Easter lilies are among the most dangerous plants out there for cats. There are several species of lilies that can cause renal failure and even death in cats, and these also include tiger lilies, Japanese showy lilies, and a variety of daylilies.<\/p>\n
As you know, cats love to check on plants, whether you\u2019re paying attention or not. Some will be very curious and try to nibble on the plants that you have brought into your home, and that\u2019s where the problem lies. No matter the part of the Easter lily that your cat ends up ingesting, it is likely to cause clinical signs. All of the vegetative parts, flowers included, are toxic to cats.<\/p>\n
In this article, we\u2019ll look at the symptoms that a cat can show if he or she has nibbled on an Easter lily plant, if there is any treatment available, and we\u2019ll also include some info on other potentially toxic lilies that you should never have in your home if you are a pet parent.<\/p>\n
Around two to four hours after the cat has ingested a tiny part of a lily, she will exhibit the following symptoms:<\/p>\n
There are cats that do not show any signs after just two hours and that take as long as six hours to do that. If that happens, you might notice some of the later symptoms:<\/p>\n
Most cats start showing these signs on the next day. Untreated signs can worsen to the point that the animal develops acute kidney failure<\/a>. Some cats might not drink any water and stop urinating completely, whereas others might drink too much water and not urinate enough, for example.<\/p>\n Along with the signs that we have already mentioned, there are other, more severe ones, such as the following:<\/p>\n If you notice your cat showing any of these clinical signs, it\u2019s time to go to the vet as soon as possible. Remember that you don\u2019t have to actually see your cat biting on an Easter lily plant — it can just as well happen when you aren\u2019t watching. If you do see your feline friend nibbling on a lily plant, go to the vet right away.<\/p>\n Some cats are a bit luckier than others, and if they haven\u2019t ingested a lot or they spit it out right after, they might show signs of toxicity for several hours, but these might subside naturally. However, one can\u2019t take any chances in this situation, so seeking out veterinary assistance can save a cat\u2019s life.<\/p>\n What\u2019s interesting about this plant is that it is particularly toxic to cats. Generally, all animals that might ingest parts of a Easter lily flower can manifest intoxication signs, but cats are the only animal species known to develop renal failure.<\/p>\n In a cat\u2019s blood, the amount of creatinine, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium start increasing about 24 to 72 hours after ingestion. That\u2019s what makes it so difficult for pet guardians to tell whether this is an emergency and they should hurry to the vet clinic or if the cat is going to be okay after a while.<\/p>\n The vomiting can subside in less than 12 hours, but the cat will show depression and anorexia. The creatinine quantity in the animal\u2019s blood increases to the point that it becomes disproportionately elevated compared to the blood urea nitrogen concentration, for example.<\/p>\n After approximately 18 hours, the cat\u2019s urine can contain both epithelial casts and glucose, none of which should normally be present in a feline\u2019s urine.<\/p>\n Diagnosing Easter lily intoxication cases can be extremely difficult, so if you have even the smallest suspicion that your cat has ingested a part of a flower or plant, the vet will try to prevent renal failure from being developed.<\/p>\n This can be done with a therapy consisting of early decontamination and fluid diuresis. The cat is administered fluids intravenously or subcutaneously, and an emetic agent is administered, as well. Once the patient vomits, he or she will receive activated charcoal<\/a> with magnesium or sodium sulfate, both of which are cathartic agents. Administering Ringer\u2019s solution for a duration of at least two days is necessary to ensure that the cat urinates properly and in sufficient amounts.<\/p>\n Because renal failure and death can be two developments of this intoxication, you should know that not taking your feline friend to the vet for 18 hours after he or she has nibbled on an Easter lily plant can effectively guarantee toxicity.<\/p>\n Needless to say, the best way of preventing Easter lily intoxication in cats is to avoid bringing any into your home. There are cats that can be a little adventurous or naturally curious, and they will try to get into apparently unreachable places just to see what new and fragrant things you\u2019ve brought from the outside.<\/p>\n\n
Why Are Easter Lilies so Dangerous to Cats?<\/h2>\n
Treatment<\/h2>\n
Prevention<\/h2>\n