Lilies and Other Plants That Are Toxic to Cats

Why Lilies Are So Dangerous to Cats

The US Food and Drug Administration warns that true lilies (Lilium, such as Easter, tiger, Asiatic, Oriental and stargazer lilies) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are very dangerous to cats. The whole plant is toxic: stem, leaves, flowers, pollen and even the water in the vase. Small amounts are enough, and dogs don't react the same way, which is why many people are caught out.

Pollen is the sneaky part. It drops onto tables and floors, brushes onto a passing cat, and gets licked off during grooming. Cutting the stamens off a bouquet reduces pollen but doesn't make lilies safe, because the leaves and water are toxic too.

The simplest rule: no true lilies or daylilies in a home with cats, and none in a garden your cat or the neighbors' cats can reach. Ask friends and florists to leave them out of bouquets.

Not Every "Lily" Is the Same

Several plants are called lilies without being true lilies. Peace lilies and calla lilies contain crystals that irritate the mouth, causing drooling and discomfort, which is unpleasant but usually less serious. Lily of the valley is different again and is dangerous to cats because it affects the heart.

Because names are confusing, treat any "lily" as a reason to call your vet if your cat has chewed it. Your vet would much rather hear from you about a harmless plant than too late about a dangerous one.

Other Common Plants to Keep Away From Cats

Lilies are the headline, but they aren't alone. Poison helplines list these among the plants and bulbs they hear about most:

• Sago palm: every part, especially the seeds.
• Oleander and lily of the valley: both affect the heart.
• Autumn crocus: highly toxic, and problems can be delayed.
• Azalea and rhododendron, kalanchoe and cyclamen: common houseplants and garden shrubs.
• Daffodil, tulip and hyacinth bulbs: the bulbs are the most concentrated part, so store them out of reach.
• Dieffenbachia and other plants with irritant crystals: sore mouth and drooling.

No list is complete. Before you buy a new plant, check it against the ASPCA's searchable toxic and non-toxic plant list, or ask a garden center for the botanical name and look it up.

Cat-Safe Swaps for Your Home

Plenty of flowers and houseplants are listed as non-toxic to cats, including roses, sunflowers, orchids (Phalaenopsis), spider plants, Boston ferns, calathea and parlor palms. "Non-toxic" doesn't mean edible: any plant can upset a cat's stomach if it eats a lot, and thorns and wire can hurt.

Many cats chew plants because they like grass. A pot of cat grass (usually wheat or oat grass) on a sunny windowsill gives them something of their own and makes other plants less tempting. Hanging planters and closed rooms keep the rest out of reach.

If Your Cat Gets Into a Plant

Move your cat away from the plant, gently wipe pollen off its fur and face with a damp cloth if you can do so calmly, and keep the plant or take a photo of it. Then call your vet, an emergency clinic or an animal poison helpline straight away. Don't try to make your cat sick and don't give food, milk or anything else unless a vet tells you to.

Poison helplines differ by country and some charge a fee. In the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Pet Poison Helpline both run around the clock; in the UK, the Animal PoisonLine takes calls from owners. Save your vet's out-of-hours number in your phone today, so you aren't searching for it in a panic.