Lilies for cats
Researched & Compiled by the PetAuthority Editorial Team
Clinical Data Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center & Merck Veterinary Manual
These pages describe clinical possibilities and a Green, Yellow, or Red triage path. They do not diagnose an individual animal or replace an examination by a licensed veterinarian. Read the editorial standards.
Call a poison hotline while you travel
Tap the number for the country you are in. Have the product name and your pet's weight ready.
Can cats eat lilies?
No, True lilies and daylilies are an emergency for cats, including Easter, tiger, and Asiatic lilies. Pollen, leaves, flowers, and vase water all count, and the cat does not need to eat a large piece. Go to a clinic the same hour.
Portion and preparation
None. True lilies, including Easter, tiger, Asiatic, and daylilies, can cause kidney failure; pollen, leaves, flowers, and vase water all count. There is no safe home portion in ounces (grams), and a smaller pet can be harmed by less than a larger one.
Why this matters chemically
True lilies in the Lilium group, and daylilies in the Hemerocallis group, contain a water-soluble toxin that can cause kidney failure in cats. In dogs those plants are mainly a stomach irritant, and peace lilies are a different plant with a different risk.
What clinical signs can appear?
Signs vary with the amount eaten, the animal's weight in pounds (kilograms), and how much time has passed. The list below is what clinics commonly ask about. It is not a checklist that rules disease in or out for one animal.
- Vomiting and drooling
- Hiding and not eating
- Increased then decreased urination
- Weakness as the kidneys fail
What if this was eaten?
Any chew or pollen exposure is an emergency, even if the cat looks normal. Go to a clinic the same hour. Remove the plant and wash pollen off the coat with a damp cloth if you can do it without delaying the trip; do not wait for a urine change.
Which agencies regulate this advice?
The FDA regulates pet food and animal drugs in the United States. The VMD licenses veterinary medicines in the United Kingdom, where DEFRA also sets animal-health rules, and the APVMA registers veterinary chemical products in Australia. This page is an educational summary, not a product label or a prescription.