Is Asiatic lily safe for dogs and cats?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
ASPCA reports Asiatic lily (Lilium asiatica): listed as toxic to cats; the source says nothing about the other. In cats: vomiting, not eating, being very sleepy, and kidney failure that can lead to death. The ASPCA page gives no dog rating, so dog is left blank here. Both ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline say cats can be poisoned by a very small contact. Dogs are much less affected.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Cats and true lilies: an emergency
If a cat may have chewed, licked pollen from its fur, or drunk water from a vase of this plant, call a vet or a poison line right away. Don't wait for signs.
Also called: Asian lily. Lilium asiatica.
What in it is the problem
Unknown (ASPCA says the toxic principle is not known).
What it can do
In cats: vomiting, not eating, being very sleepy, and kidney failure that can lead to death.
Good to know
The ASPCA page gives no dog rating, so dog is left blank here. Both ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline say cats can be poisoned by a very small contact. Pet Poison Helpline says any amount of leaf, stem, flower, pollen, vase water or root of a true lily (Lilium) can harm a cat and lead to sudden kidney failure. ASPCA says a cat can be poisoned by licking pollen off its fur or drinking water from a vase of lilies, and that kidney damage can often be prevented with fast treatment at a vet hospital but is often fatal if treatment waits more than 18 hours. Dogs are much less affected. If a cat may have touched or tasted any part, call a vet or a poison line right away.
Did your pet chew it?
Call your vet or a pet poison line, and say what plant, how much and when. If you aren't sure which plant it was, take a photo of it.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Some plants can make pets sick, and lilies are very dangerous for cats. Ask a grown-up before you bring a plant or flowers inside."
A job: Be the plant checker. Help a grown-up look up each plant in the house on this site, and write the ones to keep away on a list.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Common names are shared by different plants, so check the Latin name.
Sources
- ASPCA: Asian Lily (checked October 29, 2026)
- Pet Poison Helpline: Lilies (checked October 29, 2026)
- ASPCA: Which Lilies Are Toxic to Pets? (checked October 29, 2026)