Dangers of the 'Easter lily'
Even small quantities of leaf or pollen can rapidly lead to kidney failure and death.
The Easter lily - or Lilium longiflorum - has long been linked with Easter festivities, along with chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and simnel cake.
But these human treats pose a threat to pets, often leading to a hike in the number of animals needing veterinary treatment at this time of year.
As well as being a festive treat, lilies are a fresh, summery addition to the household - but one that must be avoided if that household contains a cat. Even small quantities of leaf or pollen can rapidly lead to kidney failure and death and, as cats are adept climbers, keeping plants out of reach may not be enough to protect them.
While cats are choosy about what they eat, lily pollen can become attached to their coat and is then licked off during grooming. Even just drinking water from a vase containing lilies is enough to cause poisoning.
Inquisitive kittens are particularly at risk as they like to explore their environment and experience new tastes and smells. Boredom also plays a part and cats who are kept indoors are generally more likely to chew on house plants.
Owners who suspect their cat has eaten any part of a lily must contact a veterinary surgeon without delay. All plants in the Lilium family are dangerous to cats and less than one leaf can result in death.
This type of poisoning is extremely serious and often fatal unless the cat is treated by a vet within a few hours. If more than 18 hours have passed since the cat ingested the lily, survival rates are very low even with veterinary treatment.
Symptoms of lily poisoning include vomiting, lethargy and lack of appetite. These symptoms will worsen rapidly as kidney damage progresses.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
