Although I love doing cat therapy visits at the big hospital, there is one time I don’t go: around Easter. There is a very good reason for that. Many hospitalized patients at Easter receive lilies to cheer up their holiday. And sometimes the staff gets them too. And lilies are deadly to cats.
So why can’t I avoid being near a bouquet of lilies when I visit? It’s not that easy because every part of the lily is poisonous enough to kill me. Not just leaves and flowers. So does pollen. Also the water in the lily vase. If I come into contact with any of these — if pollen or vase water gets on the bed or patient, for example — I’m at risk for kidney failure. Yes, it’s serious.
My human has known for decades how dangerous lilies are when it comes to kittens. But not everyone knows, and every year, cats die because their families don’t know about the lily’s toxicity. So let me fill you in on some facts.
Both True Lilies and Daylilies Are Deadly to Cats
Every single part of the true lily and daylily family of plants can kill a cat. Cats often get sick because they eat part of the lily plant, even if it’s just a little bit. Or because they got pollen on their fur while they brushed it and then licked it. If left untreated, even a small amount of lily ingested can kill a cat in three days or less.
Lilies with the highest toxicity to cats include:
- Asiatic Lily
- White House Lily
- Daylily
- Easter Lily
- Japanese Lily
- Oriental Lily
- Rubrum Lily
- Stargazer Lily
- Tiger Lily
- Wood Lily
What About Flowers That Are Not True Lilies or Daylilies?
Some plants, such as lily of the valley and gloriosa lily (also known as flame or fire lily) do not cause kidney failure. But they are still dangerous because they cause potentially life-threatening, abnormal heart rhythms in both cats and dogs.
Calla lilies and peace lilies contain irritants that can cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. Peruvian lilies can cause stomach upset.
So even though these types of flowers aren’t as lethal as real lilies and daylilies, you still don’t want them around your cat.
What is the Treatment if My Cat Eats a True Lily or Daylily?
Surprisingly, no one knows the exact poison in lilies that causes cat kidney failure! Treatment consists of preventing absorption of the poison by giving the cat activated charcoal, and later with IV fluids to help the kidneys. Depending on how sick your cat is, this may involve a several-day stay at the veterinary clinic. The worst case scenario (other than death) is that your cat’s kidneys are so damaged that dialysis is required.
What Are My Cat’s Symptoms If They Ingest Lily?
The symptoms are deceptive at first. Within about 1 to 3 hours, the cat may vomit, drool, lose appetite and become lethargic. Then, within 12 to 24 hours, as kidney damage sets in, you may find the cat urinating frequently and becoming dehydrated. After a day or so, the kidneys may begin to close completely.
If you suspect that your cat has come into contact with a lily, it is important to seek veterinary assistance immediately. If you can bring a picture of the plant, or even the plant itself, that will help the vet identify the type of lily.
As you can see, even if your cat’s contact with lilies is not fatal, it can still cause them severe pain, and result in very expensive vet bills. It’s better to be safe and keep the lilies in your home completely.
During our cat therapy visits, my human wouldn’t let me in the same room as the lilies, and now you know why. The big hospital I was visiting would see me again a few weeks after Easter, when all the lily flowers had died, been thrown away, and the rooms had been cleaned. Meanwhile, we visit the children’s hospital, which is an outpatient facility, and the assisted living residences, where I only visit a large recreational room, where any plants are only plastic.
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