Cat Safe Flowers: 8 Bouquet Picks Without Worry (2027)

Cat safe flowers make it easy to enjoy a bouquet without worrying about your cat. Many popular cut flowers are harmless to cats, but a few can make a cat very sick. Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are two of the biggest bouquet days of the year, so it helps to know which flowers are safe before you order.

This guide lists 8 flowers that the ASPCA or VCA Animal Hospitals say are safe for cats. It also covers the flowers to leave out, how to order a bouquet that works for a home with a cat, and what to do if your cat chews a stem anyway.

One note first: this is general information, not veterinary advice. If your cat eats a flower you are not sure about, call your vet or a poison hotline.

What Flowers Are Not Toxic to Cats?

Roses, sunflowers, snapdragons, gerbera daisies, zinnias and moth orchids are all listed as non-toxic to cats in the ASPCA plant database. The ASPCA and VCA Animal Hospitals also list freesias and stock as safe. Even safe flowers can cause mild stomach upset if a cat eats them, so non-toxic means safe to have around, not a snack.

Flower	Cat safe?	Good to know
Rose	Non-toxic (ASPCA)	Watch for thorns.
Sunflower	Non-toxic (ASPCA)	A bright, simple pick for Mother's Day.
Moth orchid	Non-toxic (ASPCA)	A flowering plant, not a cut flower.
Snapdragon	Non-toxic (ASPCA)	Tall spikes add height to a bouquet.
Gerbera daisy	Non-toxic (ASPCA)	Comes in many bright colors.
Zinnia	Non-toxic (ASPCA)	Good for mixed bouquets.
Freesia	Listed as safe (ASPCA, VCA)	Good to ask for by name.
Stock	Listed as safe (ASPCA, VCA)	Adds fullness to a bouquet.

Which Cat Safe Flowers Make the Best Bouquet?

Each flower below is a good building block for a cat safe bouquet. Mix two or three of them and you have an arrangement that looks like any other bouquet.

1. Roses: Are They Safe for Cats?

Yes. The ASPCA lists roses (Rosa species) as non-toxic to cats. VCA Animal Hospitals says to watch for thorns, so ask your florist to strip them or remove them yourself. Roses are the classic Valentine's Day flower, which makes them the easiest swap if you are leaving lilies out.

2. Sunflowers

The ASPCA lists sunflowers as a pet-safe flower, and its plant database lists the swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) as non-toxic to cats. Sunflowers are bold and easy to arrange, which makes them a popular choice for Mother's Day.

3. Moth Orchids

The ASPCA lists the moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) as non-toxic to cats. It is a flowering plant in a pot, so it works well as a gift that lasts for weeks and keeps your cat out of the vase water.

4. Snapdragons

The ASPCA lists the common snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) as non-toxic to cats. The tall flower spikes add height and color to a mixed bouquet.

5. Gerbera Daisies

The ASPCA lists the gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) as non-toxic to cats. They come in many bright colors, so they are an easy way to add color to a bouquet.

6. Zinnias

The ASPCA lists zinnias as non-toxic to cats. They are a good filler between larger flowers such as roses and sunflowers.

7. Freesias

The ASPCA lists freesias among its pet-safe flowers, and VCA Animal Hospitals lists them as cat safe. Ask for them by name, because florists often use freesias as accent stems.

8. Stock

Stock is on the same ASPCA and VCA lists of pet-safe flowers. Its tall flower spikes add fullness to a bouquet without adding a risk for your cat.

Which Flowers Should I Keep Away From My Cat?

Keep lilies out first, because Cornell's Feline Health Center says even one bite of a lily can cause kidney failure in a cat. VCA Animal Hospitals also lists daffodils, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, amaryllis, azaleas, irises, peonies and gladiolus as toxic flowers. Take any of these out of a mixed bouquet before it comes inside.

Lilies are the most dangerous bouquet flower for cats. Our guide to lilies toxic to cats explains which ones to avoid and what to do if your cat is exposed.
Tulips are listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA, with the most toxin in the bulb. Signs include vomiting, depression, diarrhea and drooling.
Many other flowers and houseplants are on our full list of plants toxic to cats.

