Spring is in the air and Easter and Mother’s Day is on the way. A combination of these three things alone means, that’s right, you guessed it, Lilies. This also means a yearly spike in cat poisonings.
The most dangerous lilies come from the family Lilium or Hemerocallis. It still isn’t known what exactly makes these variety poisonous, but if your pet eats them, drinks their water, ingest them in any way – then an emergency visit to your veterinarian is a necessity. This includes:
- Asiatic lily – including hybrids (Lilium asiatica)
- Day lily (Hemerocallis species)
- Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum)
- Japanese Show lily (Lilium speciosum)
- Rubrum lily (Lilium speciosum var. rubrum)
- Stargazer lily (Lilium ‘Stargazer’- a hybrid)
- Tiger lily (Lilium tigrinum or lancifolium)
- Wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum or umbellatum)
All of these flowers are extremely poisonous to your cat and cause renal failure and possibly death. Other Lilies to keep away from your cat include:
- Peace lilies
- Calla lilies
- Lily of the Valley
It is best to never bring these plants inside of your home if you have a cat. If ordering from a florist, make sure to add special instructions to not add lilies to a bouquet. If lilies were brought into your home and you think your cat has ingested lilies or any other kind of poison, make sure to watch for the signs. Symptoms of poisoning are:
- Vomiting
- Anorexia
- Drooling
- Hiding
- Lethargy or malaise
- Halitosis
- Excessive or decreased thirst and urination
- Dehydration
- Painful abdomen
Please seek medical attention at once if you notice any of these symptoms. The sooner your furry friend is seen, the better their chances are are.
Call your veterinarian and you can call the ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661.
