Lilies Make a Dangerous Bouquet for Cats

Bold, beautiful lilies start to blossom in spring gardens and appear in Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and May Day bouquets. But did you know they can be poisonous and extremely toxic to cats?

Varietals such as tiger lilies, stargazer lilies, Asian lilies or Easter lilies may cause feline acute kidney failure if ingested. Other types of lilies, including water lilies, peace lilies and calla lilies, can cause vomiting and gastric and oral irritation.

“All parts of the flower are toxic,” said Dr. Ladan Mohammad-Zadeh, a critical care specialist at DoveLewis. “The stems, the leaves, the petals - even the pollen. If cats smoosh their face up into the middle of the flower and accidentally ingest the pollen that way, it can cause renal failure.”

Signs of lily toxicity in your cat:

• lethargy
• vomiting
• excessive drinking and urination
• dehydration and lack of urination

Most cats tend to enjoy chewing on plants, so it’s best to get a bouquet without lilies or enjoy a lily bouquet on a deck or porch where your cat does not have access to it. If you see or suspect your cat has consumed any part of a lily flower, bring your cat and the plant to your veterinarian or DoveLewis for immediate medical care.