Easter Lilies Are Deadly for Your Cat

[Maggie Funkhouser]

Spring is upon us and Easter will be here before we know it. Most of
us will be buying plants for the garden or our window boxes and loved
ones give us colorful bouquets to sit around the house. But for those
of us who are pet owners, we must keep in mind some plants and flowers
are highly toxic and potentially deadly to animals.

The most common Easter flowers are lilies and several types of lilies
are highly toxic to cats. These include: Easter lily, Tiger lily,
Rubrum lily, Japanese show lily, Stargazer lily, and some species of
the Day lily. Unfortunately, all parts of the lily plant are
considered toxic to cats and consuming even small amounts can be life
threatening. Within only a few hours of ingestion, a cat may vomit,
become lethargic, or develop a lack of appetite. These signs continue
and worsen as kidney damage or renal failure progresses. Without
prompt and proper treatment by a veterinarian, the cat's kidneys shut
down within 36 to72 hours; which is fatal.

Other flowers associated with spring and Easter that are also toxic to
cats are Azaleas, Tulips, Chrysanthemums, Daffodils, Hydrangeas,
Marigolds, Geraniums, and Hyacinths. For more plants that are toxic
to cats, please visit http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html.

Being a responsible pet owner means keeping our pets safe and this
means removing all potential hazards from our homes (or at least
keeping them out of reach). As the seasons change and holidays come
and go, please remember to keep your pet's safety in mind!

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