Are lilies poisonous to cats?

Sadly, as beautiful and often fragrant as they are, lilies are a big no no when it comes to cats.

One eaten leaf or pollen ingested from simply brushing past a flower can be serious with potentially lethal implications for your cat.

Any part, petals, stamens, leaves, or water in the vase, can be dangerous.

Many plants of the Lilium and Hemerocallis species are very poisonous.

Commonly known as the Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter, or Japanese Show lily, these plants can result in severe acute kidney failure. Lilies do not cause kidney failure in dogs.

If you are a cat owner, please bear this in mind when planning your garden, as although there’ll be some people saying they’ve grown lilies and owned a cat with no problems, equally there are people who have lost their cat due to ingesting lily pollen, plant parts or even vase water.

For advice and inspiration on what to plant in your garden, read our blog How to create a cat friendly garden

Also, remember to spread the word so that anyone buying you flowers can avoid adding lilies into the bouquet.

Possible symptoms of lily poisoning in cats

You may see symptoms in your cat within minutes or within hours:

• vomiting
• lethargy
• loss of appetite (due to feeling nauseous )
• dehydration

What should do if you think your cat may have eaten poisonous plants?

If you notice these behaviours and symptoms or suspect your cat has been poisoned, take them to your vets as soon as possible.

Treatment for lily poisoning in cats

Treatment for lily poisoning often includes:

• Stomach emptying
• Washing any remaining lily pollen from the skin and coat
• Activated charcoal – a medication to try to stop the lilies causing further damage
• A fluid drip to flush out any toxins in the blood stream and try to prevent kidney failure.

If your cat has recovered from lily poisoning, it’s possible they might have a small amount of kidney damage that could cause symptoms later in life, but fortunately, this can be well managed in most cases.