Is Lily of the Valley toxic to cats?
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis, not a true lily) is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): its cardenolides are heart toxins, and the signs on record include vomiting, an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, weakness, disorientation, seizures, and coma.
- TOXINcardenolides (convallarin and others)
- WHAT TO EXPECTvomiting; loss of appetite; irregular heartbeat; changes in heart rate and rhythm
- CALL THE VETCall your vet promptly after any ingestion; go immediately if you notice an irregular heartbeat or a change in heart rate, weakness, disorientation, seizures, or your cat becomes unresponsive.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| vomiting |
| loss of appetite |
| irregular heartbeat; changes in heart rate and rhythm |
| low blood pressure |
| weakness |
| disorientation |
| seizures |
| coma |
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
My cat chewed lily of the valley — what happens next?
Call your vet now rather than waiting for signs. Pet Poison Helpline's record says ingestion "often results in gastrointestinal distress with vomiting and loss of appetite but may also lead severe signs including changes in heart rate and rhythm, weakness, and seizures." The ASPCA lists "Vomiting, irregular heart beat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma, seizures." Neither source gives a safe amount or a timeline, and we won't invent either. Bring the plant or a photo of its tag so your vet knows it is Convallaria — the heart signs are the ones to watch for.
Is lily of the valley a true lily — and is it as dangerous as one?
It is not a true lily, and its danger is a different one. The ASPCA files lily of the valley as Convallaria majalis, family Asparagaceae — not Lilium — and its record is about the heart: cardenolides, with "Vomiting, irregular heart beat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma, seizures" as the signs. For cats, the true lily and the daylily are S4 Emergency on a kidney-failure record, and the Peruvian lily is S1 Caution. Two more plants share the name and are not covered by this page: the ASPCA lists "Lily-of-the-Valley Bush" as a separate plant, Pieris japonica, noting that "Ingestion of a few leaves can cause serious problems"; and "Lily of the Valley Orchid," Odontoglossum pulchellum, which it lists as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats." The scientific name on the tag settles which one you have.
Is lily of the valley toxic to dogs?
Yes — the same record as for cats. The ASPCA lists Convallaria majalis as "Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses," with cardenolides as the toxic principle, and Pet Poison Helpline's entry covers "dogs and cats" together. Call your vet promptly after any ingestion, and go immediately if you notice an irregular heartbeat, weakness, disorientation, or seizures.