Lily
DangerousVerdict
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS — the #1 plant poison for cats. Even pollen is lethal.
If your cat ate this
Cats hide symptoms — don't wait and see. Even small amounts of certain substances can be fatal to a cat. Act fast.
- 1. Call your veterinarian immediately
- US — National hotline: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 aspca.org(24/7, Consultation fee may apply.)
- US — National hotline: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 petpoisonhelpline.com(24/7, $89 per incident fee; also covers Canada.)
- GB — National hotline: Animal PoisonLine 01202 509 000 animalpoisonline.co.uk(24/7, £35 per call (8am–8pm weekdays), £45 at other times.)
- AU — National hotline: Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 animalpoisons.com.au(24/7)
- NZ — National hotline: Animal Poisons Helpline 0800 869 738 poisons.co.nz(11am–7pm NZ time (currently being extended), Charges apply.)
- CA — National hotline: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 petpoisonhelpline.com(24/7, $89 per incident fee.)
Verified 2026-08-06
Verdict
All true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) are potentially fatal to cats. This includes Easter lilies, tiger lilies, Asiatic lilies, daylilies, and many more. Cats can be poisoned by chewing any part of the plant — leaves, petals, stems, pollen — or even by grooming pollen off their fur after brushing against the flowers. The toxin causes acute kidney failure within 24–72 hours. Without aggressive veterinary treatment, ingestion is often fatal. Even a single leaf or a small amount of pollen can kill an adult cat. This is the most dangerous common household plant for cats.
Symptoms to watch for
- • vomiting (usually within 2-12 hours)
- • loss of appetite
- • lethargy
- • increased then decreased urination
- • dehydration
- • acute kidney failure
- • death without treatment
What to do
THIS IS A VETERINARY EMERGENCY. Call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) IMMEDIATELY. Time is critical — treatment within 6-18 hours gives the best chance of survival. Do not wait for symptoms. Remove all lily plants from your home. If your cat was near lilies, bathe them to remove pollen.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435 aspca.org