Plant safety · 2 min read

Are Daylilies toxic to cats?

No — dangerous

Yes. Daylilies (Hemerocallis species) are equally as dangerous as true Lilium lilies — they cause the same acute kidney failure.

If your cat has just eaten daylilies

  1. Treat as an emergency — kidney injury starts within hours.
  2. Call your vet immediately.
  3. If you can't reach your vet, call Animal PoisonLine (01202 509000) — paid triage, 24/7.
  4. Bring a piece of the plant or a photo.

What's the full picture?

Daylilies are common UK garden plants — each individual flower only lasts a day, hence the name. Although they're a different genus from true lilies (Hemerocallis rather than Lilium), they share the same toxic profile and same emergency status.

Outdoor cats with access to daylily beds are at real risk — they can brush through the flowers and ingest pollen when grooming.

Symptoms to watch for

0–3 hours
Vomiting, drooling, lethargy.
12–24 hours
Kidney injury signs.
24–72 hours
Acute kidney failure without treatment.

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.

Calla lilies no Easter lilies no Lilies no Peace lilies no Spider lilies (Hymenocallis) 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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