Are Lilies Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Lilies (Lilium spp., Hemerocallis spp.) are toxic to cats and mildly toxic to dogs.

If your pet has eaten a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away and bring a photo or piece of the plant. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).

Why

True lilies (Lilium, such as Easter, tiger, Asiatic and stargazer lilies) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are among the most dangerous plants for cats. Every part is toxic, including the petals, leaves, pollen and even the water in the vase. A cat can be poisoned simply by grooming pollen off its fur.

The toxin damages the kidneys, and without prompt treatment a cat can develop acute kidney failure within one to three days. The same plants are not known to damage the kidneys in dogs. Note that peace lilies and calla lilies are not true lilies and cause mouth irritation instead, while lily of the valley is a different and dangerous plant for both cats and dogs.

How to recognize it

True lilies have large trumpet- or star-shaped flowers with six petals and prominent stamens full of orange or brown pollen, on tall leafy stems. Daylilies have similar flowers that each last a day, with long grass-like leaves growing from the base. Both are common in bouquets; in a home with cats, remove any lily from flower arrangements.

Signs to watch for

• Cats: vomiting, drooling and loss of appetite within a few hours
• Cats: lethargy and hiding
• Cats: increased, then decreased or no urination as the kidneys fail (after 1–3 days)
• Dogs: occasional vomiting or diarrhea

What to do

• If your cat has touched, chewed or licked any part of a lily, even a little pollen, go to a veterinarian immediately. Early treatment greatly improves the chance of survival.
• Do not wait for symptoms; the first signs can look mild.
• Cat households should not keep true lilies or daylilies at all, including in bouquets. Check flower arrangements you receive as gifts.

Which flowers called "lilies" are the kidney danger for cats?

The kidney risk comes from two plant groups: true lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis). The shop label will usually say Easter lily, tiger lily, Asiatic lily, Oriental lily, stargazer, Japanese show lily or daylily.

Plenty of other plants carry "lily" in the name without belonging to either group. They are not harmless by default, but they cause different problems.

• Peace lily and calla lily: mouth and throat irritation from oxalate crystals, not kidney failure
• Lily of the valley: a heart toxin that affects both cats and dogs
• Gloriosa (flame) lily: contains colchicine, the same poison found in autumn crocus
• If you cannot tell what was in a bouquet, treat it as a true lily until a vet or poison control says otherwise

How does a cat get poisoned without eating the flower?

Most cats that get sick from lilies never set out to eat one. They brush past a bouquet, pollen dusts their fur or whiskers, and they lick it off while grooming. Others drink from the vase, bat at fallen petals, or chew a leaf out of curiosity. Each of these counts as an exposure.

The toxin itself has not been identified, so there is no test for it and no antidote. That is also why no amount is considered safe for a cat. The exposure scenario matters less than how fast treatment starts.

What happens at the vet, and why do dogs get off lightly?

For a cat, the vet may decide to empty the stomach and give activated charcoal if the exposure was recent. The main treatment is intravenous fluids, usually for a few days, to protect the kidneys while the toxin clears. Blood tests for kidney values are repeated during that time. Cats that start treatment before the kidneys fail have a much better outlook than cats brought in after they stop producing urine.

Dogs lack the same kidney sensitivity. A dog that eats lilies may vomit or have diarrhea, and that is typically where it ends. A large amount of plant material can still upset any stomach, so call your vet if a dog seems unwell afterward.

Pet-safe alternatives

Looking for something similar without the risk? These plants are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

• Non-toxicOrchids (moth orchid)
• Non-toxicAfrican violet

Common questions

Are lilies poisonous to pets?

Cats: Toxic. Dogs: Mildly toxic. For cats, yes: true lilies and daylilies can cause fatal kidney failure. For dogs they are much less dangerous and usually cause only mild stomach upset.

Is it safe to keep lilies in a home with cats and dogs?

Not within your pets' reach. Cat households should not keep true lilies or daylilies at all, including in bouquets. Check flower arrangements you receive as gifts.

What should I do if my pet chews lilies?

If your cat has touched, chewed or licked any part of a lily, even a little pollen, go to a veterinarian immediately. Early treatment greatly improves the chance of survival. Do not wait for symptoms; the first signs can look mild.

Which pet-safe plants can I grow instead of lilies?

Orchids and African violet are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

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Sources

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination.
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (dogs, cats).
• Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicology section.