Lily Poisoning in Cats
Last Updated on January 16, 2023 by Holly Anne Dustin
What are you celebrating with flowers this spring? A graduation? Wedding? Special recital? Mothers’ Day? Lilies are beautiful and showy flowers. They are popular in gardens and cut flower arrangements. Stargazer lilies were my favorite flower until I learned that lilies are extremely poisonous for cats. Turns out I’m not alone. A lot of people, including garden center employees and florists, don’t know about lily poisoning in cats.
Ingesting lilies causes kidney failure and damage to the pancreas in cats. The whole lily plant is poisonous to cats. A minor exposure, like ingesting a few grains of pollen from their fur or drinking water from the vase, will cause toxicity and acute kidney failure in 12-36 hours and death within 3-5 days. Actually eating the plant can result in death within a few hours.
Related Post: Cat Friendly Plants in a Happy Cat Garden
Contents
What Types of Lilies are Poisonous to Cats?
The true lilies from the Lilium and Hemerocallis genuses are the most toxic to cats.
The most common and problematic plants that will cause lily poisoning in cats are:
- Asiatic, or Oriental, Lilies including hybrids
- Daylilies
- Easter Lilies
- Japanese Show Lilies
- Stargazer Lily
- Rubrum Lily
- Tiger Lily
- Red Lily
- Western Lily
- Wood Lily
Other plants that are not true lilies but have lily in their name can still cause problems for your cat:
Keep the roots or tubers of the Gloriosa Lily or Flame Lily away from your cat. They can cause multi-system organ failure if a cat chews on them.
Calla Lilies and Peace Lilies contain oxylate crystals that irritate Kitty’s mouth and digestive system. They cause oral pain, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea; however, they do not affect the kidneys. Kitty may be yowling or pawing at her face. These plants will cause Kitty great pain and distress but are not typically fatal. Symptoms resolve in a few hours. Lactose-free milk or yogurt might help with the pain but call your vet for advice.
Lily of the Valley affects a cat’s heart, causing irregular heartbeat and low blood pressure, and can progress to seizures or coma. A cat that ingests lily of the valley needs veterinary attention.
The Peruvian lily can be mistaken for a smaller version of a “true lily” plant but doesn’t cause kidney failure in cats. Peruvian lily contains a toxin that causes mild stomach upset. The signs usually go away on their own in a few hours.
Take your cat to the vet immediately if you have any doubt about what your cat ate.
What Parts of the Lily are Toxic to Cats?
All parts of a true lily are toxic. Even the water in the vase the flowers are in. Even a casual brush of a tail against a few grains of pollen can cost your cat their life. It is really best to avoid bringing them into your home or garden.
Symptoms of Lily Poisoning in Cats
The symptoms of lily poisoning in cats are maddeningly general. They are typical symptoms of poisoning. If your kitty exhibits the symptoms of lily poisoning and you have lilies in the house assume that Kitty got mixed up with the lilies and seek veterinary treatment immediately.
Symptoms include:
- Lethargy
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Increased urination, followed by lack of urination
- Dehydration
Symptoms usually develop within 6-12 hours. Kidney failure and death can occur within 24 to 72 hours. Generally, if you don’t get your furbaby veterinary treatment within about 18 hours after she ingests the lily pieces or pollen, the kidney failure will likely be irreversible.
What Do I Do if my Cat is Exposed to a Lily?
Seek veterinary care immediately if your cat is exposed to lilies. Head to the nearest emergency vet if your vet is closed. Don’t wait.
If you witnessed your cat eating or interacting with a plant and aren’t sure the plant was a lily, bring the plant or a sample and picture of it to the vet. It can help confirm what your kitty’s symptoms mean.
Treatment of Lily Poisoning in Cats
Lilies attack a cat’s kidneys, so blood and urine tests are used to determine how your furbaby’s kidneys are affected. An ultrasound may be done to see if Kitty’s kidneys are swollen.
Your kitty may receive medications to induce vomiting or activated charcoal. These are options in most cases of poisoning, whatever the source.
It is likely your cat will be in the hospital for a few days. He will receive supportive medications for his symptoms as they develop. Most importantly, he will receive intravenous fluids to dilute his urine so he won’t absorb as much of the toxin. The bloodwork will be repeated at intervals throughout his stay in the hospital.
If you live in a major metropolitan area it is possible that a veterinary hospital in your area will have a dialysis machine. Dialysis allows Kitty’s kidneys to heal while the machine does the work to clean the toxins from their blood. This is an extremely expensive and not widely available treatment option. It also does not offer a guarantee of a successful outcome for your cat.
Can I Treat My Cat for Lily Poisoning at Home?
Unfortunately there is no way to treat lily poisoning without quick veterinary intervention. Don’t waste time with any home remedies or looking for at-home treatment suggestions on the internet. Go to the vet immediately.
What is the Survival Rate of Cats with Lily Poisoning?
The mortality of lily poisoning is 50-100%. But early and thorough treatment results in a 90% survival rate.
Kitty is likely to make a good recovery if she is treated quickly enough for treatment to be successful. Cats that receive appropriate treatment within 18 hours of exposure usually do very well. Cats who are treated later than that typically do not survive, even with aggressive treatment like dialysis.
Lily Poisoning in Cats
Lilies are so popular with florists and gardeners. How can we make sure cats are safe from lily poisoning?
- If you are going to send flowers to someone make sure the florist knows that no lilies are to be included in the arrangement. Suggest safer flowers.
- Talk to the local florists and garden centers. See if you can get them to inform lily buyers of the risks at point of purchase.
- Tell your neighbors and friends that have cats about lily poisoning in cats if you see lilies in their gardens.
Enjoy your spring celebrations in a lily free way to keep your kitty healthy and safe.
Sources:
Lily Toxicity in Cats
No Lilies for Kitty
Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats
