What is Lily Plant Poisoning?
Ingesting lilies causes renal (kidney) failure in cats. The kidneys may begin to shut down as soon as six hours after the plant is consumed. Eating a portion smaller than one leaf may be enough to cause significant kidney damage. Kittens are especially vulnerable due to both their small size and their heightened curiosity. If left untreated, a cat poisoned by lilies will likely die within three to six days. If you suspect your cat has eaten a lily, immediate veterinary attention is required to save the cat’s life.
Lilies are plants that are very common in both gardens and floral arrangements across North America. The plant generally has a large trumpet flower that comes in a large array of colors. True lilies are from Lilium and Hemerocallis genuses. The entire plant including leaves, flowers, pollen and stem is extremely poisonous to cats. Even if pollen rubs off onto the fur of a cat, the cat may be fatally poisoned by grooming itself.
Lily Plant Poisoning Average Cost
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Average Cost
$1,100
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Symptoms of Lily Plant Poisoning in Cats
Within two hours of plant ingestion, your cat may begin to exhibit symptoms. Most symptoms develop from the kidney failure itself. It is imperative that your cat receives treatment as soon as symptoms start to manifest. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Vomiting
- Drooling
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Staggering
- Disorientation
- Aversion to food
- Dehydration
- Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
- Anuria (infrequent urination)
- Pain or distention in the abdomen
- Racing heart beat
- Seizures
Causes of Lily Plant Poisoning in Cats
The exact chemical or toxin in the lily that affects cats so negatively is unknown. Studies suggest that the way a cat metabolizes food may contribute to the problem. What is known is that every part of the lily plant is lethal when ingested by a cat. The toxin within the lily is water soluble and causes renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) to die. These cells are responsible for causing or controlling kidney inflammation.
Diagnosis of Lily Plant Poisoning in Cats
If your cat has ingested any part of a lily plant, locate the nearest veterinary clinic or animal hospital and rush your cat to it as soon as possible. Once you arrive, the veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of the cat. The vet will feel for the presence of enlarged or swollen kidneys. You will be asked about any possible interaction your cat may have had with lily plants. If you witnessed your cat eating a plant before symptoms appeared, but are unsure if the plant was a lily, bring the plant, or a sample of it, with you for the vet to confirm.
To identify sudden kidney failure by lily ingestion, various tests will be needed. Blood work including a biochemical profile can show increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, phosphorus and potassium, all which point to lily plant poisoning. Urinalysis can establish if casts, glucose, or protein is present, and if the urine is diluted. An ultrasound may be performed to show enlarged kidneys and to see how much damage has already been done.
Treatment of Lily Plant Poisoning in Cats
There is no known antidote for lily poisoning. Treatment effectiveness has to do with time passed since ingestion and the amount of kidney damage that has occurred. Starting treatment within six hours provides the best possible prognosis. If over 18 hours has passed since ingestion, there may be no way to save the cat.
Activated Charcoal
When ingested into the stomach and digestive tract, activated charcoal can help reduce the amount of toxins that are absorbed into the body.
Medication
Certain medications may be administered to promote the expelling of plant material and toxins by vomiting. This is most effective when done soon after ingestion has taken place.
Fluid Therapy
Fluids will be supplemented intravenously to help the cat recover from dehydration. Dilution can also help slow down the absorption of toxins into the bloodstream. Blood work will need to be routinely performed throughout the intravenous administration. This is done in the hospital over several days.
Dialysis
A small number of veterinary centers may offer dialysis to help clean the blood while the kidneys recover. A machine does the job of the kidneys, removing waste and toxins from the bloodstream. This allows the cat to survive long enough for the kidneys to heal to the point where they can begin to start purifying the blood. The process is extremely expensive and does not guarantee the survival of the cat.
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Recovery of Lily Plant Poisoning in Cats
If lily consumption is noticed and treated quickly, the cat may survive. If even one day goes by without treatment, the outcome becomes very dire, with most cats dying of kidney failure within days. Many people are unaware of how deadly these common plants can be to a cat. Share this knowledge with other cat owners to prevent an event of lily poisoning from happening.
Keep lilies out of your garden if you allow your cat outdoors. As you cannot control your neighbors’ gardens, it may be wise to keep your cat indoors. Remove lilies from floral arrangements that enter the home and keep the phone number of an animal poison control center in an accessible location.
