Plants / Amaryllis / cats

Is amaryllis toxic to cats?

Amaryllis is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): its lycorine and related alkaloids cause vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, and tremors, and larger doses can bring seizures, a drop in blood pressure, and depressed breathing — despite names like belladonna lily, it is not a true lily.

  • TOXINlycorine and other phenanthridine alkaloids, raphide oxalate crystals (concentrated in the bulbs)
  • WHAT TO EXPECTvomiting; depression; diarrhea
  • CALL THE VETCall your vet promptly after any ingestion; go immediately if you see tremors, wobbliness, collapse, or changed breathing.
S0S1S2S3S4

Symptoms

SIGN
vomiting
depression
diarrhea
abdominal pain
hypersalivation
anorexia (loss of appetite)
tremors, seizures
hypotension (drop in blood pressure)
respiratory depression

If your cat just ate it

S3 PROTOCOL
1
Take the plant away and move the pot — and any loose bulbs — out of reach. Call your vet or a pet poison line promptly, especially if a bulb was chewed: the signs are dose-dependent and can escalate to seizures or breathing trouble.
2
When to call the vet: Call your vet promptly after any ingestion; go immediately if you see tremors, wobbliness, collapse, or changed breathing.

Same tabletop look, minus the risk

3 tabletop plants graded S0 — safe even for dedicated chewers.

Care at a glance

Lightbright indirect
Waterevery 59 days
Humiditymedium
Difficulty●○○