tiger lilies

With their gorgeous bright blooms and strong fragrance, tiger lilies are popular in gardens and floral arrangements. If your cat enjoys chewing on plants, however, you need to be extra cautious to ensure any flowers they have access to are safe. So are tiger lilies poisonous to cats?

Yes, all true lilies, including tiger lilies, are extremely toxic and dangerous to cats. In this article, we’ll discuss what parts of the plant are poisonous, what symptoms you may notice after ingestion, and what to do if your cat eats a tiger lily.

The Toxic Traits of Tiger Lilies

All species of true lilies and day lilies are dangerous to cats, including such popular flowers as tiger lilies, stargazer lilies, Easter lilies, and oriental lilies. The exact toxin that causes the reaction is unknown, but it only impacts cats, not dogs, horses, or other animals. Tiger lily toxicity causes severe, possibly fatal kidney failure in cats.

Every part of the tiger lily is harmful to cats. In fact, a cat doesn’t even need to chew on the plant at all. Simply coming into contact with the pollen or drinking the water out of a flower vase containing these blooms is dangerous. Eating or inhaling even a small amount of tiger lily is enough to cause poisoning.

Symptoms of Tiger Lily Poisoning

When a cat is poisoned by a tiger lily, their symptoms typically begin quickly. Early signs of tiger lily toxicity are nausea, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and loss of appetite. These may be noticed as soon as 1-3 hours after ingestion or contact occurs.

These early symptoms usually resolve on their own after a few hours. However, more severe damage can develop in the cat’s kidneys. Without treatment, the cat may begin to drink more and frequently urinate within a day or two after tiger lily poisoning.

The cat’s kidneys may begin to shut down in as little as 24-48 hours after chewing on a tiger lily. From there, the cat may become progressively weaker and sicker, potentially resulting in death 3-7 days after the initial incident.

tiger lily
Image courtesy of Pixabay

What To Do If You Suspect Tiger Lily Poisoning

If you witness your cat chewing on a tiger lily or suspect it may have happened, it is essential to get your kitty to a veterinarian without delay. Try to bring along the chewed flowers so the vet can verify what type they are before beginning treatment. In these cases, the sooner that treatment can begin, the better.

Typically, treatment involves preventing as much toxin as possible from absorbing into the cat’s body and providing supportive care for the kidneys. Usually, the vet will recommend that your cat receive IV fluids, have their urine production monitored, and receive regular blood tests to check their kidney function.

Treating tiger lily poisoning can be time-consuming and expensive. It’s a much better idea to try to prevent it from occurring in the first place, which we’ll discuss in the next section.

Preventing Tiger Lily Poisoning

To prevent potentially deadly tiger lily toxicity, keep your cat away from any of these flowers. Also, avoid any other types of true or daylilies that we discussed. Some other flowers, such as lily-of-the-valley, have the word “lily” in their name but don’t have the same dangerous properties.

You can keep lilies out of your home, but if your cat goes outside, you have less control over the situation. Don’t plant lilies in your yard, and ask your neighbors to do the same. Keeping your cat indoors is the safest option for many reasons, not just avoiding tiger lilies.

For a pop of color and scent that’s safe for your cat, consider growing or purchasing these flowers rather than tiger lilies:

Conclusion

Because cats have different sensitivities than dogs, kitty owners need to do their research before allowing any plant or flower into their home. Tiger lilies are one of the most harmful flowers for cats, so don’t take any chances with these blooms. Don’t assume your cat won’t chew on these plants because they haven’t before. When it comes to tiger lilies (or any lilies), the risk is too great.


Featured Image Credit: Pixabay