My cat got lily pollen on her nose. Is it toxic? What should I do?

Tulips are part of the lily family and can be toxic to cats. They contain a chemical known as Tulipilan A that can cause allergic reactions in humans just from touching a tulip. But because humans are larger than cats and don’t typically eat tulips, the toxin doesn’t pose as much risk for us. Tulipilan A is found in all parts of the tulip, but it is found in the highest concentrations in the bulb of the plant. The flower, leaves, and stem all contain smaller amounts of the toxin, but it is still enough to cause respiratory issues for small animals such as cats. Although your cat eating a tulip flower or leaf is still cause for concern, it’s not as bad as it would be if he were to consume some of the tulip bulbs.Tulips may or may not pose serious problems for your cat. It just depends on how much of the plant your cat ate, what part of the plant he ate, and how big he or she is. But, even with eating a small amount of tulip, your cat is likely to exhibit symptoms. Even if you didn’t see your cat eat the tulip, noticing any of the following signs are good indications that he did.If your cat took a small bite out of the less toxic part of a tulip, including the flower, leaf, or stem, he or she may exhibit minor symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive drooling. Your cat also may seem depressed or lethargic or express a general sense of not feeling well. Although these symptoms are considered minor compared to what your cat will experience when eating a large amount of tulip, it doesn’t mean that he will recover on his own. You should still seek treatment for your cat to prevent the symptoms from becoming more serious. That means a trip to your trusted vet. You do not need to worry unless the cat ingests the bulb portion of the flower.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If there was some pollen on your hands that you transferred on Oreo's fur, then yes there is a chance that he may get into trouble. You should brush him as soon as possible and monitor for signs of vomiting, lethargy and lack of appetite. If you notice that he is unwell, you should take him to your local vets right away. If you touched only the leaves or stems with your hands, it will not cause any problems to your cat.

Unfortunately, the lily plant is one of the most toxic houseplants for cats, and eating as little as two or three leaves is enough to cause liver failure. If left untreated, it can be fatal, and Callie has to see a vet right away. I would call a friend to see if they could come watch your baby, and take her into a vet now. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Frankie. I still recommend having him evaluated by his veterinarian. It would be a good idea to have blood work performed to ensure that he has not sustained any kidney damage. Most of the time, damage to the kidneys occurs by 72 hours after the exposure. I hope this information helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, Stormy should be just fine! There is nothing toxic in pollen to dogs. Also, lilies themselves are only toxic to cats when they are ingested. I hope this is helpful!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Louie! Unfortunately, EVERY part of the Lily is very toxic and deadly to cats. It causes acute kidney failure. Time is of the essence and I urge you to take Louie to an open Veterinary Emergency hospital for care. It is not wise to wait until tomorrow because sadly it could be too late to reverse the damage to his kidneys. You could also call the Pet Poison hotline (there is a charge) but they will tell you the same thing. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ I hope this helps and I wish Louie the best! https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-plants-that-are-poisonous-to-pets/

This can be seen in a few different cases, but I always worry about skin cancer in white cats, so it's best to have it checked out by your veterinarian. I have seen similar lesions when they rub their nose on something, or with certain infections, so I would not be too worried; just have it checked to be safe. It's not an emergency, but good to have her seen in the next week to ensure treatment is initiated early if it's something serious. For now, I do not recommend doing any sort of treatment at home. It's best to leave it alone until a vet can have a look. Here is a link with more information about skin cancer in cats: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/skin-squamous-cell-carcinoma-in-cats I hope that helps and all is well with Lily.