The Hidden Danger: Lilies Are Toxic to Cats

Lilies are beautiful flowers to have around your home.  They beautify and add a wonderful fragrance to any room but, do you know that lilies can be deadly to cats.  If a cat nibbles or ingests a tiny bit of pollen from a lily it could send him into acute kidney failure.

Acute kidney failure can weaken the kidneys of a cat and prevent them from normally functioning within the body.  If the cat is not taken to the vet immediately and put on aggressive IV fluids and medication it will die.

Sometimes the cat’s owner may not be aware of the danger lilies may pose to their cat.  They may think that cats naturally love flowers but, this is not the case.  Cats can also be allergic to the pollen from flowers.  Since cats groom themselves regularly it is easy for the pollen from a lily to get on them and in their fur.

If you know that your cat has ingested or nibbled on the leaves of a lily please don’t wait to seek medical attention.  Get him to the vet immediately to save his life.  It is important to find a clinic that can treat a cat that has ingested the leaves of lilies.  Not every clinic offers this kind of treatment and it is very expensive to the owner.

Next time you visit a florist for a nice bouquet of flowers to brighten up your day please ask them to skip the lilies.  Your cat and your wallet will thank you.

Credits: ScienceDirect