Gardens are beautiful, but many flowers (including all bulbs) are toxic to animal friends we share our outdoor (and indoor spaces). Campaigners want warnings on toxic seed packets and plants, as many people are unaware that simply brushing a tail against a toxic plant like a lily or sago palm could harm. Other hazards include slug pellets, garden mulch (cocoa, pine, rubber and fresh compost), garden chemicals and collar choking hazards. Also see the posts on safer houseplants and how to help stop birds flying into windows.
Avoid Toxic Plants to Pets
- The book Leaf Supply lists toxic plants to pets
- Blue Cross and PDSA have good posts on pet-friendly gardens.
- Toxic plants to dogs
- Toxic plants to cats
- Toxic plants to rabbits
- Toxic plants to birds
- Avoid these herbs near pets
- Trees & plants to horses (inc. yew & oak trees)
- Remove ragwort with a ragfork
- VPIS supplies good info for vets
- Keep pets away from plants that could harm with thorns or ones that attract bees, to avoid bee stings.
Pet Garden Safety Tips
Wiki has a good post on pet-friendly gardens
- Securely dispose of garden chemicals and pesticides, and grow an organic lawn (check ears/paws after playing, for grass seeds). Clean up poop immediately, as it can cause blindness to animals and children. Use safe humane slug/snail deterrents.
- Use paved landscaping over stones or gravel (can get stuck in claws). Have shady areas (even cats can get heatstroke) and choose a solid fence with non-toxic wood stain. For gaps in fences used as hedgehog highways, block these in the day, to let prey animals (like rabbits) run free (hogs are nocturnal).
- Wasp-deterring citronella candles are pet-toxic. Use a Waspinator (looks like a nest to deter other wasps).
- Wash paws after snowy walks to remove rock salt (can burn at higher temperatures when pets go inside). Instead, use shovel snow or use EcoGrit (cereal waste), straw or sand.
- Flat Cat & Cataire make screens to keep cats safe near windows (they don’t always ‘right themselves’).
- Keep pets away from BBQs. Remove leftover food (fatty meats, cooked bones, onions, garlic, beer and bones are all toxic).
- Use safe pet toys. (under supervision). Avoid throwing sticks (can cause mouth injuries).
- Keep pets away from ponds (blue/green algae) and toads. Create sloping sides for pond wildlife and use safer alternatives to netting.
- Even Greener & The Original Water Butt Co are safer than open barrels, if you recycle rainwater. Stagnant water attracts mosquitoes.
- Cover pools, when not in use. Doggy Docks are easy to use, and also used as boat platforms.
- Remove leaf litter. And clean spilled birdseed, as this could attract other creatures that could harm.
- Pet collars and tags can snag on balconies, fences, radiators. Get Dog Smart and KeepSafe (also in UK) are breakaway collars that are secure on walks (attach the lead to both D-rings) but break off in emergencies (train dogs to recall (rather than using training collars, some of which can become choke chains if dogs pull). Use with slide-on tags. For cats over 6 months, Kitty Collars are embroidered with contact/medical info, and break in emergencies.
