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If you have a cat….beware the Easter Lily!
Marty, the new cat in town: With Easter and Mother’s Day quickly approaching, thoughts turn to spring flowers and the cherished Easter lily. While the Easter lily is a thing of beauty, it can be lethal to your pet. Of the 442 reported cases to the ASPCA of pets that ingested some variety of the lily last year, 83% of those cases involved cats. Common lily varieties that are dangerous to cats include the Easter lily, the tiger lily, the rubrum lily, the Japanese show lily, and certain species of day lily.
Even when consumed in small amounts, these can pose life-threatening situations to your pet. Your cat may become lethargic, begin to vomit, or lose its appetite. Immediate care and medical attention is necessary, as kidney failure can occur within 36 to 72 hours after ingestion. If you think that your cat has eaten part of a lily, contact your veterinarian right away. If you are considering giving Easter lilies as gifts this Easter or Mother’s Day, consider giving a safer alternative, such as orchids, cacti, daisies, roses or violets if the recipient has a cat.
All of this being said, it is perfectly acceptable for the Easter Bunny to leave some cat nip or something. I’m just saying….
(Thanks to the aspca.org web site for this information.)
Spring favorites can be deadly to cats
Bo, the astute cat: I love that Spring is here! It is the best time of year! However, if you are tending to a beautiful garden or are a flower enthusiast of some sort, I am here to caution you about one of the most gorgeous flowers around: the lily. As stunningly beautiful as they are, they are a health risk to your cat. Members of the plant genus Lillium, which includes Easter lilies, Tiger lilies, Rubrums, Japanese show lilies, Stargazer lilies, and Daylilies can pose a toxin risk to your cat. When cats chew on the leaves of these plants, they can sustain kidney damage or even death. All parts of the plant are toxic, and your cat can become ill just chewing on one leaf.
I have always known that we cats are unique in an abundance of ways, but we are also unique when it comes to lilies. Dogs, rabbits, and rats do not seem to respond to the toxins in lilies as cats do. While dogs may experience some minor tummy troubles from eating the leaves off these plants, they typically do not get renal damage.
Cats who are afflicted with the toxins of these plants will first present with vomiting, usually wtihing two to six hours after ingestion. While the vomiting may stop for awhile, it will usually return over the course of the next few days.
If your cat has ingested any part of these types of plants/flowers, please get him or her to your veterinarian immediately. If you postpone treatment more than 18 hours, your cat is at risk for kidney failure or death.
While we may enjoy the visual delights of these flowers at a distance, please keep them away from us. If you love lilies so much, but also love your cat, consider just posting photos of lilies in your home. Sure, not the same thing, but you will still have the pleasure of our company! Besides, a lily will not crawl up into your lap and snuggle!
(Information for this post was found at http://www.care2.com/greenliving/lilies-deadly-for-cats.html)
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