Plant safety · 2 min read

Are Calla lilies toxic to cats?

No — dangerous

Calla lilies are not true lilies. They contain calcium oxalate crystals causing painful mouth irritation, drooling, and swelling — unpleasant but rarely fatal.

If your cat has just eaten calla lilies

  1. Rinse your cat's mouth gently with cool water if tolerated.
  2. Call your vet for advice and possibly pain relief.
  3. Monitor breathing — rapid or laboured breathing may indicate throat swelling.

What's the full picture?

Calla lilies (Zantedeschia) are the elegant, trumpet-shaped flowers popular in wedding bouquets. Despite the name, they're in the Araceae family, not Liliaceae, and don't cause kidney failure.

Like peace lilies, they contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and throat when chewed. The pain is immediate; swelling can develop within hours.

Symptoms to watch for

Immediately
Drooling, pawing at mouth, pain.
Within hours
Oral or throat swelling, reduced appetite.

If you're worried right now

Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet first. For poison advice, the Animal PoisonLine (UK) is on 01202 509000 — 24/7, charges apply. Your vet can also call the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) directly.

Daylilies no Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) no Easter lilies no Lilies no Peace lilies no Philodendron no Tiger lilies no

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published UK veterinary toxicology sources — International Cat Care, Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) references, RCVS-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.

This is general information written for UK cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.

Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know — corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.

Last reviewed: · By the What Can My Cat Eat? editorial team

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