PSA: Easter Lilies Are Extremely Toxic To Cats

As Easter approaches, those that celebrate this flower-filled holiday may be decorating their home with lilies. While these beautiful flowers make lovely springtime decorations, if you have a cat at home you should opt for roses in your vase instead!

Keep your cats AWAY from lilies. There are plenty of cat-safe decorations you can use to celebrate Easter. 

Many cat owners don't know that these beautiful flowers are 100% toxic to cats of all sizes and ages. 

If a cat eats even a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, or licks a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or even laps at water from the vase, it can result in fatal kidney failure in as little as three days. 

According to the FDA, lilies in the “true lily” and “daylily” families are very dangerous for cats.  The lily plant is toxic in its entirety, including the stems, flowers, leaves, pollen, and even water in the vase.

If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. When in doubt, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for life-saving information. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more efficiently the lily poisoning can be treated. 

Not all lilies are highly toxic to cats, some are benign. It is important to know the difference! 

The most dangerous lilies include: 

• Easter lilies
• Tiger lilies
• Day lilies
• Asiatic hybrid lilies
• Japanese show lilies
• Rubrum lilies
• Stargazer lilies
• Red lilies
• Western lilies
• Wood lilies

Benign lilies include the Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies – these aren’t “true lilies” and don’t come from the Lilium or Hemerocallis species. They pose less of a risk, but can still cause discomfort and illness if ingested.

Can't tell the difference? When in doubt, just don't bring lilies into your home or opt for a fake lily instead - or a safer, cat-friendly houseplant. It's worth it to protect your feline family member. 

As cats are naturally curious, inquisitive creatures that actually do like to munch on plants, cats are capable of jumping up onto the taller spots where you might attempt to keep the lilies out of reach, like on a mantle, window, counter, and even fridge top. It is better to keep lilies completely out of your home if you have a cat.

Pet Poison Control Centers

• Pet Poison Helpline, 855-764-7661, www.petpoisonhelpline.com
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 888-426-4435, www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

To ensure you and your cat(s) have a safe and happy Easter, don't bring lilies into your home! Please spread the word with fellow cat lovers who may not know.