Is Christmas Cactus Toxic to Cats?

As anyone who has had the misfortune of rushing their precious pet to the veterinarian with kidney failure can attest, houseplants and cats can be a potentially lethal combination.

And the holiday season can cause even more headaches for pet parents, with dazzling amaryllis flowers, poinsettia plants, and festive decor that may include evergreens, berries, and mistletoe to consider.

Not to mention holiday trees adorned with ornaments and lights twinkling in the corner of the living room.

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What about Christmas cactus? This tropical cactus, Schlumbergera spp., is a popular houseplant that blooms prolifically during the holiday season, under the right conditions.

Unlike its desert-dwelling cousins, Christmas cactus doesn’t have the formidable spikes usually associated with cacti, making it a friendly addition to your houseplant collection.

Are you wondering if it’s safe to gift a Christmas cactus to your best crazy-cat-lady friend or thinking about welcoming one into your own feline-filled home?

In this article, we discuss whether Schlumbergera is poisonous to cats. Here’s what I’ll cover:

The short answer to this question is “no.”

According to the ASPCA, this plant is nontoxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

However, that doesn’t mean that kitty can munch on the stems and flowers with no ill-effects. The pet poison helpline says that “serious toxicity is not expected,” but diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea may occur if any part of the plant is ingested.

So what does this mean?

Unlike some highly toxic plants, such as true lilies, which can cause acute kidney