Lilies: If you have cats, don’t let certain species of lilies into your home. Even small bits can cause kidney failure.
Holly: Can lead to vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea.
Mistletoe: Can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, and a low heart rate.
Poinsettias: Can cause vomiting and are irritating to the mouth and stomach
Christmas tree lights: These cords look just like snakes. Make sure your cat doesn’t chew on them as it can lead to lethal electric shock. I use battery powered Christmas lights.
Christmas trees: Make sure your cat doesn’t eat pieces of tree or plastic ornaments. Anything string shaped can also get caught in the intestinal tract leading to emergency surgery or worse.
Hint: I either hang a small Christmas tree upside down from the ceiling, or put a small tree up where my cats can’t reach. In the past, I have used an actual cage around my tree! There are a lot of clever ways to keep your cats safe.
Christmas tree water: May contain fertilizers and bacteria that can upset a pet’s stomach. There are tree water covers to prevent pets from drinking out of the bowl.
Candles: The first time my cat saw a candle, she put her face right into the flame and singed her whiskers! They grew back, but beware that cats may not realize what fire can do!
Left overs: Garlic, onions, undercooked turkey and bones should not be given to animals.
For more information on toxins and poisonous plants visit: https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/aspca-offers-pet-safety-tips-holiday-season