Lily poisoning in cats – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: PDSA, International Cat Care (iCatCare)

See a vet now

This is an emergency – contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Lily poisoning is a poisoning condition in cats that can be life-threatening.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Lily poisoning in cats is an emergency that requires urgent veterinary care.^[2] Its toxic effects are extremely severe and develop quickly, and treatment as soon as possible is crucial to improving a cat’s chance of recovery.^[2]

Signs

Drooling
Vomiting
Loss of appetite or refusing food
Lethargy or tiredness
Weakness
Drinking or peeing more
Twitching
Seizures
Sudden or unexplained death

sudden

How a vet finds out

Physical examination
Blood tests
Review of your cat’s signs and history of exposure to lilies

How vets treat it

Fluids or a drip
Hospitalisation
Medication

What the experts say

“Treatment for lily poisoning often includes: Stomach emptying. Washing any remaining lily pollen from the skin and coat. Activated charcoal - a medication to try to stop the lilies causing further damage.”
— PDSA [1]

“Your vet will make a diagnosis based on the signs your cat is showing and their history of exposure to lilies. Your vet will take blood tests, and on examination, they may find that your cat’s kidneys are enlarged and painful.”
— International Cat Care (iCatCare) [2]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What signs can lily poisoning cause in cats?

Signs can include drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite or refusing food, lethargy or tiredness, weakness, drinking or peeing more, twitching and seizures.

Why is lily poisoning an emergency?

It is an emergency because its toxic effects are extremely severe and develop quickly, so urgent veterinary care is required.^[2]

How will a vet diagnose lily poisoning?

A vet will consider your cat’s signs and history of exposure to lilies, take blood tests and examine your cat.^[2]

Sources

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages