No Lilies for Kitties
The entire lily plant is toxic, including the flowers, leaves, stems, and even pollen. When ingested, lilies can cause kidney failure in cats, which can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Exposure to certain lilies kills thousands of cats annually. Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your local Santa Rosa vet, offers some information about lily poising in cats.
Many different kinds of plants are found or sold with “lily” as part of their name. The most dangerous lilies for cats are those listed below. These flowers are often found in cut-flower bouquets, potted for the Easter holiday, or an addition to the landscape around your home.
Asiatic lily – including hybrids (Lilium asiatica)
Daylily (Hemerocallis species)
Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum)
Japanese Show lily (Lilium speciosum)
Oriental lily
Roselily (pollen-free hybrid of Oriental lily)
Rubrum lily (Lilium speciosum var. rubrum)
Stargazer lily (Lilium ‘Stargazer’- a hybrid)
Tiger lily (Lilium tigrinum or lancifolium)
Wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum or umbellatum)
Exposure to any part of the plant, including leaves, flowers, pollen, or even the water from the vase, can result in kidney failure in cats. These ingestions are medical emergencies requiring immediate veterinary care. Early decontamination, aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, monitoring renal function, and supportive care improve the cat’s prognosis. A delay of treatment of more than 18 hours after ingestion generally results in irreversible kidney failure. Dogs may experience minor gastrointestinal upset after ingestion of these lilies but do not appear to develop kidney damage. You must not bring these flowers inside if you have cats at home.
Other types of dangerous “lily” plants include the lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) and gloriosa or flame lily (Gloriosa superba). Lily of the valley contains cardenolides or digitalis-like toxins, which may cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and death when ingested by dogs, cats, or people. Equally toxic to all animals is the gloriosa lily. The toxic agent is colchicine (toxic to rapidly dividing cells); the roots or tubers may contain enough toxins to cause severe multi-system organ failure in cats and dogs that chew on them. Early and aggressive therapy is generally needed when these plants are ingested.
Less serious consequences occur when pets chew or swallow plant pieces from “lilies” such as the calla lily (Zantedeschia spp.) and peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) which contain insoluble oxalate crystals that are direct irritants to the mouth, tongue, throat, and esophagus. Drooling, foaming, or pawing at the mouth, vocalization, and vomiting are commonly reported when pets chew on these plants; respiratory distress due to airway swelling can occur but is rarer. The Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria spp.) contains tulipalin A, a toxin that may cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting or diarrhea if ingested in large amounts. None of these lilies cause acute kidney failure in cats like the Lilium or Hemerocallis (daylily) species.
When buying flowers or ordering them for delivery, remember to ‘leave out the lilies!’ It’s advisable to instruct florists not to include lilies in the Lilium species such as stargazer, Asiatic, Oriental, roselily, or tiger lilies. Giving florists the scientific name of the flower species can help avoid confusion.
Instead, consider these safer alternatives for cut flower arrangements and bouquets:
Baby’s breath
Carnation
Daisy (Gerbera and others)
Hyacinth
Iris
Chrysanthemum a.k.a. Mums
Orchid
Rose
Spring crocus
Snapdragon
Sunflower
Tulips
Zinnia
Cats and other pets consuming any part of a “lily” plant may need immediate veterinary medical care. To quickly assess the severity of the situation, pet owners should call Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) or bring the animal and plant to their veterinarian as soon as possible. Early identification of the specific lily and appropriate treatment will usually prevent most undesirable outcomes.
While lily poising in cats is often fatal, it is also preventable. Taking the necessary precautions can help protect your cat from exposure to lilies and other toxic plants. Call Wise and Wonderful to make a wellness appointment to ask about poisonous house plants, or call us if you have concerns about your cat’s health — 707-546-4646.