If you want a plant instead of cut flowers, see our list of house plants safe for cats.

How Do I Order a Cat Safe Bouquet for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day?

Tell the florist you want a cat safe bouquet, name the flowers you want and ask for a list of every stem. Mixed bouquets can include lilies, so do not rely on the arrangement name alone. Order early so there is time to confirm the flowers.

Name two or three flowers from the safe list, such as roses, gerbera daisies and snapdragons.
Ask for no lilies and no tulips, even as an accent.
If the flowers are a gift, tell the sender before they order.
Check every stem against the ASPCA plant list when the bouquet arrives, and remove any you cannot identify.
Strip the thorns from roses and put the vase where your cat cannot reach it.

Safe flowers can still upset a cat's stomach, so the vase should sit out of reach even when every stem is on the list.

When Should I Plan Cat Safe Flowers for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day?

Start 2 to 3 weeks ahead. Valentine's Day is February 14, and Mother's Day in 2027 is May 9. That gives you time to ask the florist for a full stem list and to tell family members who may send their own flowers.

Bouquets from friends and relatives are where lilies can sneak in, because the sender may not know you have a cat. A short message before the holiday avoids the problem. You can say that your cat chews plants and ask for roses, gerbera daisies or sunflowers instead.

If a bouquet arrives with a lily or a tulip in it, take those stems out before the vase goes on the table. Wash your hands and wipe up any pollen or fallen petals. Pour out the water if a lily was in the vase, as VCA Animal Hospitals notes that lily vase water can be dangerous.

How Do I Keep My Cat From Chewing the Flowers?

Give your cat something better to chew. A tray of fresh cat grass in your cat's favorite spot is a better target than a bouquet. A UC Davis survey found that 71% of cats had been seen eating plants at least 6 times, as we explain in cat eating plants.

The Cat Grass Growing Kit with LED Light is made for this. It grows a tray of wheatgrass in 7 to 12 days. The kit comes with a self-watering base, a built-in 10W LED on a timer, 2 packs of USDA-certified organic wheatgrass seed and 2 grow mats. There is no soil to spill and no window needed, so you can put the tray in any room.

Gray cat lying beside a tray of wheatgrass in the sun, eating the grass, with the white cat grass kit glowing on a shelf

Get the Cat Grass Growing Kit →

Hands lifting the wheatgrass tray out of the white cat grass growing kit, showing clean roots and no soil, with a curious cat

What Else Do Cat Owners Ask About Flowers?

Are lilies the only flowers I need to avoid?
No. Lilies are the most dangerous, but VCA Animal Hospitals also lists daffodils, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas and several others as toxic, and the ASPCA lists tulips as toxic to cats. Check any flower you do not recognize against the ASPCA plant list.

Are sunflowers safe for cats?
Yes. The ASPCA lists sunflowers as a pet-safe flower, and its plant database lists the swamp sunflower as non-toxic to cats.

Are roses with thorns a problem for cats?
Roses are non-toxic to cats, but VCA Animal Hospitals says to watch for thorns. Strip the thorns before you put a rose bouquet in reach of a curious cat.

Can my cat eat cat safe flowers?
Cat safe means non-toxic, not a food. The ASPCA says that chewing any plant can cause mild vomiting or stomach upset, so keep the vase out of reach and call your vet if the vomiting continues.

What should I do if my cat eats a flower I am not sure about?
Call your vet or a poison hotline right away. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is at (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline is at (855) 764-7661. A consultation fee may apply, and it helps to have the flower or a photo of it ready.

What Is the Simplest Plan for a Cat Safe Bouquet?

Pick 2 or 3 flowers from the safe list, such as roses, sunflowers, gerbera daisies or snapdragons.
Ask the florist for no lilies and no tulips, and ask for a list of every stem.
Keep the vase out of reach and strip the thorns from roses.
Give your cat a tray of fresh grass to chew instead.

A cat safe bouquet is easy to plan once you know the list, and a tray from the Cat Grass Growing Kit with LED Light gives your cat a safe plant of its own to chew.