Holiday Plants and Decorations: What Cat Owners Should Watch

Holiday plants and decorations add a lot of new things for a cat to investigate. The biggest priorities are keeping dangerous lilies out of the home and preventing access to tinsel, ribbon, and other pieces a cat might swallow. A few changes before guests arrive can make the season easier to manage.

Lilies deserve special attention

Many holiday lilies are highly toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure. Even a small exposure needs an immediate call to a veterinarian. If you do not know which lily is in a bouquet, keep it away from your cat and ask your vet; artificial flowers are an alternative.

Ribbon, tinsel, ornaments, and the tree

Tinsel, ribbon, and confetti may be tempting to chase or chew, and swallowing them can cause an intestinal blockage. Skip these decorations or keep them completely out of reach. Put glass and plastic ornaments where they cannot be knocked down and broken. Anchor the Christmas tree so it cannot tip, and cover the tree water.

Keep wires and batteries away from curious pets. Chewed wires can cause shocks, and punctured batteries can burn the mouth and throat. Never leave a lit candle unattended near a cat; a battery-operated candle is an easier choice around a swatting paw.

What about other holiday plants?

Keep holly, mistletoe, amaryllis, Christmas roses, and poinsettias out of reach. Poinsettias are commonly described as deadly, but they more often cause mild stomach or mouth irritation. That still does not make them a plant to leave beside your cat's favorite perch. If a plant is unidentified or your cat has chewed one, call your vet for advice.

Before company comes over

• Move bouquets, ribbons, and fragile ornaments out of reach.
• Secure the trash and leftover food.
• Give your cat a quiet place away from gathering noise.
• Leave your vet and emergency vet contact details where a sitter or family member can find them.

Keep reading: holiday pet sitter and guest checklist · holiday foods around dogs.

General information only, not veterinary advice. Suspected lily exposure calls for immediate veterinary advice. See Pet Poison Helpline's lily guidance and ASPCA's holiday safety tips. These links are references, not endorsements of Wag & Wild Goods.