Are lilies toxic to cats?
True Lilies (Lilium & Hemerocallis) · Last reviewed
Yes — deadly, even the pollen or vase water.
What to do if your cat was exposed to true lilies
Treat as an immediate emergency for ANY contact, including a lick of pollen off the fur or a sip of vase water. Go to a vet right away; call a pet poison hotline en route. Early treatment is vital after any exposure, so do not wait for symptoms.
Yes. True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are deadly to cats. Every part of a true lily is toxic, even the pollen and the vase water, and any amount can cause kidney failure. Go to a vet now.
- How much is dangerous
- No safe amount established — treat any exposure as an emergency
- When signs appear
- Vomiting, drooling and appetite loss within 1–3 hours; kidney signs (more urination, dehydration) develop over the next 12–30 hours
Toxic parts of a lily
- Leaf
- Stem
- Flower
- Pollen
- Vase water
- Rhizome (root)
Signs of true lilies poisoning in cats
- Vomiting, drooling and refusing food within a few hours
- Lethargy and weakness
- Increased urination at first, and later decreased or no urination
- Dehydration as kidney damage sets in
- Progresses to kidney failure and death within days if untreated
Which lilies are toxic to cats?
Only true lilies cause kidney failure: plants in the Lilium and Hemerocallis groups. Merck lists Easter, Asiatic, Oriental, stargazer and tiger lilies, plus the daylily. Many other plants have "lily" in their name but are not true lilies. See our full list of plants toxic to cats.
| Lily | True lily? | Risk to cats |
|---|---|---|
| Easter, Asiatic, Oriental, stargazer, tiger | Yes (Lilium) | Kidney failure |
| Wood lily | Yes (Lilium) | Kidney failure |
| Daylily | Yes (Hemerocallis) | Kidney failure |
| Lily of the valley | No | An abnormal heartbeat |
| Peace lily | No | Different risks from true lilies |
Not sure which kind your cat touched? The FDA suggests taking a photo of the plant on your phone, so the vet can tell whether it is one of the highly toxic ones.
A peace lily can irritate the mouth and stomach instead, with drooling, vomiting and diarrhea, and lily of the valley contains cardiac glycosides.
Every claim on this page traces to a quoted Tier-1 source — the method is on how we grade the evidence.
Are lily pollen and vase water dangerous?
Yes. The FDA says that licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking water from the vase, can give a cat fatal kidney failure. International Cat Care warns that even the smallest amount counts.
Pet Poison Helpline also counts the leaf, the stem, the flower and the root (rhizome). Eating any of those can bring vomiting, abdominal pain and dehydration as well as kidney failure.
Why are lilies toxic to cats?
Nobody knows exactly. The toxin has not been identified, and the FDA says it only affects cats. What is known is that it harms the kidneys and, without treatment, leads to sudden kidney failure.
Merck calls the illness lily toxicosis. Within 1–3 hours a cat may drool, refuse food, seem lethargic, and vomit. Over the following 12–30 hours, urination can increase and dehydration can set in, and the vomiting can continue. International Cat Care also lists weakness.
My cat ate a lily but seems fine — is it still an emergency?
Yes. Pet Poison Helpline says early treatment is vital after any exposure. When treatment starts early and only mild effects develop, Merck says the outlook is excellent. If treatment waits until the cat makes little or no urine, the outlook is guarded to poor.
The recommended treatment is fluids given into a vein (IV fluids) for 48–72 hours to help protect the kidneys. The any-amount rule puts lilies alongside grapes and raisins: no threshold, call first.
How do vets treat a cat that ate a lily?
Fluids into a vein for 48–72 hours, to help protect the kidneys. The outlook is excellent when treatment starts early and only mild effects show, and guarded to poor once the cat makes little or no urine.
Merck recommends those fluids at 2–3 times the usual maintenance rate. Without treatment, death can follow within 3–7 days.
Is it safe to keep lilies if my cat can't reach them?
