Is Peace Lily Toxic to Cats and Dogs? (It's Not a True Lily)

Updated 25 October 2026 · about 4 min read

Yes. The ASPCA lists peace lily (Spathiphyllum) as toxic to cats and dogs. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause burning and swelling in the mouth, drooling and sometimes vomiting. But a peace lily is not a true lily. True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) can cause kidney failure in cats from even a small amount, while peace lily poisoning is usually limited to the mouth and stomach. If your pet has chewed a peace lily, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Peace lily vs. true lilies: why the difference matters

Despite the name, peace lilies are aroids, related to pothos and monstera, not to Easter lilies or tiger lilies. That difference matters a lot for cats:

  • True lilies and daylilies (Easter lily, tiger lily, Asiatic lily, stargazer, daylily and others) are extremely dangerous to cats. Eating a leaf, a petal, pollen, or drinking water from the vase can cause acute kidney failure. This is always an emergency, even if your cat seems fine.
  • Peace lilies cause mouth irritation and stomach upset. They're unpleasant and need a call to your vet or poison control, but they don't cause kidney failure.

If you're not sure which kind of lily your cat got into, treat it as a true lily and get to a vet straight away. Calla lilies are also aroids rather than true lilies and cause a peace lily–type reaction.

Why peace lily is toxic

Peace lilies store needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals in their leaves, stems and flowers. When chewed, the crystals embed in the mouth and throat, causing immediate pain and swelling. The pain usually stops pets from eating much, which keeps most cases mild.

Symptoms of peace lily poisoning in cats and dogs

Signs usually start right away:

  • Drooling or foaming
  • Pawing at the mouth
  • Red, swollen lips, tongue or gums
  • Vomiting
  • Difficulty swallowing or loss of appetite

Rarely, swelling in the mouth or throat can make breathing difficult. That's an emergency.

What to do if your pet ate a peace lily

  1. Remove any plant material from your pet's mouth if you can do it safely.
  2. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (open 24/7; a consultation fee may apply).
  3. Don't induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to.
  4. Offer water if your vet says so, to help rinse the mouth.
  5. Watch for swelling, repeated vomiting or breathing changes over the next few hours.

Most pets recover within a day.

How to keep a peace lily with pets

  • Put it on a high shelf or plant stand out of reach, keeping in mind that peace lilies need bright, indirect light to flower.
  • Remove spent flowers promptly, since they drop pollen and are tempting to bat at.
  • Don't leave water standing in the saucer where a pet might drink it.
  • If your pet chews plants often, choose a pet-safe plant instead.

If your peace lily keeps wilting, our guide on why a peace lily droops explains the usual causes.

Pet-safe alternatives to peace lily

These are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA and do well in similar conditions:

  • Phalaenopsis orchid: long-lasting flowers and a good swap if you want blooms.
  • African violet (Saintpaulia): flowers year-round in bright, indirect light.
  • Calathea and prayer plant: handle medium light and like the same humidity as peace lilies.
  • Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): lush and leafy for a shady spot.

Not sure which lily you have?

Telling a peace lily from a true lily matters, and plant labels aren't always clear. Planted can identify a plant from a photo, so you know exactly what you have and can check whether it's safe for your pets.

Common questions

Will a peace lily kill my cat?

Peace lily poisoning is rarely fatal. Unlike true lilies, it doesn't cause kidney failure. The main risks are severe mouth swelling and dehydration from vomiting, so it's still worth calling a vet.

Is the pollen from a peace lily toxic to cats?

Peace lily flowers and pollen contain the same irritating crystals as the leaves, so they can cause mouth irritation if licked off fur. It isn't the kidney-damaging pollen that makes true lilies so dangerous.

Is peace lily toxic to dogs?

Yes. Dogs get the same mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting as cats. True lilies are far less dangerous to dogs than to cats, but peace lilies affect both.

Are peace lilies toxic to humans?

They can irritate the mouth, throat and skin of people too. Keep them away from young children and wash your hands after handling the sap.