The plants best known as dangerous to cats are the true lilies, Lilium, and the daylilies, Hemerocallis. Every part of the plant is toxic, and acute kidney injury has been reported from pollen landing on the coat alone. Pick the plant group and the type of exposure, enter how long ago it happened, and this guide lays out how many exposure items apply and the windows in which signs show up.
Because there is no dose threshold, treating even the smallest exposure is used as the standard. Digestive signs appear within a few hours, while kidney injury shows between 24 and 72 hours. This is the picture ASPCA and AAFP feline material share, current as of October 2026.
This guide does not provide a toxicity grade table for individual plants outside Lilium and Hemerocallis. Many plants carry lily in their common name while belonging to another genus, and that does not mean they are free of toxins, so name the exact plant when you report it. This tool is for reference only and does not replace veterinary care. Contact your veterinarian right away if you notice symptoms or suspect a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Acute kidney injury has been reported from pollen alone with Lilium and Hemerocallis, because cats swallow it while grooming it off the coat.
Lily exposure has no established dose threshold, so amounts are not split into bands. Even the smallest exposure is treated.
Kidney injury shows between 24 and 72 hours, so the stretch with no signs is the window for treatment. Call now instead of waiting.