Easter Lilies Deadly to Cats

DEAR PAW'S CORNER: Last year I nearly lost my beautiful part-Siamese, "Sheila," to a lily plant I had purchased to decorate the table for Easter. A few hours after I put the plant on the table, Sheila started vomiting and seemed very lethargic. I took her to the vet the next morning, where she was kept for nearly a week, recovering. He told me that if I had waited any longer to bring her in, her kidneys would have failed and she would probably have died! Please warn your readers that Easter lilies are extremely poisonous to cats! Thank you. -- Ellen in Atlanta

DEAR ELLEN: Thank you for calling attention to a very serious risk for cats at this time of year! Readers, pay attention -- even one or two leaves or flowers from the lily plant can cause problems for cats of all types.

If you suspect your cat has nibbled on an Easter lily, even if he or she shows no symptoms, go straight to the vet. A cat's kidneys can fail within 48 hours of ingesting lilies, so prompt action is required, generally within six hours of ingestion. A cat's odds of survival drop dramatically after 18 hours, so do not delay.

Other plants, including many common houseplants, also present a danger to cats. Keep all houseplants out of their reach. If your cat loves to nibble on green things, consider growing catnip in a window box and, once it is sturdy enough, allowing the cat to nibble on that. Catnipinfused pet toys can also distract cats from climbing up to reach tempting live plants.

Send your tips, questions and comments to Paws Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475, or e-mail them to pawscorner@hotmail.com.

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