Lilies are among the most popular ornamental flowers. But many gardeners wonder whether lilies are poisonous, especially for dogs, cats & Co. We clarify.
lilies (Lilium) are an innocent dream in white. For the full-grown amateur botanist, this may also apply at all levels. They can upgrade any ready-to-eat salad with impressive flowers or dig for tasty onions during the next survival training session. Here you will find everything about the cultivation and the symbolic importance of the elegant lilies. But for small children and especially for cats, the dream can quickly become a nightmare.
Lilies: Toxic to Humans?
It is not uncommon for extravagant salads with exotic-looking lily blossoms to lure in – because most of them do lily species are edible. Only the trunk should not be included in the menu. In China, the onions are from Lilium brownii, royal lily (Lilium regale), Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium) and magnificent lily (
Lilium speciosum) an integral part of the domestic kitchen. In Northeast Asia, onions are used by Lilium debile and Turk's cap lily (Lilium martagon) for centuries as a vegetable. In addition, onions of various types served as food for North American natives. With us, the colorful flowers are particularly eye-catching in the salad for the next social gathering. But apart from the nutritional value, the flowers and bulbs of the lily are also said to have medicinal effects:- Blood purifying effect
- Cough-relieving effect
- Scar-promoting effect
- Muscle relaxant effect
- Pain-relieving effect, especially for menstrual pain
- Wound healing effect
However, the consumption of larger amounts can be dangerous, especially for small children, who are characterized by their irrepressible desire to put something in their mouth. Because small children weigh very little. In the case of poisoning, one must have ingested a certain amount of the toxin per kilogram of body weight. How much of something has to be eaten depends on the weight. Small children show symptoms of poisoning even after eating a small amount of plant material. Even so, lilies are considered plants for a family-friendly garden.
Lilies: Toxic for cats, dogs and Co.?
The animal welfare organization Peta ranks lilies among the top 20 most poisonous houseplants for animals. Because all plant parts of all types of these pretty flowering plants are highly poisonous, at least for cats. Even the smallest amounts administered can be fatal. Ingested pollen, flower water or soil in which lilies grow sometimes lead to symptoms of poisoning. Dogs and rodents are not in danger of death even after consuming larger amounts. The effect on turtles is not known.
Lily Poisoning in Cats: Symptoms
A cat that has come into contact with lilies should be taken to the vet immediately. When poisoned by lilies, cats may experience the following symptoms:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- loss of appetite
- Vomit
- Dehydration characterized by listlessness
These symptoms may not seem life-threatening at first, but the lily's poison is insidious. Because the kidney failure, which can be caused by the poisoning, only occurs one to three days later. There are no specific antidotes for lily poisoning yet. The vet treats the poisoning with detoxification or charcoal administration. After that, only about every second cat becomes completely healthy again. So lilies really have no place in homes with cats.
However, that doesn't mean that cat owners can't use flowering plants as decoration in the home! We have some for you Indoor plants that are non-toxic to cats compiled.