Lily toxicity

Day Lily

All species of lilies are toxic to cats. Indoor cats with little choice in plant munching material are most at risk as they will try any cut flower that comes into the house. 

Any part of the plant – flowers, leaves or stems - is dangerous. Even lily pollen licked off the coat destroys cats’ kidney tubules. 

Lilies proven to poison cats include: Easter Lily, Tiger Lily, Day Lily, Glory Lily, Stargazer Lily, Rubrum Lily, Asian Lily and the Japanese Show Lily

If you see your cat with lily on her coat, in her mouth or in her vomit don’t wait for signs of poisoning. The sooner we get it out of her system and start treatment to protect the kidneys the greater her chance of survival.

Affected cats vomit and are depressed within hours of ingesting lily. Some then seem to recover before starting to show signs of severe kidney failure a day or so later. Others continue vomiting, go off their food and get more and more depressed.

If emptying the stomach and medications to prevent absorption of the toxin are effective, the chance of recovery is excellent.

If your cat absorbs enough toxin to cause damage to her kidneys then her outlook is very poor. It is essential to seek emergency care immediately after ingestion of the lily plant.

Surprising seniors!

Our cats are living longer lives than ever before because of desexing, better diet and improved health care. Many of Hall Veterinary Surgery’s feline patients live well into their teens and your cat could too.

Cats are very good at hiding illness and discomfort. It is easy to overlook subtle changes in appetite and behaviour. Changes in bodyweight are often the first sign of disease. Regular examinations of the mouth, joints and eyes pick up some signs of disease. Increased blood pressure warns of kidney or thyroid disease. Many serious health problems in cats are only picked up with blood and urine tests.
Diseases commonly seen in older cats include arthritis, dental disease, kidney insufficiency, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus and bowel disease. Often cats have several of them at a time. If we detect problems early and manage them appropriately then our feline friends can enjoy longer, happier and more comfortable lives.
The key to detecting and managing most of these diseases is regular monitoring of body weight, body condition and blood pressure. Urine and blood tests are important in kidney and thyroid disease while serial examination of joints, eyes and teeth triggers early preventative strategies.

Annual checkups are adequate until 10 years of age. Because cats age four times more rapidly than humans we recommend twice a year checks from 10 years of age on.

Senior health care

Why is it that dogs are taken to the vet twice as often as cats? Dogs average 2.3 visits per year while cats are only taken 1.1 times per year.
I don’t think it’s because their owners care less about them, but I also don’t think that they are inherently healthier!
Signs of illness in cats are often subtle. An unwell cat will often curl up away from you, reducing the chance of you noticing anything amiss. Cats pride themselves on their hardiness and self-reliance and are stoic in the face of chronic pain or illness.
Sometimes the only obvious sign of illness and pain is weight loss. Gradual loss of appetite and behaviour changes are harder to identify unless you are very observant.
Cats age FOUR times faster than us at equivalent ages. A 2-6 year old cat is in her prime. By 11 years of age she is starting to show signs of age but is not considered geriatric until 15. At 15 years of age she is equivalent to a 76 year old human. Many cats live up to 20 years with regular health checks and veterinary care.
To ensure that those years are healthy and happy we recommend an individualised preventative health care programme.
From about 10 years of age all cats deserve at least two wellness exams a year. This lets us detect and treat chronic diseases like bad teeth, failing kidneys, arthritis and hyperthyroidism early and reduce long term health care costs.
We will also discuss changing dietary requirements and any supplements that might improve your cat’s health and happiness.
Regular visits ensure that your cat’s quality of life is maintained and that she shares many comfortable and happy years with you.