Poinsettas poisonous for cats??

"Andrew" wrote:

With x'mas on the way I'm tempted to buy a pot of poinsettas (those
"christmas flower"). I know it's poison for human...

No, they are not poisonous for human beings. Here's a Web site that describes
how this myth began: http://www.rosefloral.com/poins.htm

Note that the American Medical Association's Handbook of Poisonous and
Injurious Plants lists occasional vomiting as a side effect of ingesting
otherwise harmless poinsettia leaves.

but is it also for
cats? I've heard that it's NOT poisonous for cats (or the cat need to eat
several whole plant to get enuff poison for them?!). What's the truth??
thanks

No, not poisonous for cats either, but the sap can irritate the mouth. If the
cat eats enough of it, it can cause vomiting, same as with human beings. I've
never had a cat show any interest in eating poinsettia, but you know your cat
best. Does he/she like to chew on plants? If so, you might want to avoid
poinsettia or at least put it where the cats can't reach it.

I was reading an article the other day that I found on
www.petcareinsurance.com that lists an number of holiday dangers for
pets. Poinsettas are indead poison and so is Mistletoe. - It is always
best to keep any thing questionable out of harms way. You never know
just what your cat or dog will get into.

-Stacey


"Barb" wrote in message ...
They are poison to cats as far as I want to know. I have put out the same
fake poinsettia plant for several years now and people still ask me if it's
real. It's plenty good enough and the money saved is good enough, too!

I was reading an article the other day that I found on
www.petcareinsurance.com that lists an number of holiday dangers for
pets. Poinsettas are indead poison and so is Mistletoe. - It is always
best to keep any thing questionable out of harms way. You never know
just what your cat or dog will get into.

-Stacey


"Barb" wrote in message ...
They are poison to cats as far as I want to know. I have put out the same
fake poinsettia plant for several years now and people still ask me if it's
real. It's plenty good enough and the money saved is good enough, too!

Another site (snopes) to help dispel this persistent legend:
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/poinsettia.asp

Another site (snopes) to help dispel this persistent legend:
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/poinsettia.asp

Newsday on Long Island today has an article about poinsettias that says the
sap can make some people ill if they are allergic to latex because
poinsettias are related to the rubber plant. It says if a poinsettia is
damaged the sap can actually cause a fatal reaction in certain people. This
is in the health section of the paper and I believe it.

As I said before, my silk poinsettia comes out each December and people even
ask if it's real. One friend even asked if it weren't bad for my cats!!!


--
Barb
I can only please one person a day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

Newsday on Long Island today has an article about poinsettias that says the
sap can make some people ill if they are allergic to latex because
poinsettias are related to the rubber plant. It says if a poinsettia is
damaged the sap can actually cause a fatal reaction in certain people. This
is in the health section of the paper and I believe it.

As I said before, my silk poinsettia comes out each December and people even
ask if it's real. One friend even asked if it weren't bad for my cats!!!


--
Barb
I can only please one person a day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.