Which lilies are dangerous
The FDA lists these true lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) as highly toxic to cats: Asiatic lily, daylily, Easter lily, Japanese show lily, Oriental lily, rubrum lily, stargazer lily, tiger lily and wood lily.
| Plant | Scientific name | For cats |
|---|---|---|
| Asiatic lily | Lilium asiaticum | Very dangerous: kidney failure |
| Daylily | Hemerocallis species | Very dangerous: kidney failure |
| Easter lily | Lilium longiflorum | Very dangerous: kidney failure |
| Oriental lily | Lilium orientalis | Very dangerous: kidney failure |
| Stargazer lily | Lilium 'Stargazer' | Very dangerous: kidney failure |
| Tiger lily | Lilium tigrinum (lancifolium) | Very dangerous: kidney failure |
Every part, even the vase water
The whole plant is toxic: stem, leaves, flowers, pollen and the water in the vase. A cat can be poisoned by licking a few grains of pollen off its fur.
The timeline
- 0 to 12 hours: less activity, drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite.
- 12 to 24 hours: more urination, then dehydration, as the kidneys are damaged.
- 24 to 72 hours: kidney failure, which can be fatal in under 3 days.
The FDA says that if treatment is delayed by 18 hours or more, the cat will generally have irreversible kidney failure. Early treatment is what saves cats, so don't wait for signs.
Lilies that are less harmful, and one that isn't
- Peace lily and calla lily are not true lilies. They irritate the mouth and stomach (drooling, pawing at the face, vomiting) and the FDA says signs usually settle on their own.
- Peruvian lily may cause a mild stomach upset if a lot is eaten.
- Lily of the valley is not a true lily, but it is very dangerous in a different way: it can cause life-threatening heart rhythm problems.
Source: U.S. FDA, "Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination" (current as of Sep 16, 2021).
