Keeping your cat safe during the festive period

🐱🎄 What’s Poisonous to Cats at Christmas — and What To Do If Your Cat Eats It

Cats are naturally curious — especially about new smells, shiny decorations, and tasty holiday foods. Unfortunately, many traditional Christmas items are toxic to cats.
Veterinary poison helplines consistently report a seasonal spike in cat poisonings every December. 

🍗 Toxic Christmas Foods for Cats

1. Onions, Garlic, Leeks, and Chives

All members of the Allium family can damage feline red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia.

• Symptoms: Lethargy, pale gums, rapid breathing, vomiting.

Even small amounts of onion or garlic powder (such as in gravy or stuffing) can be harmful.

Chocolate and Caffeine

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both toxic to cats, though cats are less likely to seek it out than dogs.

• Symptoms: Vomiting, tremors, seizures, heart rhythm abnormalities.

Alcohol and Raw Dough

Ethanol toxicity causes central nervous system depression, hypoglycemia, and acidosis. Yeast dough can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol during fermentation.

Raisins and Grapes

Though evidence in cats is limited, case studies show acute kidney injury similar to that in dogs.

• Recommendation: Avoid feeding any raisins, sultanas, or grape-containing products (like Christmas cake or pudding).

Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener)

This sweetener causes hypoglycemia and liver failure in dogs; feline sensitivity appears lower but still potentially dangerous. Avoid xylitol-containing foods altogether.

🌿 Poisonous Christmas Plants for Cats

Over the Festive period, flowers are often given as presents or used as decorations, however - there are some hidden dangers for our curious 4 legged friends. A short non exhaustive list can be seen below:

🧠True lilies as one of the top causes of fatal poisoning in cats during winter holidays.

✨ Non-Food Hazards

🎀 Tinsel and Ribbon

Cats often swallow tinsel, leading to linear foreign bodies, a surgical emergency.

• Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of appetite, straining, “pleated” intestines on imaging.

🕯️ Essential Oils and Scented Candles

Essential oils (especially tea tree, eucalyptus, cinnamon, pine) can cause liver injury and neurological signs in cats due to poor glucuronidation.

🚨 What To Do If Your Cat Eats Something Toxic

1. Stay calm — and act fast.
   Note what was eaten, when, and how much. Timing is vital, as there is a better prognosis with the sooner pets are treated rather than waiting to see if they will be OK. It is often then, too late to treat sucessfully.

2. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to. Cats can aspirate easily.

3. Call your veterinarian or an emergency poison hotline:

   • UK: Animal PoisonLine – 01202 509000

4. If possible, bring packaging, plant material, or vomit samples to the clinic.

5. Follow evidence-based veterinary advice.
   Many toxins (like lilies) require immediate intravenous fluid therapy to prevent kidney failure.

🏠 Preventing Cat Poisoning at Christmas

• Keep food, drinks, and leftovers out of reach.

• Avoid decorating with real lilies or holly.

• Store tinsel and ribbons safely away after gift wrapping.

• Never diffuse essential oils in small, unventilated spaces with cats.

• Educate guests and family about cat-safe treats.

💚 A Vet-Approved Christmas for Cats

An evidence-based approach helps protect your cat from preventable harm. By knowing which Christmas foods and plants are toxic to cats and what to do in an emergency, you can enjoy the season safely together.

If in doubt, always consult your vet — prompt, evidence-guided care saves lives.