Is Calla Lily Toxic to Cats?

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Calla lilies are aroids. They contain calcium oxalate crystals, which cause immediate pain, drooling and swelling of the mouth rather than the kidney damage caused by Lilium species.

They are popular in wedding bouquets and cut-flower arrangements, which is how they arrive in homes for a weekend — with foliage left on a table.

Which parts are dangerous

• leaves
• flowers
• stems
• sap

What to watch for in the UK

• Wedding and funeral arrangements often include it.
• Cut stems left in water are accessible and the water is irritant.
• The sap irritates human skin as well.
• Check any bouquet for true lilies as well — those are the emergency.

If your cat has already chewed it

1. Rinse the mouth and offer water.
2. Phone your vet if there is swelling or noisy breathing.
3. Check the bouquet for true lilies — if any, treat this as the lilies emergency instead.

Take a photo of the plant, and a cutting if you can do it safely — identification is half of the vet's decision. Out of hours, use your practice's emergency number. This page explains risk; it cannot diagnose your cat and it contains no home treatments.

If your cat has vomited after eating a plant, see the cat vomiting guide and, if there is blood, vomiting blood. For a general red-flag checklist, use sick cat symptoms. If the worry is food rather than a plant, the can cats eat guide covers 36 everyday foods.

Related plants

Browse the full UK plant checklist (72 plants).