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Lily poisoning in cats

True lilies (genus Lilium: white lily, tiger lily, oriental lily, Asiatic lily) and daylilies are among the most dangerous plants that exist for cats. They cause brutal destruction of the kidneys. ALL parts of the plant are toxic: the flowe...

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Definition Signs Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Complications When to see a vet Prognosis FAQ Sources Affected species

What is it?

True lilies (genus Lilium: white lily, tiger lily, oriental lily, Asiatic lily) and daylilies are among the most dangerous plants that exist for cats. They cause brutal destruction of the kidneys.

ALL parts of the plant are toxic: the flowers, the leaves, the stem, the bulb, but also the pollen deposited on the coat and the water in the vase. A cat that brushes against a bouquet and then grooms itself can become poisoned without having eaten a single leaf.

The dog does not have this particular sensitivity; the cat, yes. This is reason enough to never bring lilies into a house where a cat lives.

Key point

Immediate life-threatening emergency. All parts of the lily are toxic to a cat's kidney, including pollen and vase water. Simple grooming after contact is enough to cause poisoning.

Commonly observed signs

These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.

Related signs — each one links to its page:

Vomiting Excessive salivation Loss of appetite Reduction Dehydration Drinks a lot Urine a lot Difficulty urinating

The first signs generally appear within a few hours of contact.

Repeated vomiting, drooling, refusal of food.

Despondency: the cat remains prostrate, hides, no longer plays.

Dehydration that sets in quickly.

Secondly, when the kidneys are affected, the cat drinks and urinates much more than usual.

Later still, he hardly urinates, if at all: this is a sign of extreme seriousness.

Orange-yellow pollen on the muzzle, lips or chest is a valuable clue for the veterinarian.

When to consult without delay

This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.

Causes and risk factors

Ingestion or simple contact with a plant of the Lilium genus or a daylily.

The most common source is the bouquet offered or purchased, placed on a table or chest of drawers.

Pollen that falls on the coat is swallowed during grooming.

Drinking the water from the vase is also enough to cause poisoning.

Plants from the garden or balcony are another source, as are bulbs kept at home.

Presence of bouquets or indoor plants in a home with a cat.

Holiday periods and occasions when we receive flowers.

Young, curious cat who nibbles plants.

Indoor cat who has no access to any catnip and resorts to plants in the living room.

Diagnosis and care

Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.

This is an immediate life-threatening emergency. Call a veterinarian at the slightest suspicion, even if the cat seems healthy: the kidneys may be being destroyed without any visible signs.

Take the plant, a photo or the label of the bouquet: precisely identifying the species changes the course of action.

Do not try to make your cat vomit yourself, do not give him milk or human medicine.

At the clinic, the veterinarian performs a blood test and a urine analysis to assess kidney function, and repeats them over several days as the values gradually deteriorate.

Treatment

Management is hospital based and is based on prolonged infusion intended to protect and support the kidneys. It is all the more effective the earlier it starts.

The veterinarian can decontaminate the animal if seen very quickly after contact, including cleaning the pollen-covered coat.

Anti-vomiting treatments and nutritional support accompany the infusion.

In severe forms with cessation of urine production, only dialysis can still help; it is only available in rare structures.

Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.

Prevention

Never bring lilies or daylilies into your home if you have a cat, even in bouquets.

Warn your loved ones and the florist not to include them in a bouquet intended for you.

If a bouquet still arrives, remove it immediately from the accommodation and clean the surface where it has rested, because of the pollen.

Offer your pet catnip: this reduces his desire to chew the plants in the living room.

If in doubt about a plant, consider it dangerous until verified.

Possible complications

Acute kidney failure, with destruction of the tissue that filters urine.

Complete cessation of urine production, a situation most often fatal.

In cats that survive, chronic kidney disease can persist for life and require appropriate monitoring and nutrition.

When to see a veterinarian

You have seen your cat chewing on a lily, playing with a bouquet or drinking water from the vase: call a veterinarian immediately.

You notice orange-yellow pollen on its snout or fur.

He vomits repeatedly, drools, refuses to eat.

He is prostrate and dehydrated.

He urinates a lot more than before, or on the contrary no longer urinates: consult without waiting a minute.

Prognosis

A cat treated with an infusion in the very first hours has a good chance of recovering.

After a longer period of time, when the kidneys are already affected, the prognosis becomes guarded.

When the cat no longer urinates, the prognosis is very poor.

It's an intoxication where every hour really counts.

Frequently asked questions

My cat only rubbed the bouquet, he didn't eat anything: is this dangerous?

Yes. The pollen that settles on the coat is swallowed during grooming, and this is enough to cause poisoning. Call a veterinarian even without visible ingestion.

Are all flowers called “lilies” affected?

The most dangerous for the kidney are true lilies of the genus Lilium and daylilies. Other plants with the word "lily" in their common name mainly cause irritation of the mouth. As confusion is easy, the safest reflex is to avoid any plant called lily in the presence of a cat.

Can I just put the bouquet up high?

No. A cat can reach almost any height, and pollen falls onto furniture and the floor. The only reliable measure is not to have these flowers in the home.

My cat is fine a few hours later: is this reassuring?

No. The kidneys can deteriorate silently for one to several days. It is precisely during this symptom-free phase that the infusion is most effective.