After losing beloved cat, Minnesota woman warns of dangers of toxic lilies
A simple bouquet of flowers, specifically lilies brightening up the kitchen, ended in heartbreak for one woman who lost her 3-year-old cat Claudia.
It's been a painful month for Jessica, her home now empty where Claudia once ripped around.
"The fact that I was not able to protect her from this unexpected danger is really devastating," she said.
Jessica says Claudia, who typically was active and loved to climb, started vomiting and losing energy.
At first, she thought it was bug, but she remembered when Claudia tipped over the vase of lilies on herself.
The next day, Jessica said she was not acting like herself, and things started to escalate quickly. She rushed Claudia to the emergency vet.
"I got really bad news Wednesday night that she probably would not live because of kidney failure and heart failure," she said.
In just three days, Jessica lost her best friend all because of the lilies.
According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration, the "entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase."
"Eating just a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking the water from the vase can cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure in less than three days. The toxin, which only affects cats, has not been identified. Dogs that eat lilies may have minor stomach upset but they don't develop kidney failure," the FDA said.
Early signs of lily toxicity in cats include decreased activity levels and signs of kidney damage start about 12 to 24 hours after ingestion.
At the Lunds & Byerlys location in Roseville, a sign that says "Lilies are especially dangerous" is front and center.
Jessica says it's warnings like that need to be everywhere and she is urging all florists and grocery stores to do the same.
If your cat is exposed to lilies, you can contact an emergency clinic or contact Animal Poison Control Clinic at (855)764-7661.
