No Lilies for Kitties

Submitted by: Ashley Owen 

While Tiger lilies and Stargazer lilies make breath-taking floral arrangements with their bright orange and pink hues, they are incredibly toxic to felines. Michelle Calvo, an MCHS alumni parent, and her family endured a traumatic experience with their newly adopted cat, Rajah.

“My husband and 6-year old daughter brought home Tiger lilies as a birthday gift to me,” Calvo begins. “A few days later before dinner time, Calvo found Rajah on the kitchen counter top “looking like he had been nibbling on the plant.”

Calvo is not one to take chances. She immediately went online and researched if the plant was poisonous to cats. What Calvo found shocked her. "To my absolute horror I found out they are fatal, causing irreversible kidney failure within 36-72 hours of ingestion." 

Rajah was rushed to the vet. At the vet, Rajah was immediately sedated and his stomach was pumped. He spent the night in the veterinary hospital. Rajah returned home the following day. Thanks to the prompt and proper treatment Rajah received, he made a full recovery under the responsible and caring eyes of his family.

Cat owners should consider decorating with other flowers such as daises or violets and toss the lilies. It's not worth losing your beloved cat. Part of being a responsible pet parent is creating an environment where your cat is safe and that includes avoiding toxic plants.

To help educate pet owners, the MCHS posts a list of poisonous plants and household items. Some other plants and foods that are poisonous to pets include apple seeds, azaleas, chocolate, coffee, poinsettias, onions and raisins.

If you believe that your pet has ingested a toxic substance, call your vet immediately. Signs of poisoning are vomiting, lethargy or a lack of appetite.

You may also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at

1.888.426.4435. It is the only 24-hour, 365-day facility of its kind, giving emergency life saving advice to pet parents and veterinarians throughout North America and all over the world. A $60 consultation fee may be charged.

Resources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, The Toronto Humane Society, The Humane Society of the United States, and St. John's Poison Resource Center