Lily Plant Poisoning Average Cost
From 514 quotes ranging from $200 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,100
Top
Lily Plant Poisoning Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Domestic cat
Seven Years
30 found this helpful
30 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None Yet
My cat licked a lily leaf (he didn’t chew any of it, just licked it.) I know lilies are extremely poisonous to cats (im not
The one that brought it in the house 😡)
What symptoms should I look for? Will he be okay because he just licked the leaf and none of the pollen? Thank you
July 20, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
30 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
If he genuinely only licked leaf, and didn't chew any of it or get any pollen on him, he should be okay. I would monitor him very closely over the next 48 hours for signs of vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or loss of appetite, and if he shows any of those signs, I would have him seen by a veterinarian immediately.
I hope that all goes well for him!
July 20, 2020
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dsh
Bizzie
7 Years
12 found this helpful
12 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
My cat chewed on a lily leaf 3 hours ago, but did not eat. She she is eating & drinking well & there is no vomiting or diarrhea. What do I need to watch for? She is acting normal.
June 17, 2018
12 Recommendations
You should keep an eye on Bizzie for any of the symptoms listed on this page, however ingestion of lilies, pollen or the water they stand in may result in kidney failure so it would be advisable to visit your Veterinarian to be on the safe side especially if you have any doubts. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 18, 2018
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long hair
Inky
13 Years
13 found this helpful
13 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Initial Vomiting
My cats ate the leaves of what may have been lilies. They threw up several times, but other than that, have appeared to be back to normal. (They are 13 and 16 years old). It has been more than 48 hours since they ate the leaves and we realized what had happened. If the leaves were from lilies, what would be the benefit of having their kidney values checked now?
Feb. 15, 2018
13 Recommendations
Kidney failure isn’t immediate in these cases but may take a few days to present; you should have their kidney function checked especially if no emergency care was given after ingestion. You should discuss this with your Veterinarian and monitor accordingly. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/lilies/
Feb. 15, 2018
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Unknown
Miley
7 Years
20 found this helpful
20 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
My cat ate a lily leaf. We took her to the vet for treatment within a few hours. She's been receiving fluids via IV for over 24 hours. Her blood work has been clear each time they've taken it. The vet wants to keep her for 48 hours total (to the tune of $400 additional hours). Given the clear blood tests, is it fairly safe to bring her home tonight and save a great deal of money?
Feb. 7, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
20 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Kidney failure due to lily toxicity can occur up to 48 hours after ingestion. We typically do keep them for 48 hours, and recheck at the end of that time frame. It would be best to keep her there, and make sure that she is okay. I hope that all goes well for her.
Feb. 7, 2018
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Unknown
Rocky
4 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Drooling
I bought a lily plant a few weeks ago not knowing that they are toxic to cats.. my brother called me a day or two after i bought it telling me that he noticed the cats had bit into the leaf of the lily plant - none of the leaf has actually been consumed, it just has a bit mark. One of my cats started to drool a little bit the other day, is this something to be concerned about? she has never drooled before so it is unlike her and i believe strange if she hasnt been effected but all the posts i have read, have advised their animals have eaten or properly consumed part of the plant. Any help or advice would be great!
Domestic shorthair
Jacob
8 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
No Symptoms
My boyfriend bought me a beautiful bouquet filled with lilies! Today I noticed that one of them had bloomed at that there was a tooth mark puncture in the leaf. None of the actual leaf was missing. Jacob usually doesn’t eat a lot anyways, and he has a history of throwing up due to previous injuries (attacked by a dog). I’m not sure if I should take him to the vet because the leaf is almost fully intact, with a minor puncture from where his tooth obviously went through. So far he hasn’t shown any of the symptoms listed.
Russian Blue mix
Roxy
8 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My husband brought me home a bouquet of gorgeous Lily’s on Valentine’s Day yesterday. Our cat ate 2 leaves and we watched her do it, but didn’t think anything of it. I started reading and that’s when I felt my heart drop. We immediately took her to the vet based off of what I was reading (the entire plant is extremely toxic to cats and results in death if not handled in a timely manor). They tried to get her to throw up but didn’t happen. They are keeping her for 48 hours and gave her activated charcoal within 4 hours of ingestion and started IV fluids. Also, they have to take bloodwork 3 times a day to monitor her kidneys. I am heartbroken and hope my fur baby will be ok without any permanate damage. The thought of losing her, I can’t stop tearing up. What are the chances we could lose her or she could have permemant damage?
Lily Plant Poisoning Average Cost
From 514 quotes ranging from $200 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,100
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
