Sending a bouquet or a house plan is a great way to show someone you care. Households with pets can pose a bit of a challenge when selecting such gift, as many are harmful or poisonous to our pets. While many plants will cause nothing more than mild digestive upset, some can cause more serious health issues. Toxic to both cat and dogs are: tulips, azalea, bird of paradise, aloe, begonias, baby's breath, and amaryllis. Lillies, such as the easter or stargazer, can cause serious kidney problems if ingested by cats. So when sending a bouquet or plant as a gift to a pet owner, it is always best to seek out a "pet friendly" bouquet. NON TOXIC choices include: roses, african daisy, african violet, and Christmas cactus. However, they may cause mild vomiting, but are suitable for most households with pets. For households with cats, Alstroemeria, also known as the Peruvian lily can be substituted for other lilies as it is not a "true lily". For bouquets, request ferns rather than baby's breath. It is always a good idea to let the florist know what plants you are trying to avoid and why. How does one know what plants are poisonous? The ASPCA Animal Poison Control website is an excellent source that has a searchable list of toxic and safe plants. When searching, it is best to know the scientific name as well as the common name,since common names can be shared among multiple plants.