Eating lilies, other plants can be fatal for felines
The recent holy days All lilies are toxic
brought some issues to to cats, necessitating
our house since our prompt emergency
young cat seemed to care inducing vomiting,
like chewing at various giving activated
plant items. The first charcoal and starting
was the palm fronds intravenous fluid
that he nibbled on after therapy to flush the
we returned from body systems. Interestingly,
church two Sundays dogs are not
ago. We brought home affected the same
one of the Easter lilies way at all. You write
this past Sunday and that the cat seems to
we noticed that he was be doing well, in
immediately enamored which case you did
with the thought of not observe the typical
chewing these as well. signs such as loss
Needless to say, he of appetite, vomiting,
vomited immediately after ingesting drooling, lethargy, weakness, these plant materials on both and ataxia, drinking excessively,
weekends and we promptly and not producing urine
removed them from his reach. I have due to the renal failure. Some
heard that the lilies can be toxic so is palms can cause issues in cats,
there any reason for us to be concerned but the typical fronds used on at this time? He seems to be Palm Sunday are from coconut
acting quite normally and the vomiting trees and these are typically safe has stopped. Is there any concern if ingested. about cats eating palm leaves All cat owners should be
also?. aware that various plants can be
As I respond to your inquiry, it toxic if ingested by cats and one has only been two days since Eas- should avoid letting their cats ter, and I hope your cat continues eat plant materials all together to do well. If I could, I would rec- and if they do so then contact ommend immediate evaluation your veterinarian or pet poison even now to insure appropriate hotlines. treatment by your veterinarian. There is a good deal of information The reason for this is that Easter online as to what plants lilies are highly poisonous and might be dangerous to cats and a usually fatal when ingested. I review of these toxins can be hope that my response will not be helpful. I hope your cat has been in vain or too late. Perhaps your blessed and stays well! cat dodged a bullet. After all, only one or two leaves of the plant or the pollen can prove fatal by causing severe kidney failure within just a few days.
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.