I am helping decorate for a 60th birthday party, we are talking western theme and flower arrangements. We are making them ourselves. I send a picture via text of my daylilies (Fig. 1), that I think would look good in the wine bottle centerpiece. This is the response I get: “They're lethal to cats. Do not let your cat anywhere near them!” Who knew? But before you say I do….I did some research and discovered that except for Calla and Peace Lily all other lilies are toxic for cats because they can cause kidney failure and even death[1].
I did some further research on lilies and discovered by reading an article “Lily Toxicity in Cats” that UC Davis Veterinary Medicine has done quite a bit of research on this topic. Dr Larry Cowgill, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, states “Most cat owners don't know it, but lilies are lethally toxic to cats. In fact, they're so poisonous that a cat can suffer fatal kidney failure just from biting into a lily leaf or petal, licking lily pollen from its paws, or drinking water from a vase with cut lilies in it.”[3]. The article goes on to explain that all members of the plant family Lilium contain a chemical(toxin) that will cause kidney failure. Unfortunately the toxin has not been identified. The signs to look for if your cat has ingested this plant is loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting and drooling. Treatment is to induce vomiting, administering charcoal IV fluids and in extreme cases dialysis. If you think you think your cat may have chewed on or ingested lily, seek veterinary care immediately. I've attached a list of the most dangerous lilies for cats:
Common Name | Scientific Name |
Asiatic lily (including hybrids) | Lilium asiaticum |
Daylily | Hemerocallis species |
Easter lily | Lilium longiflorum |
Japanese Show lily | Lilium speciosum |
Oriental lily | Lilium orientalis |
Rubrum lily | Lilium speciosum var. rubrum |
Stargazer lily | Lilium ‘Stargazer' – a hybrid |
Tiger lily | Lilium tigrinum or lancifolium |
Wood lily | Lilium philadelphicum or umbellatum |
The ASCPA has a list of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List for Cats [3]. I reviewed the list, and I must say it is a miracle my cat is alive and well. My yard contains several plants on the list: Tulips (my favorite plant), Daffodils, Azalea, Hydrangeas, Oleander, and a variety of Lilies. While these are the most toxic, other plants, trees, and shrubs can cause problems for your precious kitty too. What I also learned is that there are certain fruit trees to avoid like apples, peach, and plum. Just a note these plants and flowers can also be toxic for dogs.
For you dog lover's out there, the following plants are the most toxic to dogs and should never be made available to them under any circumstances: Castor bean or castor oil plant, Cyclamen, Dumbcane, Hemlock, English Ivy, both leaves and berries, Mistletoe, Oleander, Thorn apple or Jimsonweed, Yew and any Mushroom you cannot identify as safe.
The ASPCA has the same Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List for Dogs.
The ASPCA Poison Control Center warns that “consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats.” To check if the plants in your house and yard are safe for your dog, review the Poison Control Center's website.
While I did my research, I learned that cats are partial to some herbs such as lemongrass, thyme, mint, rosemary, and parsley. Any type of wheat, rye, barley, or oat grass. A substitute for catnip is honeysuckle, valerian, or silver vine. the following outdoor plants are pet friendly. Magnolias which come in trees and shrubs, marigolds that attract pollinators to your garden, snapdragons are non-toxic and come in a variety of colors, and sunflowers which birds also love.
[1] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/plants-toxic-to-cats.htm
[2]https://healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/feline/lily-toxicity-cats
[3] https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list