Are Poinsettias Poisonous to Cats?

Poinsettias can make cats sick.

The holidays are the best time of the year for many people. This joyful period can hit a bump, however, if the family cat eats the poinsettia plant. Although poinsettia plants are not dangerously poisonous to cats, they can make your feline sick if it eats one.

Identification

Poinsettias contain an irritant sap called "latex." This milky liquid should not be confused with the latex used to manufacture rubber-based products. Latex is what irritates cats. Latex can also cause dogs discomfort. Latex is not believed to be deadly, and the ASPCA concedes that latex is "generally over-rated in toxicity."

Symptoms

If your cat eats a poinsettia plant, the resulting reaction to the latex might include mouth and stomach irritation accompanied by vomiting. These symptoms are fairly general and indicative of countless medical conditions; therefore, cats exhibiting this behavior should receive veterinary diagnosis and care.

Prevention/Solution

Prevention is the best medicine, but the holidays might not seem the same without the standard foliage on display. If you decide to decorate with poinsettias in your home, it's wise to display them in areas where your cat can't reach them. This is simply a precautionary measure to avoid your cat nibbling on the plant and, possibly, suffering a latex-related stomach ache.

Considerations

Poinsettias are not the only holiday plant to keep away from the cat. Holly is toxic, as is mistletoe. Hang this romantic holiday tradition out of the cat's reach so kisses aren't interrupted by a trip to the emergency vet.

References

• ASPCA: Poinsettias
• Doctors Foster and Smith: Pet Education: Plants Which Are Potentially Poisonous for Cats
• PetPlace: Poisonous Plants and Your Cat
• ASPCA: Pointsettia
• UAB Health System: Plants (Holiday, Poison Protection)