Lilies

Lilies

Plants

Scientific name

Lilium, Hemerocallis

Alternate names

Daylily, Asiatic lily, Japanese show lily, Stargazer lily, tiger lily, Rubrum, Red lily, Western lily, Wood lily, Easter lily

Toxicity to pets

The most dangerous and potentially life-threatening lily ingestions by cats involve lilies belonging to the genera Lilium (true lilies) and Hemerocallis. Even small ingestions (such as less than 1-2 petals or leaves) – even the pollen or water from the vase – may result in severe, acute kidney failure.

If you suspect your cat has ingested any part of one of these lilies, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. Generally, the sooner treatment is started the better the prognosis.

For more information about lilies, including safer alternative flowers for homes with cats and educational materials, visit our No Lilies for Kitties page.

When in doubt, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline® for potentially life-saving advice.

Common signs to watch for:

  • Vomiting
  • anorexia
  • kidney failure
Lily

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Cats

Toxicity Level

Severe

Disclaimer

The content of this page is not veterinary advice. A number of factors (amount of substance ingested, size of the animal, allergies, etc.) determine what is toxic to a particular pet. If you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, call Pet Poison Helpline or seek immediate veterinary treatment.