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FATAL EASTER THREAT TO CATS
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With Spring and Easter both fast approaching there is a silent but deadly threat looming that all cat owners should be aware of: LILY POISONING.

Whilst most admire their beauty, those in the know have a distant respect for the plant that can cause acute renal failure in cats. The following lilies have been found to be poisonous to cats: Easter lily Day lily Stargazer lily Tiger lily Rebrum Glory lily Japanese Show Lily But the best general advice is to be wary of all lilies. Nobody knows what component of the lily is responsible, but any part of the plant has the potential to cause serious illness and even death even when a very small amount (half a leaf) has been ingested. Be aware that the cat doesn’t necessarily need to chew part of the plant to be poisoned; a cat which grooms itself after brushing against the pollen of a lily can also suffer the same fate. Cats however, do seem to be the only animals susceptible to this toxicity.

SYMPTOMS
The first sign of lily poisoning in cats is vomiting, which can occur 30 to 120 minutes after the initial ingestion, quickly followed by depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, excessive drinking, diarrhoea, dehydration, breathing difficulties and bad breath. If treatment is to be successful, early recognition is essential and immediate veterinary attention should be sought preferably within 6 hours of initial ingestion. Without treatment, although vomiting may cease and the affected animal may appear to improve, depression will continue and acute renal failure can occur between 1 to 3 days later, by which time the cat will be critical. If the animal is left untreated they can die within a week. DIAGNOSIS As many other things can cause similar symptoms, if there is a chance your pet could have eaten part of a lily your vet will need to be made aware of this straight away! Blood and urine samples are usually taken to show the presence/extent of renal failure. Later on they might carry out an ultrasound and/or a biopsy of the kidneys. Treatment involves supportive care and intravenous fluids. Although if caught early cats with lily poisoning can be treated, it is expensive and is not always successful, so it is far better to be a conscientious cat owner and be prepared.

PREVENTION
All cat owners should try to avoid having lilies in and around the home, or at least ensure they are not accessible, and should be aware of the danger where their cat may roam to during the day. However, it is indoor cats and kittens who are more likely to partake in a ‘lily lunch’ due to the absence of external natural stimuli and because of their natural curiosity. For these cats other suitable plants should be provided such as potted grass or catnip. REMEMBER the best treatment is avoiding the problem in the first place – but if you are worried EARLY TREATMENT HAS A MUCH HIGHER CHANCE OF SUCCESS SO DON’T DELAY – VISIT YOUR VET!!