Why it is poisonous to cats
When a poinsettia leaf or stem is broken, a white milky sap runs out. It irritates a cat's mouth, stomach and gut, and on the skin or in the eyes it can irritate them too.
A poinsettia is not as dangerous as is sometimes thought: after chewing a leaf, a cat may drool, lick its lips, vomit or have diarrhoea. Still, don't let your cat chew it. Contact a vet if the vomiting or diarrhoea does not stop, the cat stops eating, becomes dull or its eyes turn red.
Poinsettias are bought at Christmas, so it is better to place one where your cat cannot reach it.
What to watch out for
- Drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea can follow.
- The cat can stop eating and become dull.
- The sap can irritate the skin or the eyes.
- Plant fertilisers and pest sprays are harmful to a cat too.
Which parts are dangerous
Not every part of the plant is equally dangerous.
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Leaves and red bracts
Not safeThey irritate the mouth and stomach, so don't let your cat chew them.
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Milky sap
Not safeIt irritates the mouth, the skin and the eyes.
What it can cause
Signs that can appear after eating it. Each page explains what to look out for and when to hurry to a vet.
Safe plants instead
Plants that are safer to keep.