Back in 2016, Elizabeth Mackie was heartbroken to discover she had inadvertently killed her new cat. Mr. Mistoffelees (or Misto, as he was commonly known) was a rambunctious, 4-month-old kitten that Mackie had purchased to help deal with grief following her mother’s death.
Misto was a great companion and support for Mackie during her time of need.
One day, however, something tragic occurred. One of Mackie’s friends had brought her a bouquet of flowers, and, not knowing they were toxic to cats, Mackie had left them out on a windowsill where Misto often liked to sit.
Later on, Mackie noticed that Misto was covered in orange pollen. She tried to clean the kitty off, but the orange stuff wouldn’t budge. She logged into social media and made a post asking for advice. That’s when she learned she had inadvertently poisoned her cat.
In an interview with Metro UK, Elizabeth explains, “Had I known that lilies were so deadly to cats, I would never have had them in my house.”
Mackie rushed Misto to the Leonard Brother’s Veterinary Centre where he was immediately put on a drip. Sadly, however, it was much too late. Misto died from lily poisoning.
In a petition created by Mackie and the Leonard Brother’s Veterinary Centre, they explain, “No one knows which part of the lily is poisonous and quite how it causes such devastating problems for cats, but we know that any contact with lilies can cause a fatal kidney failure.”
Misto’s tragic death happened in 2016. Now, two years later, animal advocates are still petitioning for the same cause; they want florists to put warning labels on these deadly flowers.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, bouquets will be a popular gift. Cats Protection, the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, is once again raising awareness of the dangers lilies can pose to our beloved cats.
“Lilies are one of the most common forms of poisoning in cats, and we can’t emphasize enough just how dangerous they can be,” said Louise Waters, the charity’s spokesperson.
If your cat comes into contact with a poisonous plant, it may display any of the following symptoms: salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, twitching, fitting, breathing difficulties, shock, collapse, or coma. However, if there’s any chance your cat has been poisoned, you should contact a vet immediately. Sometimes by the time symptoms present themselves, it’s already much too late.
“Please sign the petition and spread the word to all cat owners you know: really if you have a cat, you shouldn’t have lilies in the house.”
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