totay's fascinating fact (yes I did mean TODAY'S)

[Bunnylump]

Oh there's nothing normal about him. Really. Glad it doesn't run in the family.

[Cenwulf]

Regarding lilies:
The pollen from lilies can cause a bad stain on a carpet. My aunt had some lilies in a bunch of flowers, and one of the stamens dropped on the kitchen carpet. Her daughter had to use an industrial-strength cleaner to get rid of the stain.
When my mother gets lilies in a bunch of flowers, she always cuts off the stamens when they open - so they fall onto a piece of kitchen roll in her hand, and can then be safely disposed of.

Regarding swirling water in baths:
The direction the bathwater swirls probably depends on which hand you use to remove the bathplug. As it is very unlikely that you will pull the plug directly upwards, removing it will cause a slight eddy in the water.
As for Michael Palin, the man demonstrating it was probably slighty nudging the container to make the water drain a certain way: this would create the small eddy which would affect the drainage.

[Scurra]

Wow. Well, I've definitely learned something about lilies from this thread!

[Bunnylump]

They really do stain. They're awful - I got some lily pollen on a white top, and it never came out. But now they're totally on my hit list because of the cat poisoning malarkey. My cat is like Tricia's - she eats ALL kinds of stupid stuff. Like coal (we have to barracade the fireplace with things so she doesn't get in there and start crunching) and our wicker laundry basket...

[eirian]

it's the pollen that's the poisonous bit from what I understand, so you can still have lilies as long as you cut out the stamen.
Must admit I still have them despite our two cats but make sure the vase is well out of reach - cutting the stamen is too fussy for me.

[giraffe]

I cut the stamen because they make such a mess. I love lillies and don't have pets.

[LAT]

Actually I think it is all parts of the lily that are poisonous to cats if eaten. The most likely danger though is from the pollen as if they brush past and get some on their coat they would later be likely to ingest it while grooming themselves. It can cause renal failure apparently.

[tricia]

Definitely no lillys for me
Tricia

[gill216]

Hmm. I love lillies and this year planted lots of bulbs which did quite well.

However, I like pussy cats. In fact, for some unknown reason, the neighbouring cats prefer our garden to their own, its like the cat M25.

Do I now go and dig them up

[gill216]

Hmm again. I got this list from www.goodcats.com/lillies.html. Follow the link through and this is their list of plants poisonous to cats!



Alfalfa
Almond (Pits of)
Aloe Vera
Alocasia
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apple Leaf Croton
Apricot (Pits of)
Arrowgrass
Asparagus Fern
Autumn Crocus
Avacado (fuit and pit)
Azalea

Baby's Breath
Baneberry
Bayonet
Beargrass
Beech
Belladonna
Bird of Paradise
Bittersweet
Black-eyed Susan
Black Locust
Bleeding Heart
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Box
Boxwood
Branching Ivy
Buckeyes
Buddist Pine
Burning Bush
Buttercup
Cactus, Candelabra
Caladium
Calla Lily
Castor Bean
Ceriman
Charming Dieffenbachia
Cherry (pits, seeds & wilting leaves)
Cherry, most wild varieties
Cherry, ground
Cherry, Laurel
Chinaberry
Chinese Evergreen
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Cineria
Clematis
Cordatum
Coriaria
Cornflower
Corn Plant
Cornstalk Plant
Croton
Corydalis
Crocus, Autumn
Crown of Thorns
Cuban Laurel
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cycads
Cyclamen

Daffodil
Daphne
Datura
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas
Devil's Ivy
Delphinium
Decentrea
Dieffenbachia
Dracaena Palm
Dragon Tree
Dumb Cane

Easter Lily *
Eggplant
Elaine
Elderberry
Elephant Ear
Emerald Feather
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Euonymus
Evergreen
Ferns
Fiddle-leaf fig
Florida Beauty
Flax
Four O'Clock
Foxglove
Fruit Salad Plant

Geranium
German Ivy
Giant Dumb Cane
Glacier IvyGolden Chain
Gold Dieffenbachia
Gold Dust Dracaena
Golden Glow
Golden Pothos
Gopher Purge

Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy
Heartland Philodendron
Hellebore
Hemlock, Poison
Hemlock, Water
Henbane
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horsebeans
Horsebrush
Horse Chestnuts
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea

Indian Rubber Plant
Indian Tobacco
Iris
Iris Ivy

Jack in the Pulpit
Janet Craig Dracaena
Japanese Show Lily *
Java Beans
Jessamine
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil
Jungle Trumpets

Kalanchoe

Lacy Tree Philodendron
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily Spider
Lily of the Valley
Locoweed
Lupine

Madagascar Dragon Tree
Marble Queen
Marigold
Marijuana
Mescal Bean
Mexican Breadfruit
Miniature Croton
Mistletoe
Mock Orange
Monkshood
Moonseed
Morning Glory
Mother-in Law's Tongue
Morning Glory
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms
Narcissus
Needlepoint Ivy
Nephytis
Nightshade
Oleander
Onion
Oriental Lily *

Peace Lily
Peach (pits and wilting leaves)
Pencil Cactus
Peony
Periwinkle
Philodendron
Pimpernel
Plumosa Fern
Poinciana
Poinsettia (low toxicity)
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Pokeweed
Poppy
Potato
Pothos
Precatory Bean
Primrose
Privet, Common

Red Emerald
Red Princess
Red-Margined Dracaena
Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Ribbon Plant
Rosemary Pea
Rubber Plant
Saddle Leaf Philodendron

Sago Palm
Satin Pothos
Schefflera
Scotch Broom
Silver Pothos
Skunk Cabbage
Snowdrops
Snow on the Mountain
Spotted Dumb Cane
Staggerweed
Star of Bethlehem
String of Pearls
Striped Dracaena
Sweetheart Ivy
Sweetpea
Swiss Cheese plant

Tansy Mustard
Taro Vine
Tiger Lily *
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves)
Tree Philodendron
Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia
Tulip
Tung Tree

Virginia Creeper

Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Wild Call
Wisteria Yews --
e.g. Japanese Yew
English Yew
Western Yew
American Yew

List compiled by Jeffrey D. Rakes

[Laura]

I think a few of those are pretty-much poisonous to everything! Belladonna's slightly lethal isn't it?

[gill216]

Yes, without doubt.

This site also states thats its only certain types of lillies and certain parts of the plant in other cases. Maybe cats are just too wise or there wouldn't be any left!!

[Bunnylump]

Oh, in that case my cat must be the Captain Scarlett of cats. I know for a FACT she's eaten daffodils and buttercups, and positively loves mushrooms!! Maybe this explains why she's a head case?

[giraffe]

We woke up one morning to find next door's cat dead in the middle of the front lawn. Took a couple of hours to work out that it wasn't just having a nap in the sunshine I hope it hadn't eaten something in our garden...

[eirian]

Maybe this explains why she's a head case?

nope, that's just because anyone at all close to you has to be one or they wouldn't survive

[Bunnylump]

Pots and kettles, Eirian, pots and kettles...

[MBH]

Saucer of milk for eirian please

I know - things you can only say between friends.

[Bunnylump]

Just as long as you don't go eating any Marijuana, then Eirian...you'll be ok.

[clvrlad]

and dont forget chocolate is poison...
so to be safe send me all your poison