Lilies and Cats

[quark1]

As I'm sure that most/all cat owners know - cats and lilies don't mix.

I have recently seen some pollenless varieties and asked my vet if these were suitable.

Answer just back - NO.

It is not just the pollen but the WHOLE PLANT which can cause a problem.

Just thought I'd share with Lily-loving cat owners in case the same thought occurred. Will have to think of something else to beautify the garden whilst giving that heady aroma.

Having said that - I did for many years have lilies at another property and possibly more by luck than ignorance/judgement - never had any toxic events with my cats back then. I now err on the side of caution and have no lilies - but I'm sure that neighbours must have in some number.

[Alison]

I'm quite happy to have lillies in the garden with my cats - they wander into other gardens anyway so wouldn't be totally isolated. Cat's are pretty wary of what they eat and I've never found them accidently eating anything they shouldn't

[quark1]

Hi Alison - as I said I was until I realised the dangers - which are very unpleasant and possibly fatal.

You may like to peruse the following link which I have found this am.

Lilies are Toxic for Cats Veterinary Information you can use for your pet from Samantha Coe vetbase.co.uk

[elsie-scot]

I found this out last year and as soon as did called my brother, who owns a cat, he'd just got some lily bulbs that day. They got rehomed to my parents who no longer have a cat.

[Hilary B]

Hi Alison - as I said I was until I realised the dangers - which are very unpleasant and possibly fatal.

You may like to peruse the following link which I have found this am.

Lilies are Toxic for Cats Veterinary Information you can use for your pet from Samantha Coe vetbase.co.uk

That strongly implies that, except in the case of a young cat eating the plant, it is the pollen which is a PRACTICAL hazard, because they are quite likely to swallow some while grooming. Adult cats simply tend not to eat things like that!
I have mentioned the pollen hazard to cat owners when doing surveys, if there are lilies around (especially as cut flowers, dropping pollen).

[mandyballantyne]

As I'm sure that most/all cat owners know - cats and lilies don't mix.

I have recently seen some pollenless varieties and asked my vet if these were suitable.

Answer just back - NO.

It is not just the pollen but the WHOLE PLANT which can cause a problem.

Just thought I'd share with Lily-loving cat owners in case the same thought occurred. Will have to think of something else to beautify the garden whilst giving that heady aroma.

Having said that - I did for many years have lilies at another property and possibly more by luck than ignorance/judgement - never had any toxic events with my cats back then. I now err on the side of caution and have no lilies - but I'm sure that neighbours must have in some number.

I don't mix cats and lily's, the outcome is just to bad.

Also should point out the chocolate and grapes are a no no for dogs!

[Kahriss]

My friend's puppy ate a load of her lilies and died of poisoning :-( I thought it was just cats but obviously not. I have 3 dogs so much as I love the lily smell, it's just not worth the risk to me.

[jackie j]

I have lillies and cats so far so good, she was sleeping on top of the pot yesterday.

[Hilary B]

I knew about chocolate being dangerous to dogs, not grapes. What are the problems?

[mandyballantyne]

I knew about chocolate being dangerous to dogs, not grapes. What are the problems?

Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs and cats and if eaten will causes sickness and diarrhoea and can lead to acute renal failure if not treated, not nice

[Pickle]

I found this out the hard way at the beginning of the year when I very nearly lost my beloved cat to Lilly poisoning. Thankfully he survived and is doing very well now. Don't assume that just because your cat is an adult they won't go near the lillies. I always remove the pollen from lillies as I knew it was toxic to cats, in the case of my 8year old cat, it was the leaves he'd chewed and like I said very nearly died. I adore lillies but never again will I have them in my house or garden.

[Two_Sheds]

I've always grown lilies in my garden in the hope it will stop the neighbourhood cats using my garden as a latrine .... it hasn't