Lily Toxicity in Cats

As winter makes way for spring, many of us cannot wait to bring life back into our homes in the form of flowers. A common flower in many bouquets, often included for Easter or Passover, is the Lily. While these flowers are gorgeous and fragrant, they can be deadly to a particular pet – cats.

The lilies in reference in this article come from the species Hemeroacallis (day lilies) and Lilium (true lilies). See below for the specific plants.*

All parts of the lily plant are toxic to cats. While the toxin has to be ingested to cause damage, it only takes a very small amount to have a serious impact. Cats have even died indirectly from grooming their fur that has lily pollen on it or from drinking the water that the lilies have been sitting in. Of course, chewing the flower, stem, bulbs, etc., will also be deadly.

The toxic principle is actually still unknown, but studies have determined it is likely a complex mixture of steroid glycoalkaloids. The toxin will cause renal tubular degeneration, resulting in kidney failure. This can begin to happen in as little as two hours, with most cats showing signs in 12-36 hours (sooner with higher doses), and death within 3-5 days following ingestion. Lily toxicity can also cause liver changes.

Signs that a cat has ingested lilies include vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, hypersalivation, abdominal pain, increased or decreased drinking, increased or decreased urination, tremors, and seizures. Lab work will often reveal elevated kidney values, electrolyte disturbances, and dilute urine.

Early and aggressive treatment of lily toxicity is critical for survival. If lily exposure is known or highly suspected, vomiting should be induced immediately to try to prevent toxin absorption. This action is typically followed by activated charcoal, especially if it has been an extended amount of time since ingestion, in hopes to bind any remaining toxin that was not vomited. Intravenous fluids are then initiated to correct dehydration and flush the kidneys in hopes of preventing permanent damage. Fluids are often continued for 48-72 hours and only discontinued as long as the kidney values are normal.

Prognosis depends on how much toxin is ingested and how long before treatment is started. Generally, if a cat is treated early and aggressively, the prognosis is very good. However, if treatment is delayed, the prognosis is grave and is essentially 100% fatal.

It is important to note that some cats actually seem to be attracted to lilies. This means that they may seek out lilies to ingest – even if they are put on a shelf where the cats generally do not go. This also means that cats that go outside are at risk for exposure as well.

Interestingly, dogs can get gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, abdominal pain) but will not have the life threatening kidney failure that cats will get.

While many of us enjoy the presence of these flowers, be cautious – any home with a cat should avoid lilies.

 *Hemerocallis spp. include H. dumortierei /H. fulva (day lily), H. graminea (orange day lily), and H. sieboldii (early day lily). Lilium spp. include L. asiatic (Asiatic lilies), L. elegans (Asiatic hybrid lily), L. lancifolium (tiger lily), L. longiflorum (Easter lily), L. orientalis (stargazer lily), L. speciosum (Japanese show lily), L. speciosum var. rubrum (rubrum lily), and L. umbellatum (red lily, western lily, wood lily). Also visit: https://www.aspca.org/news/which-lilies-are-toxic-pets

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