Is Christmas Cactus Safe for Cats and Dogs?

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera spp.), also called holiday cactus or Thanksgiving cactus, is non-toxic to both cats and dogs.

Why

The ASPCA lists the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) as non-toxic to cats and dogs, and Pet Poison Helpline also considers it non-toxic. It is one of the safest flowering plants to give or keep during the holidays.

Eating a lot of the fleshy, fibrous stems can still cause mild vomiting, diarrhea or a short loss of appetite. These signs usually pass within a few hours, and serious toxicity is not expected.

How to recognize it

Christmas cactus is a spineless cactus with flat, green, segmented stems that hang or arch from the pot, and tubular flowers in pink, red, purple, orange, yellow or white at the stem tips. Thanksgiving cactus has pointed, claw-like teeth on the segment edges, while the Christmas cactus has rounder edges.

What to do

• Mild vomiting after chewing is common and usually passes; call a vet if it continues or your pet stops eating.
• Keep the plant out of reach of cats that like to bat at hanging stems.
• Check that fertilizers or leaf shine products used on the plant are pet-safe.

Are Thanksgiving cactus and Easter cactus also safe for pets?

Thanksgiving cactus is a species of Schlumbergera, the same genus as the Christmas cactus, and the plants are often sold under either name. The ASPCA entry for Christmas cactus also lists Easter cactus as another name, and both are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

The true Easter cactus is a close relative sold in spring with star-shaped flowers, and veterinary toxicology sources treat the holiday cacti the same way. As with any plant, a pet that eats a lot of it may have a brief upset stomach.

Which toxic plants look like a Christmas cactus?

Christmas cactus is often sold on the same holiday tables as plants that are not safe. Before buying a flowering succulent for a home with pets, check the label for the Latin name.

• Kalanchoe (flaming Katy): a flowering succulent with thick, scalloped leaves and dense flower clusters, toxic to cats and dogs.
• Poinsettia: mildly toxic, with irritating milky sap.
• Pencil cactus and crown of thorns: not true cacti but Euphorbias with irritating white sap.
• Spiny desert cacti: not usually poisonous, but the spines can injure the mouth and paws.

Why did my cat vomit after chewing a non-toxic Christmas cactus?

Non-toxic means the plant contains no known poison, not that eating it has no effect. A veterinary toxicology review from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center notes that Christmas cactus ingestion is expected to cause only mild stomach upset, most often vomiting, diarrhea, low energy or a skipped meal, and that treatment is usually not needed.

If your pet vomits once or twice and then acts normally, there is usually nothing more to do. Call your vet if the vomiting continues, if there is blood, or if your pet seems weak or stops eating. Those signs may mean it ate something else, such as a toxic plant from the same windowsill.

Toxic plants to tell apart from it

These look similar or are often sold alongside it. Check the label before buying.

• ToxicKalanchoe
• Mildly toxicPoinsettia

Common questions

Is Christmas cactus safe for pets?

Cats: Non-toxic. Dogs: Non-toxic. Yes. Christmas cactus is non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Is it safe to keep Christmas cactus in a home with cats and dogs?

Yes. It is listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Mild vomiting after chewing is common and usually passes; call a vet if it continues or your pet stops eating.

What should I do if my pet chews Christmas cactus?

There is usually no emergency, because Christmas cactus is listed as non-toxic. Eating a lot of any plant can still cause mild stomach upset, so call a vet if vomiting continues.

Which toxic plants look like Christmas cactus?

Watch out for kalanchoe and poinsettia: they look similar or are often sold alongside it. Check the botanical name on the label before buying.

← All plants

Sources

• Pet Poison Helpline. Holiday Toxins.
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (dogs, cats).
• Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicology section.

If your pet has eaten a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away and bring a photo or piece of the plant. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).