Yes – Lilies are toxic to cats
Lilies are one of the most popular flowers in the world, however, they are also extremely poisonous and potentially fatal to cats. The exact toxin in true lilies has not been identified; however, we know that exposure to any part of the plant can cause kidney damage in cats, and this can be fatal.
This can occur when a cat ingests even small pieces of petals or leaves, drinking the water from the vase or inadvertently licking pollen off their coat while grooming.
Not all lilies are made equal. What is the difference between an oriental lily and a peace lily for example. As these are a couple of the more popular lilies in gardens and homes we are often hear “I know to avoid Oriental Lilies but are peace lilies harmful to cats?” So, we have given you a list of different lilies and the type of toxicity they can cause and danger for your cat.
Some lilies are more toxic than others.
From most to least toxic:
- True Lilies – Lilium species: Asiatic lily, Easter lily, Japanese show lily, Oriental lily, Rubrum lily, Stargazer lily, Tiger lily, Wood lily
- Daylily – Hemerocallis species
Lily of the valley contains a cardiotoxin that is poisonous to your cat’s heart function, causing abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and even death.
- Gloriosa, Flame Lily: The toxic agent in the Gloriosa, or flame lily, is colchicine, which can cause multiorgan failure in cats that chew on them.
- Calla Lily and Peace Lily: Despite having “lily” in their name, the peace lily and calla lily are not true lilies and do not cause kidney failure in cats. These plants do, however, contain oxalate crystals that can cause milder signs, such as irritation in the mouth, tongue, throat, and oesophagus.
- Peruvian Lily: The least toxic of all lily plants is the Peruvian lily, which can cause mild stomach upset.
As the most dangerous lilies cause kidney damage in cats, we will focus on this today.
Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Failure in Cats:
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- Drooling
- Anorexia (not eating) or decreased appetite
- Lethargy
- Sleeping more
- Disorientation
- Dehydration
- Weakness
- Tremors and seizures
- Inability to walk
- Ulcers in the mouth
- Fast heartbeat
- Coma, death
What you need to do if your cat has been exposed to lily material.
Call your vet or afterhours hospital straight away!
We want to attempt decontamination as soon as possible. The longer this waits the less successful it can be.
If ingestion of some plant matter has been suspected your vet will attempt to get your cat to vomit. Surprisingly, this is only successful in around 40% of cases where vomiting is induced. Strange seeing as though many cats have a tendency the vomit at the most inopportune times and places.
Then your vet may discuss activated charcoal and other supportive care to try reduce the absorption of the toxin into the body. As this is a limiting step and we often are unaware of our cats eating plant matter, avoidance is truly the most important approach
Treatment and Management of Lily Poisoning in Cats
If your cat is suspected to have been exposed, with or without decontamination being undertaken, it is essential to closely monitor them for kidney disease changes. This involves taking a blood and urine sample as soon as possible, and repeating the blood testing in 36 – 48 hours and again another 1-2 days after this. This is the best way to detect the earliest of concerns to that management can be started if needed.
Unfortunately, there is no “anti- toxin” or antidote for lily toxicity. Therefore, treatment centralises around supportive care to minimise the damage to the kidneys and help them recover from this acute kidney damage. Intravenous fluids, blood pressure measurements, blood testing and urine output monitoring are often all part of the treatment plan. Other steps that can be needed may include gastric protectants, anti nausea medications, blood pressure or diuretic medications in certain cases. As the close repeated monitoring of all these aspects are paramount to the level of success, it is important these cases are managed in a suitable 24hr hospital, which is why we will refer cases of concern to SASH for intensive care and management.
What is the outcome of acute kidney damage in cats
Even with aggressive treatment, there is no guarantee of survival. Early intervention and treatment improve prognosis. If at any point your cat stops producing urine, prognosis becomes grave and unfortunately, death is likely.
While some cats may be saved from the acute phase of kidney damage, they may be left with chronic kidney failure, which we will cover in more detail in another blog.
What we want you to do
You can keep your cat safe by ensuring they do not have access to any lilies – this includes checking any bunches of flowers for lily species before having them in your home.
And if you are planning on sending flowers to anyone with any cats, please ask your florist for NO lilies to be included in the arrangement.
Together we hope to grow the awareness of lily toxicity and maybe one day florists will have a selection of “cat friendly” floral arrangements to choose from.
If you are concerned about your cat being exposed to lilies CALL IMMEDIATELY to get advice for you and your cat’s satiation.
