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Kittens ate lillies :(

51 replies

MummytoCSJH · 02/09/2018 18:57

Until today, I had no idea lillies were toxic to cats - dp came home with a bunch for me last week and they've been out in a vase on the dining room table ever since. My two kittens have been sniffing them all week really, and this morning I came downstairs and one of them had orange all over his fur and had clearly been biting the petals. Thought nothing of it and posted a cute pic on Facebook - I came back to lots of comments saying lillies are toxic! Rushed both kittens to the vets where they have been taken in. Their blood and urine isnt showing anything abnormal and their behaviour was normal too so I'm praying they've started the treatment early enough. I just want to cry, my house is so empty and quiet without them. Not only that, if the one who was definitely affected passes away, his sister will be so lonely I think I would have to rehome her. I feel like a terrible kitty mum :(

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Babdoc · 02/09/2018 19:00

Don’t beat yourself up, OP. You didn’t know and you didn’t harm your cats on purpose. You did the right thing getting them to the vet as soon as you found out.
For future reference, if you just snip the stamens out of the lilies so they don’t have any pollen, the cats should be ok, but it’s safer to just buy bouquets that don’t contain lilies at all.

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Vinorosso74 · 02/09/2018 19:01

A former colleague had a kitten who are lilies. She got him to the vets as soon as she realised, I can't remember all the details but said kitten was ok after a stay at the vets. I think they did some follow up blood tests and all was ok.
I think there should be better warnings on lilies in shops or if you buy bouquets online as not everyone is aware.

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CoolCarrie · 02/09/2018 19:03

Op, you didn’t do anything deliberately and I am sure your kittens will be fine.

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CoolCarrie · 02/09/2018 19:04

You’ve done the right thing by getting them treated.

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MummytoCSJH · 02/09/2018 19:07

There definitely should be better warnings I agree. Obviously had I known I would have made sure they were never accessible to the kittens. They stay indoors right now but I wonder about when they go outside and how to stop them coming into contact with them in gardens etc. Flowers are such a natural thing that I didn't even think to check.

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IHaveBrilloHair · 02/09/2018 19:07

Oh no, but you weren't to know and you've done the right thing.
Hope the wee fuzzies are fine, and do keep us updated.

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SpottingTheZebras · 02/09/2018 19:08

I hope your kittens are ok. You didn’t know but now you do. Not all lillies are toxic to cats and tbh, I think your kittens would be dead by now if yours were poisonous because it tends to kill them within a few days and they are very ill beforehand.

It’s not just pollen either. They can eat parts of the plant and die. It’s best in future to keep all parts of a lily away from cats.

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RandomMess · 02/09/2018 19:24

Be warned our cats try any plant, we no longer have house plants!!!

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wineandcheeseplease · 02/09/2018 19:27

It's not just the pollen it's the whole plant. I always pass any on that i get given

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xTinkerhellx · 02/09/2018 19:28

My kitten ate half a Lily leaf. I took her to the vets immediately. She passed away 2 days later.

The lillies were only in the house for half an hour. My OH brought them home, he arrived 30 minutes home before I did and left the flowers in the sink.

I was utterly heartbroken. OH was devastated as he hadn't realised lillies were poisonous.

I hope your kitten is okay, I really do.

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MummytoCSJH · 02/09/2018 19:37

Tinker I'm so sorry to hear that. I honestly don't know how I'll cope if either of my babies dont make it :(

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Rikalaily · 02/09/2018 19:42

Also, it's not just the whole plant that's toxic, but also any water they have been sitting in. I hope your kittens are ok

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thecatneuterer · 02/09/2018 19:46

I hope they will be OK. Early treatment is key. As soon as they show signs of illness its too late.

Lilies outside seem to be less of a problem. There aren't many of them and they have a short growing season and the cats will hopefully be more interested in grass. I still wish lilies could be wiped from the face of the earth though.

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RefuseTheLies · 02/09/2018 19:47

My cat lived to tell the tale. We were super happy. Even when the £700 bill landed (thank goodness for pet insurance!). I hope your kittens are ok Flowers

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Jaxhog · 02/09/2018 19:49

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your furry babies. Hopefully, you've been in time.

I'm (fortunately?) allergic to lilies so have never had them in the house, thankfully, as I also have 2 furry babies.

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icannotthinkofauser · 02/09/2018 19:57

Oh OP, I'm really sorry to hear that! When I brought my kitten home I had a big vase of lilies and he rubbed his face against the pollen and I had no idea they were poisonous, he was absolutely fine!

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MummytoCSJH · 02/09/2018 20:06

Luckily the vase was a tall thin one so not one they could have gotten into regarding water. I'm thankful I have pet insurance too as it's cost over £1000 for both of them to stay in and receive treatment overnight. I wanted to treat the other kitten even if she hadn't been in contact in case she had groomed him and had any of the pollen or even just inhaled it from going near the flowers. Just had a big cry and let it all out, I guess. I'm calling first thing in the morning for news.

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SurfingOwl · 02/09/2018 20:12

I still wish lilies could be wiped from the face of the earth though.

Me too!

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positivepineapple · 02/09/2018 20:45

11 years ago my kitten's liver, kidneys & brain started shutting down due to Lilly poisoning.

She had been in and out of the Vets for vomiting for two days. They didn't give her a blood test as she was as "difficult"

The third day we changed Vets. She was admitted straight away to kitty intensive care. Three days and £1100 later she came home.

She's now sat on my shoulder, purring in my ear.

Sounds like you've done everything you can, I really hope your kitties are ok. Thanks

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Septembermummy1 · 02/09/2018 20:56

I agree with everyone else saying warnings should come with lilies. I planted some in my garden my rabbit ended up eating them, I didn't think much of it. A few days later he was dead. I couldn't figure out why he had just died for no reason until I found out lilies can be toxic to some animals. I was so upset and felt like it was my fault. Not as much now, there was no warning so how are we supposed to know? Most people don't know lilies can be dangerous to some animals.

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DamnWhyAreAllTheUsernamesTaken · 02/09/2018 21:21

Hope they’re ok ❤️

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MsHomeSlice · 02/09/2018 21:29

all parts of all lilies are poisonous, even to people so don't eat them either!

I have cats too and the current pair are absolute buggers for eating all flowers so I can only have them in the porch or on the mantle where they cannot get at them.

I know they have nibbled them in the past, to no ill effect, and my big fat faux norwegian forest cat did get pollen on him and I had to snip chunks off him, so I don't know if it is similar to the dog/chocolate thing, where we know it's bad and how much can kill, but often dogs just carry on regardless!

I hoe your kittys are home asap OP.

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GlitteryFluff · 02/09/2018 21:39

Hope your kittens are ok.
Don't beat yourself up. You didn't know. Hopefully speedy treatment means they'll be ok.
Thanks

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Allergictoironing · 02/09/2018 22:00

A (cat owning!) neighbour kindly gave me a small poinsettia plant at Christmas, didn't have the heart to tell her they are poisonous to cats. Luckily mine don't tend to eat plants except for the indoor cat grass I grow for them in a pot, plus I had a place I could put the poinsettia where the cat's couldn't reach it.

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EgremontRusset · 02/09/2018 22:04

My kitten did this, he’s now 9 and very healthy

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