Tulip

What it does to a cat.

Yes — tulips are toxic to cats. The ASPCA lists Tulipa species as toxic, the danger coming from allergenic lactones called tulipalin A and B. These compounds are present throughout the plant but are heavily concentrated in the bulb, which is by far the most dangerous part.

In practice, this means the risk depends on what the cat reaches. A chewed leaf or petal usually produces drooling and mild stomach upset that resolves on its own. A dug-up and eaten bulb is a different matter — larger ingestions can cause depression, a racing heart, and laboured breathing, and warrant a call to the vet.

Not a true lily

Despite sitting in the lily family, the tulip is not one of the deadly true lilies. It will not cause the acute kidney failure seen with Lilium and Hemerocallis. The confusion is understandable but the outcomes are very different — tulips rarely threaten life, true lilies routinely do.

Safe swaps

For spring colour in a cat home, roses and Peruvian lilies are ASPCA-safe cut flowers, and an African violet brings the same bright potted cheer to a windowsill without any toxin.