08 April 2004

by Anai Rhoads

AnaiRhoads.org - The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centre announced a warning Thursday for cat owners. According to the Centre, lilies pose a serious problem for felines, anything from kidney failure to death. In 2003, there were an estimated 129 serious cases of cats ingesting one or more of the lilium species.

"Unfortunately, all parts of the lily plant are considered toxic to cats and consuming even small amounts can be life threatening," says Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, veterinary toxicologist at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centre.

The varieties of lilies include Lilium lancifolium (Japanese show lily), Lilium longiflorum (Easter lily), Lilium tigrinum (Tiger lily), Lilium speciosum (Rubrum lily), and some species of the Hemerocallis species (Day lily) is known to cause kidney failure in cats.

Not long after ingestion, a feline may begin vomiting, display depressed body movement, and refuse food. Within thirty-six to seventy-two hours, the animal may develop kidney failure. Seek a veterinarian's advice if you notice any unusual symptoms. If you have the above mentioned species of lily in your home, and own a cat, or have have outdoor cats near ground lilies, remove the the plants from the animal's reach as soon as possible.

The ASPCA has compiled a "safety kit" pet owners should use in case of accidental poisoning:

• fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3% (USP)
• soft dog or cat food
• bulb syringe
• turkey baster or large medical syringe.
• saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants
• tear gel to lubricate eyes after flushing
• dishwashing liquid for the animal in case of skin contamination
• rubber gloves to protect you and the animal
• forceps to remove stingers
• place muzzle on animal to prevent biting
• sufficiently sized pet carrier

There are safe alternatives you may want to consider. These include Easter cactus, Easter daisies, Easter orchids, and violets.

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Further Information

List of Toxic Plants

List of Non-Toxic Plants