There are benign and dangerous lilies out there, and it’s important to know the difference as some lilies can be lethal to cats. Benign lilies include the Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies –
These aren’t “true lilies” and don’t come from the Lilium or Hemerocallis species, so they pose less of a danger. Peace and Calla lilies contain insoluble oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth when ingested. Typically, these benign lilies only cause minor signs secondary to tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus. Clinical signs from benign lilies include:
Drooling
Pawing at the mouth
Foaming
Transient vomiting
Difficulty breathing (rare)
If a benign lily is ingested, simply offer your cat something “tasty” like pouch or canned food. This will help flush out the crystals from the mouth, resolving the clinical signs. Severe cases can be flushed by your vet.
The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies of the Lilium or Hemerocallis species. Examples of some of these dangerous lilies include the following:
Tiger lilies
Day lilies
Asiatic hybrid lilies
Japanese show lilies
Easter lilies
Rubrum lilies
Stargazer lilies
Red lilies
Western lilies
Wood lilies
Of these dangerous lilies, keep in mind that all parts of the plant are highly toxic to cats! Even small amounts ingested (such as 2-3 petals or leaves) – even the pollen or water from the vase – can result in severe, acute kidney failure. Clinical signs from the Lilium or Hemerocallis type include:
Vomiting
Anorexia
Drooling
Hiding
Lethargy or malaise
Halitosis
Kidney failure
Excessive or decreased thirst and urination
Dehydration
Painful abdomen
If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. When in doubt, call your veterinarian or the poison control center in Centurion on 012 664 5006. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more efficiently the lily poisoning can be treated. Treatment includes decontamination (like inducing vomiting and giving binders like activated charcoal), aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, anti-vomiting medication, kidney function monitoring tests, blood pressure monitoring, urine output monitoring, and supportive care can greatly improve the prognosis. Typically, intravenous fluids must be started within an 18 hour window for the best outcome – in other words, the sooner you bring your cat into the veterinarian before clinical signs develop, the better the prognosis! Treatment typically requires 3 days of hospitalization.
When in doubt, please keep these lilies out of your feline household. Please help spread the word to all your cat-loving friends out there!
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.