Holiday dangers for cats

By Your Cat Magazine editors · Updated Oct 17, 2026 · How we check

Holiday bouquets and table scraps cause most cat emergencies at this time of year. The biggest one is easy to miss: lilies in a flower arrangement. Here is what to keep away from your cat, from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the Pet Poison Helpline. If your cat may have eaten any of these, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.

Lilies in holiday bouquets: the number one danger

True lilies are common in Christmas and Thanksgiving arrangements. The Pet Poison Helpline says one or two bites of a lily can cause severe kidney failure in cats, and even the pollen may be toxic. If a lily arrives in a bouquet, take it out and throw it away. If your cat chewed one or licked pollen off its fur, get to a vet immediately. See Easter lily, stargazer lily and tiger lily.

Other holiday plants

Poinsettias are only mildly toxic: drooling, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea that usually settles on its own. See poinsettia.
Holly (leaves and berries) can cause significant stomach upset, drooling and head shaking.
Mistletoe usually causes mild stomach upset, but large amounts can be dangerous.
Christmas cactus is not toxic to cats. See Christmas cactus.
Amaryllis is toxic to cats. See amaryllis.

Holiday foods to keep away

Food	Why it is a problem
Cooked turkey and ham bones	Brittle, can splinter and injure or block the gut. See bones.
Turkey skin, gravy, fat trimmings	Rich, fatty food can cause vomiting and diarrhea and may trigger pancreatitis. See fat trimmings.
Stuffing and anything with onion, garlic, chives or leeks	Damages red blood cells and can cause anemia. See onions and garlic.
Raw bread dough	Rises in the stomach and the yeast produces alcohol. See bread dough.
Chocolate	Contains theobromine, which is toxic to cats. See chocolate.
Alcohol	Even small amounts are dangerous. See alcohol.
Grapes and raisins	See grapes.
Ribbon, tinsel and string	Not food, but cats love to play with them, and swallowed string can cause a dangerous gut blockage.

What cats can have

A few small pieces of plain, boneless, skinless, fully cooked turkey breast are fine for most cats as a treat, with no gravy or seasoning.

If your cat ate something

Call your vet, an emergency clinic or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). With lilies, go straight to a vet: early treatment matters.