Plant safety for cats
Is daylily toxic to cats?
DeadlyListed toxic to cats by ASPCA
Yes — daylilies are deadly to cats. Like true lilies they cause kidney failure, and any amount of leaf, flower, pollen or vase water counts. Go to a vet at once, before signs appear.
Why deadly: The same cat-only kidney failure as true lilies — from any amount of leaf, flower, pollen or vase water.
- Name
- Daylilyalso Orange daylily, Hemerocallis
- Botanical name
- Hemerocallis species (e.g. H. fulva) · Asphodelaceae (ASPCA: Liliaceae)
Toxic parts
Every part — leaf, stem, flower, pollen and root — and the water in the vase.
What's in it
Not yet identified; the same cat-only kidney toxin as true lilies.
How to recognise it
- Clumps of long, arching, strap-like leaves growing from the base
- Leafless flower stalks
- Trumpet flowers, most often orange, each lasting a single day
Look-alikes and name traps
Easy to confuse with other garden 'lilies'. Treat any lily-like flower you can't name as dangerous — true lilies cause the same kidney failure.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting, drooling, not eating
- Lethargy
- Signs of kidney failure over the next days
As with true lilies: early signs within hours and kidney failure within about 1–3 days. Early treatment improves survival.
What to do — now
Go to a vet now — don't wait for signs. Kidney damage starts before your cat looks ill.
- Take your cat, a piece of the plant (or a clear photo) and tell the vet what was eaten, when and how much.
- Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
- No milk, oil, salt water or home remedies.
Where Indian cats meet it
A garden perennial (photographed in Thane and Yercaud); less common than florist lilies.
Cat-safe swap: For a hardy flowering clump: canna, listed non-toxic.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Orange day lily
- Pet Poison Helpline: Daylily
- International Cat Care: Lily poisoning in cats
- US FDA: Lovely lilies and curious cats
- Wikipedia: Hemerocallis (names and where it grows)
Facts last checked
General information for cat parents, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. The facts come from ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, International Cat Care, the Merck Veterinary Manual and the other sources listed on every page — and we say so when the evidence comes from dogs or people. If your cat may have eaten something harmful, call your vet.
