Is Daylily toxic to cats?
Daylily plants of the Hemerocallis genus are life-threatening to cats (S4 Emergency): any amount of leaf, stem, flower, pollen, or even vase water can cause acute kidney failure, and death is possible without early treatment — the same danger as true lilies, in a different genus.
- TOXINnot specified by the source
- WHAT TO EXPECTvomiting; inappetence (loss of appetite); lethargy
- CALL THE VETImmediately, on any exposure — Pet Poison Helpline states early veterinary treatment is vital for cats following any exposure to daylilies. There is no safe wait-and-see window.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| vomiting |
| inappetence (loss of appetite) |
| lethargy |
| abdominal pain |
| dehydration |
| acute kidney failure; death is possible |
If your cat just ate it
Same tabletop look, minus the risk
3 tabletop plants graded S0 — non-toxic on record.
Care at a glance
FAQ
Is a daylily the same as a lily — and is it just as dangerous for cats?
Different genus, same emergency. Daylilies are Hemerocallis; true lilies are Lilium. The two are not related closely enough to share a name in botany, but the ASPCA grades them with the same outcome for cats. Its daylily record lists "Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, death," and Pet Poison Helpline's wording covers every part: the danger "includes any amount of leaf, stem, flower, pollen, vase water, or rhizome (root)." That is why both carry S4 on this site — see our true lily verdict for the Lilium side. If your cat has had any contact with a daylily, chewed or not, go to a vet or emergency animal hospital immediately.
Which part of a daylily is dangerous to a cat — is pollen or vase water enough?
Every part, and yes, pollen or vase water is enough. Pet Poison Helpline's daylily entry is explicit: "This includes any amount of leaf, stem, flower, pollen, vase water, or rhizome (root)." The ASPCA lists the toxic principle as unknown, which means there is no part known to be free of it, and records the outcome for cats as "Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, death." A cat does not have to chew the plant: pollen brushed onto the coat and groomed off, or a drink from the vase, is contact with a listed toxic part. If your cat has had any contact with a daylily, go to a vet or emergency animal hospital immediately, and take the plant or a photo with you.
My cat chewed a daylily but seems fine — do I still need the vet?
Yes — go now, and do not read "seems fine" as a signal. Neither the ASPCA nor Pet Poison Helpline gives a timeline for when daylily poisoning shows: every sign on our record — vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, dehydration, acute kidney failure — is listed with onset not specified in source. That is why there is no waiting window. Pet Poison Helpline's instruction is "Early veterinary treatment is vital for cats following any exposure to these lilies," and the ASPCA records kidney failure and death as the outcome. Go to a vet or emergency animal hospital immediately, even with no symptoms at all.
Are daylilies toxic to dogs?
Not on record. The ASPCA lists day lilies (Hemerocallis) as "Non-Toxic to Dogs" and states that "Cats are only species known to be affected" by the kidney failure they cause. This answer covers Hemerocallis only: the cat danger is real and severe, and in a household with both animals one daylily is a cat emergency and a dog non-event. If your dog has eaten a large amount of any plant and seems unwell, call your vet.