Lilies are beautiful flowers which many of us have in our homes and gardens, but they can be deadly to cats. Even if a tiny part of the plant or flower is ingested, it can lead to kidney damage, kidney failure and sadly, in some cases, death.

The mechanism and toxic chemical that cause the poisoning are unknown, but all parts of a Lily plant are dangerous, including the leaves, flowers, pollen (even in very small amounts) and also the water that the flowers stand in. There are a number of different types of Lilies and all of them can be poisonous.

A common way for Lily poisoning to develop is when a cat brushes past a Lily, causing pollen to fall onto their fur, which they later lick off and ingest.

Initial signs of Lily poisoning usually start within 1 to 6 hours of ingestion and can include:

• Vomiting
• Reduced appetite
• Drooling
• Lethargy
• Weakness

After this, kidney failure starts to develop which may cause:

• Increased and then reduced urine output
• More vomiting
• Depression
• Thirst
• Painful kidneys
• Convulsions

If you suspect that your cat has ingested or licked even the tiniest amount of a Lily, including pollen, call for an immediate emergency appointment with your vet.

Treatment for Lily poisoning often includes emptying the stomach, activated charcoal (this helps to prevent any further absorption of the Lily toxins), intravenous fluid therapy (to support your cats kidney function) and washing off any remaining plant or pollen from the coat.

The outlook for individual cats can be variable. If it is noted quickly and prompt action is taken, then cats can do well and recover with minimal impact to the kidneys. However, if not spotted quickly and treatment is delayed, this can lead to damage and failure of the kidneys. If not treated quickly, sadly the outcome can be fatal.

Prevention is the best action you can take.

This involves:

• Not growing Lilies in your home or garden
• Removing Lilies from any bouquets received and disposing of them safely
• Not allowing cats to play with any packaging or boxes that have been used to transport flower bouquets containing Lilies.
• Play it safe and keep them out of your home!