Lily Poisoning
in Cats
Substance: Lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species — including Easter, Tiger, Asiatic, and Day lilies). Symptoms appear within 6-12 hours. Treatment costs £1,000–£5,000.
Do not wait for symptoms. Call your vet now.
If you suspect your pet has been exposed to lilies (lilium and hemerocallis species — including easter, tiger, asiatic, and day lilies), contact your vet or the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 immediately. The PoisonLine is available 24/7 and run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS).
What to Look For
Symptoms of lily poisoning typically appear within 6-12 hours of exposure. You may not see all of these — even one or two should prompt an immediate call to your vet.
What to Do Right Now
If you suspect your pet has been exposed to lilies (lilium and hemerocallis species — including easter, tiger, asiatic, and day lilies), follow these steps.
This is the most common cause of fatal poisoning in cats in the UK
ALL parts of the lily are deadly to cats — flowers, leaves, stems, pollen, and even the water in the vase
Call your vet immediately — even if your cat only brushed past a lily and groomed the pollen off their fur
Time is critical — treatment within 6 hours gives the best chance of survival
Wrap your cat in a towel to prevent further grooming of pollen on their coat
What the Vet Will Do
Treatment depends on how much was ingested and how quickly you seek help. Here is what to expect.
How Much It Costs
Estimated UK vet costs for treating lily poisoning in cats. Total treatment typically costs £1,000–£5,000.
| Treatment Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Emergency consultation | £80-£250 |
| Decontamination (washing/vomiting) | £80-£200 |
| IV fluids (48-72 hours) | £300-£900 |
| Serial blood tests | £200-£500 |
| Hospitalisation (2-5 nights) | £500-£3,000 |
| Dialysis (specialist, if needed) | £3,000-£8,000+ |
| Total treatment range | £1,000–£5,000 |
Prices are estimates based on UK veterinary averages. Out-of-hours emergencies typically cost 1.5–3x more than standard hours. Individual cases vary.
Recovery Outlook
If treated within 18 hours (ideally within 6), the survival rate is around 90%. Without treatment, lily poisoning is almost always fatal in cats, usually within 3-7 days. Kidney damage can occur even from the smallest exposure — a cat grooming lily pollen off its paws has died from this. There is no safe level of exposure.
How to Prevent This
The best treatment is prevention. Keep your pet safe with these steps.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Poisoning?
Yes — most pet insurance policies cover accidental poisoning as an emergency, including out-of-hours care, hospitalisation, and specialist referral.
With lily poisoning treatment costing £1,000–£5,000, insurance can prevent a medical emergency becoming a financial one too. Check your policy covers emergency treatment with no sub-limit on poisoning.
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