Is Holly Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Holly (Ilex spp. (Ilex aquifolium, Ilex opaca)), also called English holly or American holly, is mildly toxic to both cats and dogs.

Why

Holly (Ilex) contains saponins, natural compounds that irritate the stomach and intestines. The leaves and berries also contain small amounts of other compounds, including caffeine-like methylxanthines, but veterinary toxicologists attribute the signs seen in pets mainly to the saponins. The ASPCA lists holly as toxic to cats and dogs and describes the leaves and berries as low toxicity.

The bright red berries are what pets usually eat, and they are considered the most irritating part. Most pets have only mild, self-limiting vomiting or diarrhea. The spiny leaves cause their own trouble: pets that chew them often drool, smack their lips and shake their heads because the points hurt the mouth.

How to recognize it

Holly has stiff, glossy, dark green leaves with sharp spiny points along the edges, and clusters of small round red berries. Some types have variegated leaves or yellow berries, and winterberry holly drops its leaves and shows bare stems covered in red berries. It is used in wreaths, garlands and table centerpieces.

Signs to watch for

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Drooling and lip smacking
• Head shaking or pawing at the mouth
• Lethargy or loss of appetite

What to do

• Remove any leaves or berries from your pet's mouth and offer water.
• Call your veterinarian if vomiting or diarrhea continues, or if your pet stops eating.
• Keep holly decorations up high, and pick up fallen berries and leaves.

How many holly berries are dangerous for a dog?

There is no reliable safe or dangerous number of holly berries for pets. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea can follow eating two or more berries of English holly and that deaths are rare. Pet Poison Helpline says most pets have mild signs and recover well at home.

Size still matters. A small dog or a cat that eats a handful of berries is more likely to vomit repeatedly than a large dog that swallows one or two. Pets with ongoing vomiting or diarrhea can become dehydrated and may need fluids from a vet, so call if signs last more than a few hours.

Are all kinds of holly toxic, including winterberry and inkberry?

The ASPCA groups the hollies together under one entry. Its list of other names includes English holly, European holly, American holly, winterberry and inkberry, and the whole group is listed as toxic to cats and dogs.

In practice, the type rarely changes what you should do. Whether it is a potted shrub, a cut branch in a vase or a sprig on a wreath, treat the leaves and berries as irritating to the stomach and keep them out of reach.

Is artificial holly a safer choice?

Fake holly removes the saponins, but it brings other risks. Pet Poison Helpline points out that swallowed decorations can cause a blockage in the gut.

• Plastic berries are small, round and easy to swallow, and several at once can get stuck.
• Wire stems inside fake leaves and garlands can injure the mouth or gut.
• Real and fake sprigs are often mixed in the same wreath, so check what you have.
• Hang wreaths and garlands where a pet cannot reach or pull them down.

Pet-safe alternatives

Looking for something similar without the risk? These plants are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

• Non-toxicChristmas cactus
• Non-toxicOrchids (moth orchid)

Common questions

Is holly poisonous to pets?

Cats: Mildly toxic. Dogs: Mildly toxic. Holly is mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea and drooling in cats and dogs, but serious poisoning is rare.

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

Yes, as long as your pets cannot reach it. Keep holly decorations up high, and pick up fallen berries and leaves.

What should I do if my pet chews holly?

Remove any leaves or berries from your pet's mouth and offer water. Call your veterinarian if vomiting or diarrhea continues, or if your pet stops eating.

Which pet-safe plants can I grow instead of holly?

Christmas cactus and orchids are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

← 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).