⚠ Veterinary emergency

My cat ate a lily. What do I do?

Call a vet now. True lilies cause fatal kidney failure in cats and treatment must begin within hours. This page is a checklist, not a substitute for the phone call.

📞 Call ASPCA Poison Control — (888) 426-4435

24/7 · $95 consult · you will receive a case number to give your vet.

Do this now — in order

  1. Take the plant away and put it where the cat cannot reach it. Don't clean up petals or vase water yet — your vet may want to see them.
  2. Identify the plant. Photograph it. If it is a Lilium (Asiatic, Oriental, Easter, Tiger, Stargazer) or a Hemerocallis (daylily), it is deadly. Peace lily, calla lily, and Peruvian lily are still toxic but not nephrotoxic — call a vet anyway, the prognosis is better.
  3. Call a vet immediately. Your regular vet, the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital, or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435. Do not wait for symptoms.
  4. Bring evidence. A leaf, a petal, a photo of the plant, and vase water if any. Bring the cat in a carrier — no food or water for the trip unless your vet says otherwise.
  5. Do not induce vomiting at home. It can cause aspiration and waste time. Your vet will decontaminate safely.
  6. Expect IV fluids. Standard treatment is 48–72 hours of aggressive IV fluid therapy to flush the toxin and protect the kidneys. Bloodwork at admission and again at 24 and 48 hours.

Symptom timeline — what to expect

0–2 hours

Drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite. Sometimes lethargy. This is the window where treatment is most effective — kidney damage has usually not started yet.

2–12 hours

Vomiting may pause, giving false reassurance. Inside, the kidneys are beginning to fail. Get to the vet now if you have not already.

12–24 hours

Increased urination then sudden drop-off (oliguria/anuria), severe lethargy, dehydration. Bloodwork shows rising BUN and creatinine. Prognosis worsens sharply at this stage.

24–72 hours

Acute kidney failure. Without aggressive treatment, this stage is usually fatal within three to six days. Even with treatment, kidney damage can be permanent.

Which lily was it?

Not every plant called “lily” is a true lily. Treatment is urgent for any of them, but the prognosis is very different.

Frequently asked questions

My cat ate a lily — what should I do right now?

Call a vet immediately. Lily poisoning in cats is a true emergency that requires treatment within hours to prevent fatal kidney failure. Call your regular vet, the nearest emergency veterinary hospital, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not wait for symptoms — treatment must start before kidney damage begins.

How long does a cat have after eating a lily?

Treatment within 6 hours is best; within 18 hours is usually the cutoff for a good prognosis. After 24 hours, acute kidney failure has typically set in and survival drops sharply. The faster you act, the better the outcome.

Do I need to bring the lily to the vet?

Yes if you can. Photograph the plant or bring a leaf, petal, or pollen sample in a sealed bag. This helps confirm whether it is a true lily (Lilium or Hemerocallis — deadly) or a non-true lily like peace lily or calla lily (toxic but not nephrotoxic).

Should I make my cat vomit?

Only on direct instruction from a vet. Do not try to induce vomiting at home — it can cause aspiration and waste critical time. Get to the vet; they will decontaminate safely.

How much lily is dangerous?

Any exposure to a true lily is potentially fatal. A few licks of pollen, a single chewed petal, or a sip of vase water can be enough. There is no known safe dose for cats.

What if it was a peace lily or calla lily?

Peace lily and calla lily are not true lilies. They contain calcium oxalate crystals — painful oral irritation and drooling, but not kidney failure. Still call a vet for guidance, but the prognosis is far better.