Is calla lily toxic to cats?
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Yes. Calla lily is toxic to cats, graded medium severity by NC State Extension. The agent is insoluble calcium oxalates. Call your vet if a cat has eaten any.
- Take any remaining plant material out of their mouth and rinse the mouth with water.
- Call someone. Your own vet first. Otherwise ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 — both charge a fee.
- Take a photo of the plant, and note roughly how much was eaten and when. It is the first thing you will be asked.
- Do not make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
What it does, and why
The agent is insoluble calcium oxalates.
Needle-shaped crystals called raphides sit under pressure in the plant tissue. Chewing fires them into the lining of the mouth and tongue, where they embed mechanically.
Pain is immediate rather than delayed, which is why most animals stop after one bite. That self-limiting bite is the reason these cases usually stay mild.
Worth watching for. The uncommon serious case is swelling that affects breathing or swallowing.
Reported signs
- intense burning of mouth and tongue
- excessive drooling
- vomiting
- difficulty swallowing
Signs as listed by the ASPCA under Zantedeschia aethiopica. Not every animal shows all of them.
What each authority says
- ASPCA
- Toxic to cats and dogs · insoluble calcium oxalates
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Medium · calcium oxalate · Oral irritation, pain, and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, stomach pain, vomiting (not horses), diarrhea, difficulty swallowing
What to keep instead
Species in this database listed non-toxic to cats and dogs, chosen for a similar look or similar care rather than at random.
| Plant | Family | Water | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo palmChamaedorea seifrizii | Arecaceae | 7–12d | 2/5 |
| Table fernPteris cretica | Pteridaceae | 3–7d | 3/5 |
Swapping the plant is the only measure that reliably works. Height and hanging baskets buy less time than people expect with a determined cat.
The other animal
Looking for dogs? See is calla lily toxic to dogs. Full care details are on the calla lily species entry.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Zantedeschia aethiopica Checked 2026-09-12.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Zantedeschia aethiopica Checked 2026-09-12.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Zantedeschia aethiopica Accepted name and family. Checked 2026-09-12.
- Wikidata entity Q1945905 — entity identity, so this record can be matched against other databases.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Zantedeschia aethiopica Cultivation record. Checked 2026-09-12.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435 — emergency line, fee applies
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-11
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a veterinarian.
Severity is reproduced from the authority that published it and is never
originated here. How this is sourced.
This page is a reference, not a diagnosis. In an emergency, call rather than read.