Freesia flowers, rife with bright colors and sweet smells, are among the most beautiful and fragrant blooms of them all. However, their beauty is somewhat of a double-edged sword due to the fact that it deems them a tempting snack for both wandering animals and domestic pets alike – cats included! Thus, it’s only normal to be concerned about whether your freesias pose a threat to the health of your (or neighboring) cat(s).
So, are freesias poisonous to cats? Freesia flowers are not poisonous to cats. In fact, they’re far from it. Rather, they are commonly regarded as one of the most pet-friendly flowers around. However, significant freesia eating or if your cat ingests flower food or chemicals may cause issues or toxicity.
Below, I’ve covered whether or not a cat would even attempt to eat these flowers, alongside measures that you can take to safely and effectively keep your cat(s) away from them in just a few simple steps.
Will Cats Eat Freesias?
Cats may eat Freesias given the opportunity; though it does depend somewhat on the age, health and hunger levels of the cat.
Whilst plant life isn’t their usual cuisine, cats are definitely partial to munching on a flower or two.
It is thought that doing so may have a positive impact on their digestive system, but it’s also very possible that they’re simply attracted to them.
After all, freesias are vibrant both in their aesthetic as well as their sweet taste.
These two attractive qualities, coupled with a cat’s innate curiosity, make it unsurprising that they’re often the first garden plant that a cat will eye up and munch its way through, given the chance.
What Would Happen To A Cat If They Ate Freesias?
As mentioned above, eating freesias is relatively safe for cats. Freesias are nontoxic, so the cats won’t experience vomiting, nauseous, or other problematic symptoms. Rather, it’s much more likely that they’ll eat the flowers and proceed to go on with their day as usual.
However, their consumption of freesia flowers can be an issue if they eat too many of them.
In such a case, they risk evoking a stomachache, much akin to the stomachaches suffered by any species when they overeat.
It’s nothing to worry about, but your cat will be more lethargic than usual.
Additionally, their health may take a slight hit if they accidentally eat the freesias food.
Whilst flower food contains little more than citric acid and sugars, thus also isn’t toxic, it has been known to evoke stomach discomfort across the feline community!
But again, the symptoms that arise aren’t serious and thus don’t warrant a great deal of concern.
With some water and rest, your cat will be back to its regular self in no time.
Finally, the predominant issue with a cat eating freesias is the increased likelihood of them ingesting pesticides.
If you’ve used non-organic chemicals on your freesia to keep pests away, the chances are that said chemicals are toxic and have the potential to cause considerable harm to your cat if consumed.
Symptoms will range in severity but could be as serious as seizures and cardiac arrest.
Of course, this is the absolute worst-case scenario, but the mere fact that it could happen drives home the importance of staying well-informed about any and every product utilized in your garden.
How To Keep Cats Away From Your Freesias
Despite the safe nature of freesias, it’s not surprising that you wouldn’t want the precious flowers that you’ve worked so hard to nurture to simply disappear.
Fortunately, whilst cats may be independent, it’s very much possible to limit their interactions with your flowers.
Below, I’ve shared a few savvy yet uncomplicated ways to go about doing so.
Create a Physical Barrier
First and foremost, if your cat can’t seem to keep away from your freesia flowers, it might be time to consider installing a physical barrier.
Rest assured, doing so doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds.
Really, the barrier could be anything from a small gate to a fence.
Such measures tend to work well in large gardens but can be customized to suit any space.
It’s an exciting opportunity to get creative and make another wonderful addition to your garden.
Keep Your Cat Fed
It’s only logical that when it has a full belly, your cat is less likely to target your freesias.
A fed cat is a happy cat and one that is subsequently less likely to search high and low for more food.
They’ll be getting all of the subsistence that they need from the food that you provide them with, and as long as they’re getting enough of it, you may just keep your freesias safe!
Apply Scent Deterrents
The art of scent deterrent application is a technique that many gardeners and cat parents swear by.
All animals have particular scents that they dislike. For cats, this includes everything from citrus smells through to eucalyptus, garlic, and even the wondrous smell of coffee.
Thus, by placing these scents near your freesia flowers, you’ll ward any passerby cats away. They’ll simply be repelled!
However, it’s important to note that you’ll need to reapply the scents every couple of days as they’ll otherwise naturally dissipate into the air and lose their effectiveness.
Keep Your Feline Occupied
A final method worth considering is keeping your cat as occupied as you can. If it’s privy to plenty of playtime and indoors fun, it will be less likely to roam around outside munching on whatever it sets its eyes on, freesias included.
Whilst this approach is arguably the most tiring and time-consuming of the bunch, it may just do wonders for the relationship between you and your cat; your bond will certainly reach new heights!
Other Suggestions When Keeping Freesias Around Cats
Monitor Your Cat
Although freesias are regarded as safe for cats to eat, it’s still worth monitoring your cat if you suspect that it has eaten some.
After all, plants aren’t a cat’s usual food group, especially not those that may be peppered with flower food or chemicals such as pesticides.
In the case of the latter, you’ll want to loop in your vet as soon as you can.
Ingesting chemical pesticides can cause significant ill health in your cat, and it’s fundamental that you act with urgency in such a case.
Remain Composed
Finally, if your cat does, unfortunately, wind up becoming ill, try to stay as calm as you can.
Whilst it can be distressing to see your pet suffer, allowing your stress to get to you will only make matters worse, and your cat will notice the change in you too.
Instead, try to stay positive, and action focused, which will enable you to take more productive actions than you would otherwise.
Aim to get the vet’s advice as soon as you can, and take plenty of deep breaths along the way!
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Hey there – I’m Jesse, a professional florist, and gardening enthusiast. I created MyGardenFlowers to share all that I can about the flowers that I have planted and managed to grow in my garden.