Jun Peng launches petition for warning labels after cat dies from gifted bouquet of lilies after mum’s death
Gifting someone a bouquet of flowers to send a condolence message during a time of mourning is a common practice, but it can be deadly.
This was the heartbreaking reality for cat owner Jun Peng, who received a bouquet of lilies from friends when his mother passed away from a heart attack in July.
Peng, saddened by her mother’s death, did not realize that the bunch of flowers was poisonous to her beloved rag doll cat, Reuben.
A month later, alarm bells started ringing when Reuben started losing weight and drinking more water.
In a devastating development, Peng received a call from vets who revealed that tests revealed that Reuben was suffering from kidney failure caused by the lilies.
Despite the treatment, Reuben, who was only 1 year and 10 months old, could not be saved and Peng had to say goodbye to his cat friend.
“Despite all the care, special diets and emergency visits, Reuben’s kidneys failed. Just three months after saying goodbye to my mother, I said goodbye to my best friend,” Peng wrote in an online petition.
“This has been the hardest year of my life. I have never felt more pain; helpless, hopeless and heartbroken.”
“I don’t blame anyone. It’s hard not to blame myself. Yes, I was aware that lilies were poisonous – but that detail never crosses your mind when you lose the biggest support of your life.”
Tragedy prompted Australian to take action online petition For the purpose of implementing mandatory warning labels for stores selling fresh flowers.
“I want to make sure no one else goes through what I went through,” he wrote.
“This could be as simple as: a small label saying ‘Toxic to Cats/Dogs’, a poster near the checkout, or a warning note on product pages online.
“Many people have no idea how dangerous some breeds can be to their or others’ pets. Even a little warning can make a world of difference.”
Peng and Reuben’s story has sparked interest among Australians, with the petition collecting more than 7,120 signatures at the time of writing.
According to the RSPCAAll parts of the lily plant, including the petals, stems, leaves, pollen, and even the water they are in, are poisonous to cats and can be harmful to dogs as well.
Symptoms of lily toxicity
- Vomiting
- excessive salivation
- Indifference to food
- Lethargy
- dehydration
- Excessive urination or no urination
