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Holiday plants and pets: what the sources say about each one

Which holiday plants are a problem for cats and dogs, and which are not, plant by plant. Every statement on this page is a named source’s, quoted in the sentence: university extension services, the ASPCA where Penn State Extension cites it, and the ASPCA’s and Pet Poison Helpline’s own poinsettia listings.

Published October 25, 2026 · Updated November 3, 2026 · Cite this page

Before anything else

If your cat or dog has eaten part of a plant and seems unwell, call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline. Penn State Extension names the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour emergency line, 888-426-4435, and the ASPCA’s own listings give the same number and say a consultation fee may apply. This page does not tell you what to do for a sick animal; it says only what each source says about each plant.

Penn State says the safest solution is to keep plants and pets apart, and NDSU Extension says the best course with an overly curious pet is to put the plant out of reach. NDSU adds that even plants that are not toxic can be a choking hazard.

Lilies: the one every source warns about for cats

Penn State says all parts of lily plants are extremely toxic to cats, potentially causing kidney failure, and that even a plant that seems out of reach can drop pollen a cat may find. Penn State names Easter lilies, stargazer lilies, tiger lilies and Asiatic lilies as true lilies, says daylilies are toxic to cats too, and says that if you suspect your pet ate any part of any “lily,” contact your veterinarian immediately. Penn State says lilies are not poisonous to dogs, but eating them may cause discomfort.

University of Missouri Extension’s veterinary toxicologist, Tim Evans, says even small amounts of Easter lily can be deadly to cats: eating the leaves or flowers, or licking the pollen, can lead to kidney failure within days, and even the water from a vase of lilies can cause serious effects. Missouri says early signs include vomiting, lack of appetite and lethargy, and to call your veterinarian if you suspect poisoning. It notes the Food and Drug Administration lists the Asiatic, day, Easter, Japanese show, oriental, rubrum, stargazer, tiger and wood lily as dangerous to cats.

NC State Extension’s plant toolbox marks both the Easter lily and the garden lily as a problem for cats and non-toxic for dogs.

Penn State says some plants called lilies are not true lilies, such as lily of the valley and calla lilies, and contain different toxins that affect both dogs and cats.

Mistletoe

Penn State says the toxins in mistletoe, particularly in its white berries, could cause vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and a low heart rate in a pet, and notes that fresh mistletoe is hard to find and usually replaced by an artificial one.

NC State’s plant toolbox rates American mistletoe medium in severity: toxic if large quantities of berries are eaten. A UF/IFAS statewide master gardener coordinator says all parts of mistletoe are toxic if eaten. NDSU says deaths have been reported, but mainly from “herbal teas” brewed from the leaves and berries. Oregon State lists mistletoe foliage and fruit as hazardous to pets and small children.

Holly

Penn State says the ASPCA advises that while holly is toxic to pets, its leaves and berries are of low toxicity, so the parts brought indoors are unlikely to be highly dangerous; the signs to watch for are vomiting, diarrhea and depression. NC State’s toolbox rates English holly low in severity and says problems are likely only in very large doses.

Others are more cautious, mostly about children. UF/IFAS says holly berries that fall from a decoration onto the floor are where a child or pet finds them. NDSU says holly is toxic, with the risk depending on how much is eaten and the size of the one who eats it. Oregon State lists holly leaves and berries as hazardous to pets and small children.

Amaryllis, and paperwhites

Penn State says amaryllis is poisonous to cats and dogs. Penn State says lycorine, its toxic compound, is in every part but concentrated in the bulb, and that the signs are stomach and intestinal upset, lethargy and tremors. NC State’s toolbox says amaryllis is toxic if eaten in large quantities, that the bulb is the most poisonous part, and that it is especially harmful to pets. A UF/IFAS master gardener coordinator says one would have to eat a lot of bulbs to become sick from them, but calls amaryllis more of a concern for pet owners. NDSU says to keep dogs and cats away from it, and Oregon State lists the entire plant as hazardous.

Penn State says the same of paperwhite narcissus: all parts are toxic to cats and dogs, especially the bulbs, and a pet’s reaction would be like its reaction to amaryllis. Oregon State lists narcissus bulbs as hazardous. Penn State notes that neither amaryllis nor paperwhites is in the lily family.

Poinsettia: less than its reputation

Penn State says you should not have to give up poinsettias because you have pets, and that reports of their toxicity have been greatly exaggerated. Their milky sap can irritate a pet’s stomach, but Penn State says the upset should resolve on its own. Texas A&M AgriLife’s Navreet Kaur Mahal says the sap can irritate the mouth and cause mild stomach symptoms but that poinsettias are not a threat to animals.

NDSU says poinsettias are not highly toxic, though eating the leaves can cause mild digestive upset in pets, and that their reputation traces to an unconfirmed death in 1919. University of Minnesota Extension and UF/IFAS say poinsettias are not poisonous, though they should not be eaten. NC State’s toolbox rates the plant low in severity.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists poinsettia as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The ASPCA listing names the irritant sap as the toxic principle and gives the signs as irritation of the mouth and stomach, sometimes with vomiting, adding that the plant is generally over-rated in toxicity.

Pet Poison Helpline, a poison control service for animals, rates poinsettia mildly toxic to both cats and dogs. It says the milky sap contains compounds that can cause drooling, licking lips, vomiting and, rarely, diarrhea if eaten, and redness, swelling and itching on skin, or mild eye irritation. Pet Poison Helpline says the signs are usually mild and pass on their own, and that poinsettia poisoning is greatly exaggerated. Mild is still not harmless, and the plant still belongs out of a pet’s reach. Our poinsettia care page has more on the plant itself.

Christmas cactus: the safe one

Penn State says the ASPCA rates Christmas cacti non-toxic to cats and dogs. NC State’s toolbox says the Christmas cactus is non-toxic and can be safely used in homes with pets or children, and marks the Thanksgiving and Easter cactus non-toxic for cats and dogs too. NDSU suggests Christmas cactus or Norfolk Island pine for anyone looking for holiday plants that are not toxic to people and pets.

The Christmas tree

Penn State says the needles of a fresh-cut tree are not likely to harm a pet, but the water in the stand could be dangerous if it has been treated with additives, so it uses fresh water only. UF/IFAS says eating needles can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and that cats climb trees and chew on lights and branches.

Common mistakes

Questions

Do I have to give up poinsettias if I have a cat or dog?
Penn State Extension says you should not have to, because reports of poinsettia toxicity are greatly exaggerated. The ASPCA still lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and Pet Poison Helpline rates it mildly toxic to cats and dogs, with drooling, vomiting and, rarely, diarrhea if eaten, so keep it where a pet cannot chew it.
Are lilies dangerous to cats?
Yes. Penn State says all parts of true lilies are extremely toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure, and Missouri says even small amounts, the pollen or vase water can be deadly. Contact your veterinarian immediately if a cat may have eaten any part.
Is mistletoe poisonous to dogs?
Penn State says its toxins, particularly in the berries, could cause vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and a low heart rate in a pet. NC State rates it medium in severity.
Is Christmas cactus safe for cats?
Yes. Penn State says the ASPCA rates it non-toxic to cats and dogs, and NC State says it can be safely used in homes with pets or children.
What should I do if my pet eats a holiday plant?
Call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline. Penn State names the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour line, 888-426-4435.

Sources

Every statement is quoted from the extension publications below, each written for its own area.

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Published October 25, 2026 · Updated November 3, 2026

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