Easter Lily — no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子
Photo by no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子iNaturalistCC0
cat safety reference

Is Easter Lily safe for cats?

Lilium longiflorum

The Easter Lily is a bulbous perennial known for its large, fragrant, trumpet-shaped white flowers. It is highly significant in veterinary medicine due to its extreme toxicity to cats.

Bermuda LilyEaster LilyLilium longiflorumLongiflorum Lily
Light
Bright indirect light
Habit
Upright bulbous perennial
Care
Moderate

Safety status

Cats

Potentially toxic

Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

What this means for your cat

Easter Lily is one of the most dangerous houseplants for cats — every part of the plant, including the pollen and the vase water, can trigger acute kidney injury. Cats are the only species known to be affected, and outcomes depend almost entirely on how quickly treatment begins.

What to watch for

Early signs are vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and loss of appetite. As kidney injury sets in, expect increased thirst and urination, then reduced or absent urination if the kidneys fail.

Time window

Vomiting and lethargy typically begin within 0–12 hours; kidney failure usually develops within 24–72 hours of exposure if treatment is delayed.

When to call the vet

Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) immediately for any suspected exposure — chewing a leaf, biting a flower, drinking the vase water, or licking pollen off fur all count. Aggressive treatment within 18 hours dramatically improves the chance of survival; delay beyond that is often fatal.

Sources: ASPCA (no first-aid guidance).

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Catsconcern notes

Common signs

Vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and signs of kidney failure such as increased thirst and urination.

Escalation note

Extremely dangerous; ingestion of even small amounts can lead to acute kidney failure and death. Contact a veterinarian immediately if ingestion is suspected.

Safer alternatives

No hand-picked alternatives for this plant yet. You can still pick your own using the Compare button on any other plant.

Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic Plant List: Easter Lily

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

The Easter Lily is highly toxic to cats, causing kidney failure.

Kew Plants of the World Online: Lilium longiflorum

botanical · 95% reliability

Open source

Accepted scientific name and botanical classification for Lilium longiflorum.

Cats & dogs pagedogs pageMy cat ate Easter Lily

Same cat verdict

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