My Cat Ate a Peace Lily: What to Do (It's Not a True Lily)
First, the good news: a peace lily is not a true lily. True lilies (Lilium and daylilies) can cause deadly kidney failure in cats. Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) can't. They contain sharp calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and stomach, so a cat that chews one usually drools, paws at its mouth or vomits, and recovers. It's unpleasant but rarely dangerous. If you're not completely sure the plant is a peace lily, treat it as an emergency: see my cat ate a lily.
Right now
- Take the plant away and remove any pieces from your cat's mouth.
- Gently wipe your cat's mouth with a damp cloth if it will let you.
- Offer water to help rinse the mouth.
- Don't make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Symptoms
Usually start quickly, often within minutes:
- Drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Pawing at the mouth or face
- Vomiting
- Not wanting to eat
- Occasionally, swelling of the lips or tongue
When to call a vet
Call your vet, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (both may charge a fee), if:
- Your cat has trouble breathing or swallowing, or its mouth or throat looks swollen. That's urgent.
- Vomiting continues
- You aren't sure what plant it was
Peace lily vs true lily
| Peace lily | True lily (Easter, tiger, Asiatic, daylily) | |
|---|---|---|
| Danger to cats | Mouth and stomach irritation | Kidney failure, can be fatal |
| What to do | Watch and call a vet if needed | Vet immediately, even with no symptoms |
Not sure which you have? Planted identifies a plant from a photo and flags whether it's toxic to pets.
Common questions
Is a peace lily poisonous to cats?
It's toxic but rarely dangerous. It causes mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting, not the kidney failure caused by true lilies.
Will my cat be okay after eating a peace lily?
Most cats recover within a day. Call a vet if symptoms are severe or your cat has trouble breathing or swallowing.
Is a peace lily a real lily?
No. Despite the name, it's in a different plant family from true lilies.