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Why Are Lilies Toxic to Cats?
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Calico cat sniffing a bouquet of white Convallaria flowers arranged in a glass vase. Infographic listing lilies highly toxic to cats-such as daylily, tiger lily, and Easter lily-causing vomiting, lethargy, appetite loss, and dehydration, plus less toxic lilies and their effects.
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Calico cat sniffing a bouquet of white Convallaria flowers arranged in a glass vase.
Curiosity about lilies can actually kill a cat The lily of the valley (Convallaria species) pictured here contains cardiotoxins that affect heartbeat, whereas true lilies (Lilium species) and daylilies (Hemerocallis species) can cause acute kidney failure in cats.

Why Are Lilies Toxic to Cats?

Written by
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She holds a PhD in zoology from Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, and has more than seven years of experience in science communication...
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Lilies can be described in many ways—fragrant, colorful, striking—but deadly is rarely the first word that comes to mind. Yet for cats, these beautiful flowers can be highly toxic. And it’s not just the flowers that are dangerous for cats; all parts of the lily plant—including its stems, leaves, and even small amounts of pollen—can cause acute kidney failure that may prove fatal. Science has not yet identified the exact compounds in lilies that cause this toxicity. One hypothesis suggests that a cat’s body produces harmful byproducts when it ingests the plant.

Symptoms of toxicity

Consuming even a small part of the plant, such as a few leaves or a portion of a flower, can cause toxicity. Within 12 hours of ingestion, cats typically begin to drool and vomit, show reduced appetite, develop diarrhea, and become lethargic. About 12 to 24 hours after ingestion, signs of kidney failure become apparent. Affected cats usually exhibit increased urination, dehydration, excessive thirst, depression, disorientation, and seizures. As the condition progresses, urine production may cease entirely, and death can occur from complete kidney failure within three to seven days of ingesting the plant.

Treatment of Poisoned Cats

Because the toxin in lilies that causes kidney failure in cats has not been identified, there is no known antidote. Veterinarians may induce vomiting to expel the toxin or administer activated charcoal to absorb and remove it. Treatment focuses on supportive care, including administration of intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration and maintain electrolyte balance. If urine output is inadequate, dialysis may be required. Owing to the acute nature of the condition, the prognosis is often poor, especially without prompt treatment. Prevention is the most effective way to avoid lily poisoning in cats, including avoiding lilies in homes or gardens.

Dogs experience mild stomach upset on ingesting lilies that are particularly toxic to cats—such as true lilies (Lilium species) and daylilies (Hemerocallis species)—though experts are unsure why.

Infographic listing lilies highly toxic to cats-such as daylily, tiger lily, and Easter lily-causing vomiting, lethargy, appetite loss, and dehydration, plus less toxic lilies and their effects.
Not all lilies are equally toxic to catsLilies of the genus Lilum and Hemerocallis are particularly dangerous, with effects that can be lethal.

Experts suspect that the toxins of lilies are quickly absorbed into the cat’s bloodstream and damage the epithelial cells of the renal tubules, which are the long, narrow tubes of nephrons, the structural and functional units of kidneys. This damage impairs kidney function, preventing the proper production of urine and the elimination of metabolic wastes. Consequently, blood and urine tests in affected cats usually show elevated levels of creatinine, urea, phosphorus, and other metabolites. In some cases mouth ulcers may also develop.

Not all lilies are equally toxic

Only true lilies (Lilium species) and daylilies (Hemerocallis species) can cause acute kidney failure in cats. True lilies include showy varieties such as Easter, tiger, and Oriental lilies. Even small exposures—such as licking pollen off fur or drinking water from a vase containing lilies—can be toxic.

Other plants commonly called “lilies” belong to different genera and are not associated with kidney failure. These include calla lily (Zantedeschia species), peace lily (Spathiphyllum species), Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria species), flame lily (Gloriosa superba), and lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). However, some are still dangerous: Lily of the valley contains cardiac toxins that cause irregular heartbeats, and flame lily contains colchicine, which disrupts cell division and can lead to multi-organ failure.

Manjishtha Bhattacharyya