Which Holiday Plants Are Toxic to Cats?

Are lilies toxic to cats? The FDA says yes: true lilies and daylilies are very dangerous for cats. The entire plant is toxic, including the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen and even the water in the vase.

The FDA warns that a small amount can cause fatal kidney failure in under 3 days. If you suspect any contact, the FDA advises calling your vet or a pet poison control center immediately, because early treatment greatly improves the outlook.

The ASPCA describes the other festive plants differently. Poinsettia can cause mild to moderate stomach irritation, while mistletoe and holly can cause stomach upset and heart and circulation (cardiovascular) problems.

Are lilies toxic to cats?

The FDA warns that eating just a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, licking a few pollen grains off the fur while grooming, or drinking the vase water can cause a cat to develop fatal kidney failure.

Here is the strange part. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that lilies are not toxic to most animals, but cats are highly sensitive. The FDA says dogs that eat lilies may have minor stomach upset, but they don't develop kidney failure.

Merck explains that the specific mechanism is not known, though true lilies have been shown to damage the cells lining the kidney's tiny tubes.

Which lilies are the dangerous ones?

Merck says only two plant groups are true lilies, and they are toxic: Lilium and Hemerocallis (daylilies). The common ones Merck lists include:

• Easter, Asiatic, Oriental and stargazer lilies
• tiger, trumpet, Madonna and rubrum lilies
• white lilies, also called Casablanca lilies, and rose lilies
• daylilies

Merck notes that lilies are frequently part of cut flower arrangements, and the ASPCA warns that many types of lilies typically found in holiday bouquets are highly toxic and can cause kidney failure in cats.

What about plants called "lily" that aren't lilies?

Merck calls these imposter lilies. The FDA explains that peace lilies and calla lilies contain crystals that irritate the mouth, tongue, throat and esophagus when chewed, but they are not true lilies.

Merck lists amaryllis as an imposter lily too. Lily of the valley is one too, but Merck notes it contains heart-affecting compounds called cardiac glycosides. The FDA says its toxins cause the heart to beat abnormally, and Cornell's Feline Health Center calls it extremely toxic.

Merck notes that with any lily exposure, it is important to determine whether the plant is a true lily or an imposter. If you're not sure, call your vet and, as the FDA suggests, bring the plant or a photo of it.

What happens if a cat eats a lily?

The FDA describes the signs in stages:

Time after eating	What the FDA says you may see
0 to 12 hours	Decreased activity, drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite
12 to 24 hours	Signs of kidney damage, including increased urination and dehydration
24 to 72 hours	Kidney failure, leading to death if the cat isn't treated

The FDA states that if treatment is delayed by 18 hours or more after ingestion, the cat will generally have kidney failure that can't be reversed. Merck agrees that delayed treatment is associated with a poor outlook.

Early care can change that. In a small case series in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 25 cats were treated at the University of Pennsylvania within 48 hours of eating lilies. All 25 survived to go home.

In the same study, 2 of the 23 cats admitted to the hospital still had raised kidney values when they went home. Merck says that when treatment begins early and only mild effects develop, the outlook is excellent.

That is why the FDA advises calling right away, rather than waiting for signs. Cornell adds: don't make your cat vomit unless a vet or poison control center tells you to.

Call your vet promptly if your cat:

• chewed, licked or played with any part of a lily, even if she seems fine
• drank water from a vase that held lilies
• has lily pollen on her fur, paws or face
• is less active, drooling, vomiting or off her food after time near flowers
• ate mistletoe, or is breathing fast or hard after chewing a plant

If your vet is closed, call an emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.

Is poinsettia really poisonous to cats?

The ASPCA lists poinsettia as toxic to cats, but describes it as irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, and generally over-rated in toxicity.

Merck notes that the milky sap causes excessive drooling and vomiting, but not death. For this group of stomach-irritant plants, Merck says the outlook is excellent.

The ASPCA's holiday advice is to decorate out of reach of paws, or use a faux plant instead. Call your vet if your cat chews one and seems unwell.

