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‘Tis the season for plant-related traditions: putting up a tree, decorating the halls with boughs of holly, hanging mistletoe, and maligning the good name of the innocent poinsettia.
Almost everyone reading this has heard some variation of the statement or possibly even said it themselves: “You know, poinsettias They are poisonous. Don’t leave that plant where your cat, dog or child can reach it.” After children, cats in particular seem to be the family members people worry about the most, probably because our feline friends are famous for nibbling on houseplants.
By the way, no one is entirely sure why this is (cats have never held a press conference on the subject), but some common sense explanations are that kittens may chew plants to get some fiber to aid digestion. (and facilitate the passage of hairballs), or possibly to seek out nutrients that would otherwise be missing from their diet. It could also be that they just like the taste of green, leafy things. Or, as many owners would be willing to claim, cats may eat plants simply because they know they bother you so much.
Regardless, as seasonal myths Heck, passing along warnings about the poinsettia may not exactly be a cheerful tradition, but it sure is a long-lasting one. For over a century, we’ve been spreading this horticultural gossip among ourselves without really bothering to check the facts.
Are poinsettias something you want to feed to your cat or anyone else in your home? Absolutely not. But they are not feared fatal plants, as many of us have been raised to believe. Here’s what science says about poinsettias and their supposed dangers.
What is a poinsettia?
Greenhouse with hundreds of poinsettia plants. (Credit: Tammi Mild/Shutterstock)
Also know as The most beautiful euphorbia.Poinsettias are part of the spurge family, which includes a wide range of plants, such as the rubber tree and castor bean, to name just two.
Who is the poinsettia named after?
We know the plant by name. poinsettia thanks to a 19th century American diplomat named Joel Poinsett, who was the first US ambassador to Mexico in 1825.
According to the Library of Congress, it was during this naming in 1828 that Poinsett first encountered the colorful plant that would bear his name. When he returned to the United States, he brought samples with him. Today, the USDA says poinsettias are the number one potted plant in the United States, a $250 million-a-year business that generates about 80 million poinsettias sold every season.
Is the poinsettia a flower?
Poinsettias are not flowers but shrubs; The colorful, flower-like leaves are known as bracts. Like rubber trees, poinsettias exude a natural latex sap, a milky liquid that can leak when parts of the plant are torn or broken. For decades, some people, including scientists and public health officials, have maintained that this liquid and the bracts themselves can deliver a strong (and possibly deadly) shock of poison to any cat, dog, or person foolish enough to try it.
Read more: Evolutionary quirks helped poinsettias dominate the holidays
Are poinsettias toxic?
Illustration from the 1916 catalog of a poinsettia. (Credit: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons)
The short answer is: No. Several sources agree that rumors about the danger of the poinsettia probably originated more than a century ago, when respected botanist Jose Francisco Roca published an article in 1920 on poisonous plants.
The origin of the poinsettia myth
To underscore the supposed danger of the poinsettia, Rock claimed that, a year earlier, a child had been found dead next to a poinsettia plant after allegedly consuming parts of it. Although this story has never been verified, it would be repeated in Future jobs by other scientists as “proof” of the poisonous nature of the poinsettia.
Debunking the myth of the poinsettia
It was not until the early 1970s that researchers from Ohio State University He decided to test the rumor by feeding poinsettias to rats. Not a single laboratory animal died in the study or became significantly ill. Later, in 1996 review of nearly 23,000 poinsettia-related poison control cases revealed no human deaths among those thousands of cases. That said, poinsettia sap is known to cause an irritating skin rash and there is a chance that someone with a latex allergy could experience more severe symptoms if exposed to the milky liquid.
Are poinsettias toxic to cats?
Still, you don’t want your cat or any other member of your family to eat any part of the plant. Although it is not poisonous per se, poinsettia leaves are reported to be unpleasant to eat and would likely cause stomach irritation, possibly leading to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. So, just don’t do it.
For the record, estimates say a person would need to eat up to approximately 500 leaves to become seriously ill from poinsettias. But then, eating about 500 leaves of any plant in one go would probably be enough to make anyone dizzy. And that assumes that an individual person (or pet) could support the plant, which is highly unlikely in the case of poinsettias. Its leaves are extremely bitter, to the point that almost no one with a sense of smell or taste would willingly consume them, including your cat.
Read more: 5 medicines derived from poisons
What plants are toxic to cats?
Cat playing with poinsettia. (Credit: Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock)
Meanwhile, there are many truly Poisonous plants that could be harmful or fatal to your cat if they decide to nibble on them. These are just some of the most common plants to pay attention to.
lilies
(Credit: Berlin Art/Shutterstock)
Are lilies toxic to cats?
Beautiful but deadly, many lilies (including Easter lilies, tiger lilies, daylilies, and more) are especially toxic to cats. Eating even a small amount could cause kidney failure, killing your kitty in a deeply uncomfortable and miserable way. Symptoms, which include vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, and general lethargy, can appear a couple of hours after exposure, so if you think your cat has nibbled on a lily, take him to the vet immediately. (Many, but not all, lilies can also be toxic to dogs and people, but apparently much less than to cats.)
Daffodils
(Credit: Natali9701/Shutterstock)
Are daffodils toxic to cats?
Although poisonous but rarely fatal, eating any part of the daffodil plant is a bad idea for your cat. In addition to the symptoms above, chills, seizures, and difficulty breathing are signs of daffodil poisoning, which should require immediate veterinary attention. For your information, daffodils are part of the Amaryllidaceae family, which includes Amaryllisanother plant that is sometimes associated with the holidays but is also toxic to cats (and dogs too).
Dieffenbachia
(Credit: Photo by Piskova/Shutterstock)
Is dieffenbachia toxic to cats?
Another popular houseplant, dieffenbachia, is toxic to all pets and humans as well. You have probably heard that dieffenbachia is known by another name: silly cane. This is because the main symptoms caused by ingestion of the plant sap are burning and swelling of the tongue and throat, making speech difficult. Unfortunately, if the swelling is quite severe, it can also cause breathing difficult, sometimes fatal.
For a much more complete list of plants that could be dangerous to your cat, dog, or other family members, see the ASPCA guide for both toxic and non-toxic plants. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 24 hours a day, at (888) 426-4435.
Read more: Have a toxic berry Christmas
