Easter Lilies

As the Easter holiday approaches, many people are likely to have lilies in their household. But beware, these flowers do not come with the warning that they are toxic to cats! Many members of the lily family are in fact highly toxic to our feline friends, and if you've ever owned a cat you know how inquisitive they are to new things in their environment. A new plant in the house could mean a new chew toy for your cat!

Lily toxicity causes renal (kidney) failure in felines and can be fatal. According to the National Animal Poison Control Center, even very small amounts of the lily (a few bites on a leaf or ingestion of pollen) can be highly toxic.
The Easter, Tiger, Stargazer, Japanese show, Asian, and some species of the Day lily are toxic and can be fatal if ingested. While toxic to cats, lilies are not known to cause problems with dogs.

Signs and symptoms of lily ingestion:

• Vomiting
• Mild depression or lethargy
  
• Anorexia (no interest in food)
• Often cats can appear normal with no symptoms

If you suspect your cat may have come into contact with or ingested a lily, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. The sooner your cat is treated for lily toxicity the better the chances of a recovery without permanent damage. Permanent damage to the kidneys often occurs by the time symptoms arise.

The National Animal Poison Control Center is available 24 hours by phone (888) 426-4435.