You Better Watch Out. . .

December 2, 2025

Some Holiday Décor Can Be Dangerous for Cats

Nancy Kerr

It may take Santa Claws to find out whether YOU’VE been naughty or nice, but it’s not too hard to learn how many of our favorite holidays and associated décor as well as common household items are just plain bad to have in combination with cats. Here’s our annual roundup of what to watch out for this time of year, not to mention all year ‘round!

Can You Hear Me Now?

From phone and computer cords to kitchen and bathroom appliances, we’re plugged in everywhere these days, and the cords represent an ongoing temptation to our cats.  Small kittens especially seem to like to chew on charging/power cords, but any cat may decide to chew on a cord any time. So it’s wise to take precautions.

Never let cords dangle – unplug and put them away when not in use. Earbuds and hearing aids left out in the open can become toys for cats to play with and possibly swallow, ending up lodged in their intestines. Keep all cords stored in a box or a drawer out of your cat’s reach, or secure them firmly in place. If the inner layer of an electric cord becomes exposed (no thanks to the efforts of certain feline entrepreneurs), wrap it in electrical tape or replace it. ¹

Besides electric cords – string, yarn, thread, dental floss, rubber bands, hair ties, holiday lights and tinsel are also attractive to cats. Unlike cords, these items are easier to swallow and can cause intestinal obstructions.¹ Yarn, thread and string are especially dangerous. They pose a choking threat and can cause deadly damage to cats’ intestinal tracts if swallowed. It’s best to keep these items as far away from your cats as possible and to keep holiday lights and tinsel out of their reach, too.

Cats are curious creatures, and while their ability to get into trouble can fascinate us for hours (unlike the old quote), satisfaction may not be enough to bring the cat back.

Here are some other things that you likely have in your home which can cause cats harm:²

Chicken/turkey bones: They can splinter and cause internal punctures or blockages.

Toys with small or movable parts: They can stab the cat or be ingested, which can cause choking or blockage.

Glowsticks and glow jewelry: These contain a very bitter tasting liquid called dibutyl phthalate, which causes uncontrollable drooling in cats.

Jewelry: Small pieces (earrings) can be ingested. Larger pieces (brooches) often have sharp pieces that can break off and stab or be ingested.

Glass ornaments: If they get broken, small pieces of broken glass can cause damage to cat paws and can be ingested.

Deck the Halls

Christmas trees that are not properly secured can fall over onto a cat. While the cat may escape injury, there is a good chance there will be broken ornaments. If you choose to have a live Christmas tree, be aware that fir tree oils can cause excessive vomiting and drooling if ingested, and sharp tree needles are bad for the inside of any pet’s stomach. According to Jill A. Richardson, DVM (Veterinary Poison Information Specialist), “Christmas tree water may contain dangerous fertilizers, which if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria and if ingested, a pet could end up with nausea and diarrhea.”³

Artificial snow is a popular holiday decoration, but it is toxic to cats and can upset their stomachs if eaten. Speaking of snow, snow globes can contain antifreeze, which is both tasty and toxic to cats, so be sure to keep them out of reach. Pieces of loose ribbon can cause gastrointestinal issues. But possibly the greatest potential holiday hazard we can imagine is a lit candle. We’d rather not think about the possibilities should a cat knock one down or wave tail feathers through a flame. Keep fireplace guards in place, too.

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Choose your trash cans carefully with cat-proofing in mind. Lids that can be secured are a must. Playful cats can knock over an open trash can and get into all kinds of things, including plastic wrap, aluminum foil, dental floss, bag ties, meat bones, pills—pretty much everything and anything.² Even if you have a metal trash can with a lid, some cats will knock it over and find a way to open the lid. You may need to invest in some child locks and/or keep your garbage in an enclosed space. Note: When you think the child lock is tight enough, tighten it some more. Some cats have figured out how to open sliding closet doors!

Most cats can’t resist shopping bags, both paper and plastic. Look out for bags that have handles or loops, which can easily trap a cat’s head. Next thing you know, your cat is running through the house trying to escape from the bag. This caveat includes over-the-ears elastic in Covid 19 masks! Also, some cats love to lick or chew on anything plastic – bags, discarded wrappers, tape, etc. Prevent destruction and possible internal injury by keeping plastic stored away.⁴

Why Can’t the House Clean Itself?

