Common Christmas plants that are poisonous to your cat

Flowers and plants in the home can cause irritation, such as to a cat’s mouth or skin, while others can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Some plants are so poisonous that they can cause life-threatening poisoning in our cats, as damage to internal organs, e.g. the kidneys, can occur, which in the worst case can cause such serious damage that the cat does not survive. Usually, only a small amount from a plant or a flower is enough to poison the cat. Even though the poison is mainly in the bulb, it can also be found in leaves, pollen, and pistils, and the cat can become ill just by drinking water from a pot with the poisonous flower/plant in it.

A curious cat will be happy to investigate what exciting new decorations their owner has brought home. It may be a good idea to keep a closer eye on which plants appear over Christmas, as some of our most common festive plants can make your cat sick. If you have cut flowers, even the water they're in can be poisonous.

These Christmas plants can cause poisoning in cats:

Amaryllis (especially the bulb)

Christmas rose

Hyacinth (especially the bulb)

Mistletoe

Lilies and lily plants (particularly toxic to cats)

Poinsettia

Christmas cactus

Unfortunately, symptoms are often vague when it comes to poisoning in cats. It is therefore important to go to the vet urgently if you suspect your cat has ingested something that is toxic to them. Symptoms of poisoning can include vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, excessive salivation, and convulsions. In the worst case, the kidneys may be so severely damaged that the cat will not survive. Symptoms may appear 6-12 hours after the cat has eaten poisonous plants, but can also appear sooner. If you have a cat at home that likes to eat plants, you could make a habit of keeping cat grass available. Cat grass is not dangerous for cats to eat.

Christmas can bring more dangers for your cat, read more here!