No. International Cat Care says that if you have a cat, you should never allow lilies into your home or garden. The FDA agrees that it is best not to bring them home at all.
Lilies are common in bouquets and flower arrangements, so check any flowers you are given before they come inside.
Sources
1.ASPCA Animal Poison Controlsource
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Toxicity: Toxic to Cats ... Toxic Principles: Unknown ... Clinical Signs: Cats: kidney failure.
2.Pet Poison Helplinesource
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All parts of lilies from the Lilium genus are toxic for cats. This includes any amount of leaf, stem, flower, pollen, vase water, or rhizome (root). Ingestion results in vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration and acute kidney failure... Early treatment is vital for cats following any exposure to these lilies
3.ASPCA — Day Lilies (many varieties)
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Hemerocallis spp. ... Toxic to Cats ... Cats: Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, death
4.Merck Veterinary Manual — Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals
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Unknown toxin found throughout plants... Many plants have “lily” in the name but are not true lilies and do not pose the same toxicity concerns as true lilies... Only lilies within the Lilium and Hemerocallis families are considered true lilies and are toxic... True lilies are known to cause nephrotoxicity in cats... If untreated, lily toxicosis results in acute renal failure... Clinical signs begin within 1–3 hours after ingestion and include salivation, anorexia, lethargy. and vomiting... Over the next 12–30 hours, additional signs develop, including polyuria, dehydration, continued vomiting, and lethargy... death occurs within 3–7 days... Intravenous fluid administration at 2–3 times maintenance for 48–72 hours is recommended to offer renoprotection... If oliguria occurs... Once anuria develops... When treatment is initiated early after ingestion and only mild effects develop, prognosis is excellent... Prognosis becomes more guarded to poor if treatment is not begun until after more severe signs, including oliguria or anuria, have developed... Common true lilies include the following: Hemerocallis spp (daylily) Lilium spp (Asiatic lily, Oriental lily, Easter lily, stargazer lily, tiger lily
5.FDA — Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination
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While their flowers are lovely to see and smell, lilies pose a significant safety threat for your cat... very dangerous for cats... licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking the water from the vase can cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure... The toxin, which only affects cats, has not been identified... Signs of kidney damage start about 12 to 24 hours after ingestion and include increased urination and dehydration... Wood lily... Lilium philadelphicum or umbellatum... it’s best to not bring these plants into your home if you have a cat... don’t cause kidney failure in cats... Lily-of-the-valley contains toxins that cause the heart to beat abnormally... If you suspect that your cat has eaten any part of a lily or its pollen or has drunk water from a vase containing lilies, immediately call your veterinarian or a pet poison control center... take a picture of it on your cell phone... determine if it’s one of the highly toxic ones
6.International Cat Care — Lily poisoning in cats
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Lilies are attractive, fragrant flowers which commonly feature in bouquets and flower arrangements. However, many people are unaware of the danger they pose to cats... makes eating even the smallest amount of any part of the plant... This includes licking the pollen off their coat or drinking water from a vase containing lilies... Lethargy/tiredness... Weakness... If you think your cat has come into contact with lilies, seek veterinary advice immediately... if you have a cat at home, don’t ever allow lilies into your home or garden... This is an emergency and requires urgent veterinary care
7.Pet Poison Helpline — No Lilies for Kitties
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Some other plants may contain the word “lily” in their name but are NOT considered true lilies, and may carry different risks following ingestion... Peace lily ( Spathiphyllum species) – may cause oral and gastrointestinal irritation (drooling, vomiting, diarrhea) following ingestion... Lily-of-the-valley ( Convallaria majalis ) – contains toxins called cardiac glycosides that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and heart arrhythmias
8.Pet Poison Helpline — FAQ
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We will then provide the veterinarian with the necessary treatment advice to assist them in delivering the appropriate care for the pet
How sources are picked: methodology. Spot an error? Email hello@meowledge.app.