We all think of roses on Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately they can cause gastrointestinal upset in our feline friends. Not to mention those prickly thorns – ouch! Lilies are often included in Valentine’s flower arrangements too. Lilies are worse than roses. After ingestion lilies can cause sudden kidney failure in cats. This along with nausea and diarrhea are not a good mix for our kitties on a day full of love.

I think most people have heard chocolate is bad for our pets. Chocolate contains substances called methylxanthines. The primary methylxanthine in chocolate is theobromine. Theobromine can cause gastrointestinal upset at minimum and seizures or death in worst case scenarios.

Raisins and coffee beans are often drenched in chocolate and very yummy. Unfortunately for our pets these are a double whammy. Both raisins and caffeine are toxic to cats as well as the chocolate that covers them.

Any type of wrapper can potentially cause an obstruction when ingested. Keep candy and wrappers away from your kitty on Valentine’s day – every other day too for that matter!

Presents certainly look prettier all wrapped up with ribbons. Our kitties think ribbons are a fun play toy. If they happen to chew these ribbons or bows and ingest them, trouble may ensue. Ribbons especially can get stuck in our cat’s intestines and cause a blockage or worse a bowel perforation. Skip the ribbons all together or throw them away as soon as the presents are open.

During a romantic Valentine’s evening candles are perfect mood lighting. Just keep an eye on the candles and your kitty. Many tails have twitched into the flames over the years – ouch! Candles can be knocked over too potentially starting a fire.

Alcoholic beverages consumed on Valentine’s Day may contain milk or a mix of other flavors tempting to your kitty. Be careful where you leave your drink as alcohol can cause gastrointestinal upset, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing and worse.