Plant safety for cats
Is poinsettia toxic to cats?
MildListed toxic to cats by ASPCA
Only mildly — poinsettia's sap irritates the mouth and stomach and may cause some vomiting, but ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline both say its toxicity is greatly exaggerated.
Why mild: Mildly irritating — 'generally over-rated in toxicity' (ASPCA).
- Name
- Poinsettiaalso Christmas flower
- Botanical name
- Euphorbia pulcherrima · Euphorbiaceae
- Other Indian names
- Bengaliলালপাতা (lalpata)
Toxic parts
The milky sap.
What's in it
An irritant milky sap.
How to recognise it
- Bright red (or pink or white) leaf-like bracts around tiny yellow flowers
- Milky sap
Symptoms to watch for
- Drooling
- Vomiting
What to do
Usually settles on its own — but keep an eye on your cat.
- Take the plant away and note how much was chewed.
- Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea keeps going, your cat stops eating, or seems weak or wobbly.
- Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
Where Indian cats meet it
A Christmas and winter plant in cities and churches; a garden shrub in Kerala and the north-east.
Myth or fact
Myth“Poinsettia is deadly to cats”
FactA common myth: ASPCA calls it 'generally over-rated in toxicity'. It irritates; it doesn't kill.
Sources
Facts last checked
General information for cat parents, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. The facts come from ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, International Cat Care, the Merck Veterinary Manual and the other sources listed on every page — and we say so when the evidence comes from dogs or people. If your cat may have eaten something harmful, call your vet.
