As though letting us know that winter’s all but gone, and spring is just around the corner, these glorious gifts of spring announce the coming of a brand new season of warmth and hope. And just as in years past, again, beautiful varieties of Lilies, with their hardy, fragrant petals and thick, stunning leaves, grace the entrances of our local grocery stores.

Breathtakingly beautiful, as they may be, these spectacular floral displays spell serious trouble for our beloved housecats. In fact, they are deadly poisonous to felines. Simply brushing up against, any variety of this plant, and then licking its fur, will cause a healthy, lively cat to become fatally ill. And to offer your cat the very best chance of survival, symptoms must be noted immediately and the vet notified of the emergency, regardless of the time of day or night.

Signs to look for:

Although the symptoms of poisoning can vary somewhat, mainly they are: drooling, repeated vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sudden collapse, paralyses, and/or excessive irritation such as red, swollen, blistering or raw skin of the mouth or throat.

What to do:

Contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic immediately if your cat is showing any of these signs of poisoning or if you see your cat come in contact with any type of lily.

Note: If you should happen to see your cat eat something that you suspect is poisonous, don’t attempt to make it vomit. Take your cat to the vet with a sample of the plant or, better yet, a plant label if one exists; and let the doctor know the time of eating and any symptoms that maybe occurring. Also be aware that for some types of plants several days may pass between the ingestion of the undesirable material and the effects.