Lilies toxic to cats – Fact or fiction?

Lilies are beautiful, they smell great, they come in a variety of colours but did you know, they are highly toxic to cats. In fact, eating the smallest amount can cause their kidneys to fail, and even with intensive therapy, sadly, many cats die.

All parts of the plant including the pollen are considered toxic and younger cats seem more susceptible because they are more likely to mouth and chew at plants.

Signs of lily toxicity are seen within several hours of eating the plant and include:

• depression
• loss of appetite
• vomiting (you may see some of the plant in this).

Later signs are due to kidney damage and include:

• reduced or no pee being produced
• dehydration
• death

If you suspect your cat may have ingested even a small amount of a lily you need to seek veterinary care immediately. Starting treatment as early as possible is vital to your cat’s chance of survival.

Prevention is key – keeping lilies in the home when you have a kitty is like playing Russian roulette with their lives – don’t do it! Politely decline all lilies as gifts and make sure there are none in your backyard.