Easter is just around the corner, and some of our favorite decorations include Easter lilies which are toxic to cats. The entire plant is toxic to cats, the leaves, petal, stem or simple the pollen. Just one bite can cause quite a digestive upset for your cat and prolonged exposure can lead to kidney failure (which can be fatal). Easter lilies are not that only lily that is toxic to our feline friends but also tiger lilies, rubrum lilies and day lilies.
Signs to watch for include:
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Increased thirst and urination
- After 24 – 48 hours you may notice decreased urination if the kidneys have been affected.
If you suspect your cat has ingested any portion of the lily plant, please call us at (519) 250-0099 as soon as possible. Early treatment within 6 hours of ingestion can increase your cat’s chance of survival. Treatment once at the clinic may require us to induce vomiting, administer activated charcoal, urinanalysis, chemistry blood profile and intravenous fluid therapy to prevent kidney failure.
At Town and Country Animal Clinic we want to keep your cats happy and healthy so please decorate your house for Easter with cat friendly plants such as orchids, daisies, or violets.
