So, I’ve got these four o’clock flowers, right? They’re beautiful, bloom in the evening, the whole deal. My cat, Mittens, she’s a curious one. Always sniffing around, nibbling on things. I started to wonder, “Are these things okay for her to be around?”
I started digging around online. Just a quick search, you know? And boom, the first few things I saw were all about four o’clocks being toxic to pets. Not good, not good at all.
My Little Investigation
- I checked a few different pet websites – some of those big, official-looking ones. They all pretty much said the same thing: four o’clocks are a no-go for cats (and dogs, too).
- Apparently, the roots and seeds are the worst parts, but the whole plant can cause problems. Stuff like vomiting, diarrhea, you know, the nasty stuff.
I didn’t want to take any chances. Mittens is part of the family, and seeing her sick would be awful. I considered for a bit, what should I do? Keep watching her around the flowers? Nah.
So, I decided what needed to be done, time for action. First, I put on some gloves – I’m not messing with potentially poisonous stuff bare-handed. And I grabbed a shovel, and start digging.
It took all afternnon, I dug up all the four o’clocks. Every last one. I figured it was better to be safe than sorry. I bagged them all up, make sure Mittens can’t get to them.
Now, I’ve got a bare spot in the garden. It’s a bummer, but it’s way better than a sick kitty. I’ll figure out something else to plant there, something cat-friendly this time. I’ll have to do some research on that!
Lesson learned: always double-check if your plants are safe for your furry friends! It’s a simple thing, but it can make a huge difference.
