Dried Flowers--Toxic?

ritz

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I know certain fresh flowers are toxic to cats, for example, anything in the lily family. But I am wondering--any botanists out there--if the toxicity properties change after you dry the flowers.
I make dried flower wreaths and I hang them high enough that Ritz can't get/jump to. I also have dried flower arrangements in vases in lieu of fresh flowers, composed of flowers that I know are okay for cats (for example, roses).
But I'm wondering how careful, paranoid I have to be during the process of making the wreaths (depending on size, several hours to several weeks), specifically Hydrangeas, Sweet Annie, Eucalyptus, Baby's Breath. Plus I'd like to have more than just dried roses in the arrangements.
Thanks.
 

violet

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I have this on Sweet Annie
http://www.justanswer.com/pet-dog/1i...dogs-inge.html

Hydrangea - toxic
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison...o-cats&page=12

Eucalyptus - toxic
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison...to-cats&page=8

Baby's Breath - toxic
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison...to-cats&page=2

This article
http://www.aberdeenveterinaryclinic....ay_safety.html
warns:

Many wreaths contain dried flowers, berries, and leaves which can be toxic to pets.
If I were you I would work on the wreaths in a room the kitties don't have access to. If that's not possible I would not work with flowers that are toxic to cats.
 

strange_wings

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You'd have to look up the specific mode of toxicity per plant (and not just default to a vague list) and then the affects of drying on the toxins. It can be difficult to do this when no one studies it much in the first place, though. Then if it is studied it's usually in reference to livestock and not small animals like a cat.

Some plants lose some degree of toxicity through drying, like ranunculus, and it's likely the only reason one of my cats survived. He still had burns in his mouth and esophagus, through. (verses death which a fresh one would have caused)

Overall I wouldn't risk it. Dried plants usually get sprayed with a preservative, too, which is unlikely to be safe for cat ingestion. Add anything used to hold the plants in (bits of hot glue or wire) and if a cat ever knocks the wreath down it's a big hazard.

It's perfectly fine if you still wish to pursue this hobby. But a cat free room would make it a lot safer. I'd discontinue putting out dried arrangements in the home unless they were made with edible plants (like roses that haven't been sprayed with pesticides and a preservative spray).
 

laurenfreda

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Well I don't know much about the others, but being an Aussie biology student I have learned a fair amount about eucalypts. The reason they are toxic is due to the oil they produce for A) defense against herbivory and B) as a fire promoting technique. I don't know if you have ever wandered around in the Australian bush, but if you do you will notice there is an immense amount of eucalyptus leaf litter - the leaves even when dead and dry contain the toxic oils. So I wouldnt leave those leaves in reach.
Having said that, the smell of eucalyptus screams "toxic" to non-natives, so I would wonder why a cat would try to eat it... Then again cats do the daftest things :p
 
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ritz

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Thanks for all your advice and responses.
I'll continue hanging the wreaths high and putting non-toxic flowers in the vases. Luckily, all she does is sniff the roses and grasses. Now that the weather is nicer, I make the wreaths outside on the patio where Ritz can see but cannot touch.
 
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