Our pets are our family, so we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe. Just like we wouldn't bring peanuts into our house if our child were allergic, we should be avoiding things that could make our animal family ill.
Some of those things are well-known, like chocolate being toxic for dogs, while other things thought to be toxic aren't as bad as they are made out to be.
However, while poinsettias do have toxic compounds, they are only considered mildly poisonous and only need medical intervention in rare situations. As long as your cat isn't obsessed with eating it, it's probably okay to decorate your home for a few weeks.
However, there is one kind of flower that gets far less press for its dangers, even though it is way more toxic than poinsettias.
While some people do know that flowers in the "true lily" and "daylily" families aren't great for felines, many don't understand just how dangerous they are.
Which is why cat parent Lindsey Warnock took to Facebook to share her story and hopefully save other cat owners from making mistakes similar to hers.
Even when Willow batted at the flowers and got bright yellow pollen on her fur, Lindsey was mostly concerned about it making a mess when she shooed Willow away.
But something nagged at her, and Lindsey decided to check online to see if the pollen would cause problems for her cat.
Unlike poinsettias, which can cause just mild illness, every part of a lily is poisonous to cats, even in very small doses. Stems, petals, stamens, and even a dusting of pollen are usually deadly.
Lindsey worked quickly, showering off as much of the pollen from Willow's fur as she could before rushing the kitty to an emergency vet.
However, due to her quick acting, Willow had a better chance than those felines, since most owners don't realize there might be a problem until the cat shows symptoms.
Willow was treated with purgatives, activated charcoal, and other meds, but for two gruelling days, her life was in serious danger.
Lindsey's gut told her something might be wrong and it saved Willow's life. Now she's hoping that her story will save future kitties.
"I can't tell you the intense guilt I felt and still feel for buying those stupid flowers. I felt like a murderer, terrible fur mom, terrible person," she explained, "I've had cats my entire life and have never heard of lily poisoning." In fact, the vet told her that most cat owners learn of it the hard way.
"Please SHARE this with your friends," Lindsey continued, "I would hate to see anyone go through this!!"
