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Pet safety

Is Blue Star Water Lily toxic to cats?

Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists blue star water lily as mildly toxic to cats — a chewing cat typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. This classification follows the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. The ASPCA lists Nymphaea odorata as non-toxic to cats and dogs, but water lily leaves and rhizomes can cause mild vomiting or diarrhoea if consumed in quantity. Classified mildly-toxic as a precaution; contact your vet if a pet ingests significant plant material.

What to do if your cat ate blue star water lily

  1. Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth and move blue star water lily out of reach.
  2. Note how much was eaten and when, and watch for drooling, vomiting, or lethargy.
  3. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet or poison-control specialist instructs you to.
  4. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK and follow their advice.
  5. Bring a leaf or photo of blue star water lily to the appointment so it can be treated correctly.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. If you think your cat has eaten blue star water lily, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK — do not wait for symptoms to worsen.

Is blue star water lily toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is blue star water lily toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists blue star water lily as mildly toxic to cats — a chewing cat typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. The ASPCA lists Nymphaea odorata as non-toxic to cats and dogs, but water lily leaves and rhizomes can cause mild vomiting or diarrhoea if consumed in quantity. Classified mildly-toxic as a precaution; contact your vet if a pet ingests significant plant material.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats blue star water lily?

The ASPCA lists Nymphaea odorata as non-toxic to cats and dogs, but water lily leaves and rhizomes can cause mild vomiting or diarrhoea if consumed in quantity. Classified mildly-toxic as a precaution; contact your vet if a pet ingests significant plant material. Signs usually appear soon after chewing rather than hours later — watch for drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy after your cat has had access to blue star water lily.

What should I do if my cat ate blue star water lily?

Stay calm. Remove any plant from your cat's mouth and take the plant away. Note how much was eaten and when, and do not induce vomiting unless told to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK and follow their advice; a leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.

Is blue star water lily toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Blue Star Water Lily is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full blue star water lily pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to blue star water lily?

For a similar look without the risk, see the best cats-safe plants list — every plant there is ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Type any plant to see what the ASPCA says about it and your cat.

Full blue star water lily pet-safety

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