Cats · FAQ
Are lilies dangerous for cats?
Gilbert JonesResearch summary · sources below · Reviewed October 17, 2026Bottom line: Yes, very. True lilies and daylilies can cause kidney failure in cats. Every part is toxic, including the pollen and the water in the vase. If your cat touches or chews one, get to a vet straight away.
Which lilies
These are the dangerous ones for cats:
- Easter lily
- Asiatic lily (and its hybrids)
- Oriental lily, including Stargazer
- Tiger lily
- Rubrum lily
- Japanese Show lily
- Wood lily
- Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Every part counts
The whole plant is toxic: leaves, stem, flowers and pollen. A cat can be poisoned just by licking a few grains of pollen off its fur while grooming. Even the water in a vase of lilies is a risk.
What happens
- Within hours: drooling, vomiting, not eating, low energy
- 12 to 24 hours: peeing more, dehydration as the kidneys are damaged
- 24 to 72 hours: kidney failure, which can be fatal
Treatment started late, after about 18 hours, often can’t save the kidneys. Early treatment greatly improves the chances.
What to do
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline right away, even if your cat seems fine.
- Take the plant, or a photo of it, so the vet can identify it.
- The safest choice is to keep these lilies out of any home with a cat, including in bouquets.
Dogs that eat lilies may get an upset stomach, but they don’t get the kidney failure that cats do.
What the evidence says
True lilies and daylilies can cause kidney failure in cats
Strong evidenceWell documented by veterinary schools and the US FDA.
Sources: vet.purdue.edu
Pollen or vase water alone can poison a cat
Moderate evidenceReported by veterinary sources from clinical cases. Exact doses aren’t known, so all exposure is treated as an emergency.
Sources: vet.purdue.edu
This note shares experience and research, not a diagnosis. If your pet seems unwell, contact a vet.
Does your pet do this too?Share in the community
Related notes
Why does my cat eat grass?
Grass eating is normal for cats. Most cats that do it are not sick beforehand, and most don’t throw up afterward. Researchers think it is an inherited habit that may once have helped wild cats clear gut parasites.
Milk is good for cats
Not really. Cats don’t need milk, and many adult cats can’t digest the lactose in cow’s milk, which can cause diarrhoea. Fresh water is all a cat needs to drink.
Cats always land on their feet, so falls don’t hurt them
Cats are very good at twisting to land feet first, but falls still injure them badly. Vets see so many falls from windows and balconies that it has a name: high-rise syndrome. Screens on windows and balconies prevent it.