The entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase. Eating just a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking the water from the vase can cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days.
Why are Lilies Toxic to Cats?
There’s not a single part of a lily that your cat can eat, unlike other plants, so how can such a lovely plant and flower be toxic to cats? All parts of this vibrant and flashy flower are poisonous. But your cat needs to actually eat the flower—scent alone won’t cut it.
Curiosity sometimes leads cats to eat anything they can. Lilies are dangerous because these adorable and happy creatures enjoy being around plants. The plant uses its vivid colors as a defense mechanism against animal prey by drawing cats to it.
Interestingly enough, lilies are not toxic to humans or dogs. Despite the fact that dogs and cats frequently have similar allergies, lilies are not one of them. Cats should avoid contact with lily leaves, petals, and pollen even though this is the case. Some sources claim that if you store lilies near water, the toxin will contaminate the water source as well.
Researchers are still working to determine why lily flowers are toxic to cats alone. So far, there are no definitive conclusions.
Other Plants That Are Poisonous to Cats
Unfortunately, there is a large list of poisonous plants. This is a lengthy list that you should review often, particularly if you let your cat have playdates. Since lilies grow in water sources like ponds and lakes, outdoor cats need to be closely watched.
Listed below are common toxic plants:
Most of the time, cats stay clear of these plants. Despite this, some cats are nonetheless inquisitive enough to inadvertently ingest these poisonous plants.
Which Lilies Are Toxic to Pets?
By now, you’ve undoubtedly heard that lilies should be avoided around pets, especially your feline companions. Dogs and cats can both be poisoned by lilies, including daylilies and Asiatic lilies, but cats are much more severely affected. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) wants to make sure you have all the facts and information you need to keep your pet safe because these flowers are common at this time of year.
Easter/Asiatic Lily (Lilium spp.)
For pet owners, the numerous common names for plants—some of which even overlap with those of other plants—can be quite confusing. Many plants are called lilies, but not all of them are harmful to our feline companions. Lilium sp, are ones to keep your cats away from. They go by a number of common names, including Oriental lily, Stargazer lily, Easter lily, and Asiatic lily. All of these should be avoided by pet parents. The plant is poisonous in all forms, and even tiny amounts can seriously harm the kidneys. Additionally problematic behaviors could include drinking lily-infused water or brushing pollen from their fur.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)
Daylilies are also another lily to avoid. Like Lilium sp, Daylilies can cause severe kidney injury. Since the cut flowers of these flowers only last a day or so, as their names suggest, they are most often seen outdoors and are not frequently used in bouquets.
Peruvian Lily (Alstromeria spp.)
Although native to South America, Peruvian lilies have naturalized in some parts of the United S. Peruvian lilies resemble Lilium sp. in appearance and are also frequently used in bouquets. Although Peruvian lilies may induce some gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea, vomiting), they are not anticipated to result in any organ damage that could be fatal.
Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllium spp.)
Large, waxy, green leaves characterize peace lilies, which also have a very distinctive white flower form that can also be green or yellow. They are commonly found as house plants. When chewed, the insoluble calcium oxalate crystals in peace lilies are released, which can result in mouth pain, drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea. In rare cases, mouth swelling can make breathing difficult. Despite their toxicity, peace lilies almost never result in major or fatal issues.
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria spp.)
Different from other lilies, lilies of the valley have a distinctive appearance. They have tiny, bell-shaped, pendent flowers that open in the spring. They are not typical houseplants, nor are they often used in bouquets. But lily of the valley plants are poisonous and can result in severe poisonings. Heart glycosides found in lily of the valley can upset the stomach and result in diarrhea and vomiting as well as an irregular heartbeat.
FAQ
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Which lilies are not toxic to cats?
Why are cats attracted to lilies?