Is peace lily toxic to cats?
Peace lily is toxic to cats (S2 Irritant), but it is not a true lily: its insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral burning, drooling, and vomiting — it does not cause the kidney failure that true lilies (Lilium) do.
- TOXINinsoluble calcium oxalates
- WHAT TO EXPECToral irritation; intense burning of mouth, tongue and lips; excessive drooling; vomiting, diarrhea
- CALL THE VETCall your vet if drooling or vomiting lasts more than a few hours, your cat refuses food or water — or immediately if you notice mouth swelling or any difficulty breathing.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| oral irritation; intense burning of mouth, tongue and lips |
| excessive drooling |
| vomiting, diarrhea |
| difficulty swallowing |
| very rarely, mouth swelling leading to difficulty breathing |
If your cat just ate it
Same tabletop look, minus the risk
2 tabletop plants graded S0 — safe even for dedicated chewers.
Care at a glance
FAQ
Is a peace lily a true lily?
No. Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) belong to the Araceae family and are unrelated to true lilies (Lilium). The ASPCA identifies Lilium and Hemerocallis species as the lilies that cause severe kidney injury in cats — peace lilies are not among them. Their insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause mouth irritation instead, and per the ASPCA, "it is very rare for them to cause serious or life-threatening problems."
Can a peace lily cause kidney failure in my cat?
No — that danger belongs to true lilies. The ASPCA attributes severe kidney injury in cats to Lilium species (Easter, Asiatic, Stargazer, Oriental lilies) and daylilies (Hemerocallis), where "small amounts can cause severe injury to the kidneys." A peace lily instead causes "oral pain, drooling, vomiting or diarrhea," and "very rarely swelling in the mouth may lead to difficulty breathing" — that rare swelling is the sign to escalate to a vet.