Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Clivia Lily - what should I do?
Clivia spp.
Potentially toxic
Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control resource now, especially if any amount was chewed or swallowed.
Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, and abdominal pain.
Escalation note
Ingestion of the plant, particularly the bulb, can cause significant gastrointestinal upset. Please contact your veterinarian if you suspect your cat has ingested any part of this plant.
What to watch for
Drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common signs after a leaf or flower nibble. With a meaningful dose — especially from the bulb — watch for tremors, weakness, low blood pressure (cold paws, slow capillary refill), and irregular heartbeat or seizures. Cats may also stop eating and hide.
Time window
Exact timing isn't published for cats. Pet Poison Helpline groups clivia with rapid-onset bulb plants where GI signs typically begin within minutes to a few hours; cardiac and neurologic signs depend on dose.
When to call the vet
Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) any time you see drooling, repeated vomiting, or refusal to eat after a known or suspected nibble. Bulb ingestion, tremors, weakness, or collapse are emergencies — go now.
What this means for your cat
Cats face the most concentrated risk from a chewed clivia bulb — even a small amount of the bulb can deliver enough lycorine and other alkaloids to push past simple GI upset. ASPCA classifies the whole plant as toxic to cats, and Pet Poison Helpline notes larger ingestions can cause tremors, low blood pressure, or cardiac rhythm changes. Treat any bulb chewing as a vet call, not a wait-and-see.
Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.