Household cleaners that contain bleaches, detergents and disinfectants can be very harmful to cats. But you may not need to buy special products to avoid a risky situation: just be sure to keep your cat out of the room while you’re scrubbing toilets or doing laundry. When ingested, some household cleaning products can cause profuse drooling, chemical burns, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.² Strangely, some chemicals are particularly tasty to cats. Keep your cat safe by storing all your household cleaners where pets cannot get to them, especially:

• Antifreeze
• Bleach
• Detergents
• De-icing salts (which pets may walk through, then lick from their pads), fertilizers, herbicides, insect and rodent bait⁶
• Heavy metals such as those found in lead paint, linoleum, batteries
• Kerosene
• Mothballs
• Tobacco
• Metal or coins (zinc toxicity)⁶

Even a fraction of a teaspoon of antifreeze (ethylene glycol) can be fatal to a cat due to its harmful effects on the kidneys.

According to Renee Schmid, DVM, and Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS, DABT, DABVT, Pet Poison Helpline as well as Dr. Charlotte Flint, DVM, “Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang, are poisonous to cats. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.”⁵ Some companies, such as “Live Odor Free!^®”¹ sell pet-safe options for odor control. “PetSafe^®” may mean good odor control and low dust, but not that it is safe for pets to ingest. Natural litters, such as rabbit pellets/wheat/ground corn, are safer for kittens because they chew on everything.

Stop and Smell the Roses

Cats love munching on greenery and bouquets of flowers. But some common household and garden plants, including tulips, daffodils, lilies, philodendron, dieffenbachia, foxglove and Japanese yew are very dangerous for cats.⁷ Just one bite of the petals or leaves can kill a cat! Even licking the pollen or lapping up water from the vase can result in acute and potentially irreversible kidney failure. Artificial plants are not necessarily a safe alternative, as cats have gotten ill from licking the coating found on some artificial plants.

Poinsettia plants, a holiday favorite, are poisonous to cats; however, other plants such as lilies, irises, azaleas, palms, gardenias, mistletoe and rhododendron can also make cats sick.⁷

Marijuana is becoming legal recreationally and medically in many areas and is another plant that can have adverse effects on your cat.⁸ Keep your plants and stash out of the reach of your cat. And no special brownies – they also contain other ingredients that cats should not have.

One Pill: Feline Euphoria or Endgame?

Cat-proofing is a lot like child-proofing in that you have to see the world through their eyes in order to best protect them from its hazards. Leaving your over-the-counter and prescription pills loose and lying around could be hazardous for your cat(s). Human antidepressants are like catnip to cats. They love the smell of common antidepressants and can’t resist eating pills for humans, like Effexor and Cymbalta. Others, like Prozac and Zoloft, may be prescribed by your cat’s veterinarian but will be the proper strength; people-size doses can be deadly. Instead of improving their mood and energy level, human antidepressants can cause lethargy, tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and hyperthermia in cats. ² Other medications that can cause problems in cats include medicines for cancer and colds, diet pills, most pain relievers, vitamins and other supplements,⁴ and methylphenidate (a common treatment for ADHD).²

You may have heard that some common medicines work for people and cats. Never give your pet any pills without first talking to your veterinarian, as it’s so easy to give them the wrong medicine or too much, which can kill them. Even giving half a pill of over-the-counter aspirin, baby aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen can be fatal, resulting in stomach ulcers and kidney failure. Consult your veterinarian before giving your cat any over-the-counter medications for pain.⁸

Even medications given to you by your veterinarian can be harmful to your cat if used improperly. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions, and when in doubt contact the vet for clarification or advice. When applying flea medication on your cat, make sure that it is not an area that the cat can lick.