What about mistletoe, holly and amaryllis?

Here is what the ASPCA's plant database and Merck say about each holiday plant, in their own words:

Plant	What the ASPCA and Merck say
True lilies and daylilies	ASPCA: highly toxic, can cause kidney failure in cats. Merck: cats are highly sensitive to poisoning.
Mistletoe	ASPCA: stomach upset and cardiovascular problems. Merck: vomiting, profuse diarrhea, dilated pupils, rapid labored breathing, shock, and death from cardiovascular collapse after a toxic dose.
Amaryllis	ASPCA: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, loss of appetite, tremors.
Holly	ASPCA: vomiting, diarrhea and depression; leaves and berries are low toxicity; can cause stomach upset and cardiovascular problems. Merck: signs after 2 or more berries, death rare.
Poinsettia	ASPCA: irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes vomiting, generally over-rated in toxicity. Merck: drooling and vomiting but not death.
Christmas cactus	ASPCA: non-toxic to cats.

Mistletoe

Merck notes that the entire plant is toxic. Its list of signs after a toxic dose includes vomiting, profuse diarrhea, dilated pupils, rapid labored breathing, shock, and death from cardiovascular collapse within hours.

The ASPCA's advice for holiday plants is to decorate out of reach of paws, or use a faux alternative.

Holly

The ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea and depression as signs, and rates holly leaves and berries as low in toxicity. Its holiday guide adds that holly can cause stomach upset and cardiovascular problems.

Merck notes stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea after two or more berries, and says death is rare.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis contains lycorine and other compounds, according to the ASPCA. Its listed signs are vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, loss of appetite and tremors.

How do I keep holiday flowers safe for my cat?

Cornell advises keeping toxic lilies away from curious cats, including by not having them in the home at all. The FDA adds that they're best left out of the garden too if your cat goes outside, or if your neighbors have outdoor cats.

Because the ASPCA notes that lilies are typically found in holiday bouquets, a few steps follow from that advice:

• When you order flowers, ask for no lilies.
• Check any bouquet that arrives as a gift for lilies.
• If a lily bouquet does come in, take it out of the house, vase water included, since the FDA says the vase water is toxic too.
• For festive color, the ASPCA lists the Christmas cactus as non-toxic to cats.

The tree raises its own questions, from tinsel to the water in the stand. Our guide on how to cat proof a Christmas tree covers them step by step.

Holiday scents are worth a second look as well. Before you light a scented candle or plug in a diffuser, read our answer to are essential oils safe for cats.

Questions new cat parents ask

Is it dangerous if my cat just sniffs a lily?

The FDA warns that licking a few pollen grains off the fur while grooming can cause fatal kidney failure. If you see pollen on her face or fur, call your vet and ask whether to wipe it off before you come in.

Are peace lilies toxic to cats?

The FDA explains that peace lilies and calla lilies contain crystals that irritate the mouth, tongue, throat and esophagus. Merck classes them as imposter lilies, not true lilies.

Are lilies toxic to dogs?

Not in the same way. The FDA says dogs that eat lilies may have minor stomach upset, but they don't develop kidney failure.

Is a Christmas cactus safe for cats?

The ASPCA lists the Christmas cactus as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses.

How soon do lily poisoning symptoms start?

The FDA says early signs start 0 to 12 hours after ingestion. It advises calling your vet or a pet poison control center immediately if you suspect contact, rather than waiting for signs.

Sources

• FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine: Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Plants Poisonous to Animals
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Easter Peril: Look Out for Lilies and Other Items
• Bennett AJ, Reineke EL. Outcome following gastrointestinal tract decontamination and intravenous fluid diuresis in cats with known lily ingestion: 25 cases (2001–2010). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2013
• ASPCA: Keep Your Pet Safe From These 10 Holiday Hazards
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Poinsettia
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Holly
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Amaryllis
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Christmas Cactus

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your cat has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.