, see Ruta


Ruta


Sambucus


Sanguinaria


Schefflera *


Scilla


Skunk cabbage, see Lysichiton


Snowdrop, see Galanthus


Solandra


Solanum


Solomon's seal, see Polygonatum


Spindle Tree, see Euonymus


Spurge, see Euphorbia


Strelitzia


Sumach, see Rhus


Sweet pea, see Lathyrus


Tagetes


Tanacetum


Taxus


Tetradymia


Tobacco, see Nicotiana


Tomato, see Lycopersicon


Thornapple, see Datura


Thuja *


Tulipa *


Veratrum


Viscum


Wisteria


Yew, see Taxus





* Contact with these plants may be sufficient to cause skin irritation
Reply:http://www.petco.com/Content/Article.asp...


Roses are not on this long list of toxic plants.
Reply:No is not good for your cat to eat rose petals as it could kill him or do some serious damage to your cat. I would do everything that I could to stop him from doing so.
Reply:If the petals are plastic no.But if its real petals then your cat needs vitamins.
Reply:It wont hurt the cat but there are some that will harm the cat such as Pointsetters