Food for Thought

Your kitty may beg when you sit down to eat and although you’re not feeding your cat any of these foods on purpose, it’s best to be careful when you are eating them. As all cat owners know, those furry felines can be sneaky and try to steal some bites when you’re not looking! When you don’t have these items out to cook or eat, keep them safely locked away.⁹ Keep your cat out of the fridge, if you have any of those items stored there. Some human foods can be poisonous for them, including:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine (coffee, soda, tea)
• Chives
• Chocolate
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Onions
• Raisins
• Yeast dough
• Avocados
• Nuts

The gastrointestinal irritation humans feel when indulging in copious amounts of onions, garlic, or chives is compounded in cats, and can lead to red blood cell damage. Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. Raw bread/dough expands in the stomach after being eaten, and even small amounts can kill a pet. ⁸ Mold is also extremely toxic to cats.

Tuna isn’t that great for cats. A steady diet of tuna can lead to malnutrition, and the mercury levels can be dangerous for kittens and senior cats.¹⁰ Even though most cats drink their mother’s milk as kittens, cats are lactose intolerant! Cow’s milk and dairy products made from it (cheese and ice cream) can upset their stomachs, causing vomiting and diarrhea.⁸ Goat’s milk does not produce the same reactions, because while it contains both fat and lactose, they are in much smaller amounts.

If you think your cat has been poisoned:

• Call your veterinarian: Post their phone number and the emergency clinic in an obvious place, along with the number for the Animal Poison Control Center. They can help you with what to do next.
• Collect samples: You may be asked to bring along samples of vomit, stool and the poison your cat ate. And since you won’t get the container back, don’t use your best Tupperware.
• Watch for symptoms: Some symptoms will show up right away; however, others may take longer to appear. Signs to watch for include breathing problems, unsteady walking, confusion, coughing, depression, diarrhea, dilated pupils, drinking more and urinating more, upset stomach, excessive saliva/drooling, seizures, shivering, skin irritation, tremors, vomiting and weakness. ²
• Educate and share information: After your cat recovers, contact your local poison control center, animal shelters, and rescue groups to let them know what happened, so they can track problem poisons and help prevent harm to other animals.

The winter holidays should be a time of cheer and of friends and family coming together. Don’t let a household accident harm one of your beloved four-legged family members: Be vigilant – and be prepared.

 

Sources:

1. Author Unknown, “What Household Items Are Dangerous to Cats?” March 29, 2018, https://www.alleycat.org/what-household-items-are-dangerous-to-cats
2. Author Unknown, “Food, Plants, and Household Items That Can Be Harmful to Cats,” accessed 10/10/2021, https://www.carsonvet.com/services/cats/blog/food-plants-and-household-items-can-be-harmful-cats
3. Jill A. Richardson, DVM, “Holiday Hazards – Pet Poison Safety Tips for the Holiday Season,” accessed 10/13/2021, https://www.catforum.com/threads/pet-poison-safety-tips-for-the-holiday-season.110855/
4. Monahan, Dr. Laura, “7 Common Household Items That Can Kill Your Curious Cat,” March 25, 2019, https://atlanticvetseattle.com/15-household-items-toxic-to-cats/
5. Schmid, Renee, DVM, Brutlag, Ahna, DVM, and Charlotte Flint, DVM, “Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Cats,” VCA-Canada.com, accessed 10/10/2021, https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/essential-oil-and-liquid-potpourri-poisoning-in-cats
6. Fuller, Mary, DVM, “Pet Poisons From A to Z,” March 15, 2013, http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-poisons-from-a-to-z-26-common-items-that-are-dangerous-to-cats-and-dogs
7. Author Unknown, “Plants and Your Cat,” October 18, 2021, https://cfa.org/toxic-plants
8. Kara Murphy, “Foods That Are Dangerous or Toxic to Cats,” September 20, 2022, https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/nutrition-feeding/toxic-foods-for-cats?lightboxfired=true
9. Kadam, Sonali, DVM, “Do You Know Which Common Household Items Are Toxic to Cats and Dogs?” accessed 10/10/2021, https://companion-vets.com/topics/emergency-situations/cats-dogs-toxins-household/
10. O’Brien, Christine, “Cats & Tuna: Is It Safe for Them?” May 22, 2020 https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/nutrition-feeding/can-cats-eat-tuna