Is Mistletoe Toxic to Cats?

Viscum album

Mistletoe contains viscotoxins and lectins. The berries are the most dangerous and the most accessible, because they fall off and land on the floor where a cat can find them.

It arrives in the house for a few weeks a year, which is exactly when people stop thinking about plant safety.

Which parts are dangerous

• berries
• leaves
• stems

What to watch for in the UK

• Sold in bunches in December, often hung over doorways.
• Berries fall and stick to floors and rugs.
• It grows on apple and poplar trees in parts of the UK.
• Sweep under the decoration daily while it is up.

If your cat has already chewed it

1. Phone your vet if a berry was eaten.
2. Take the berry or a photo.
3. Watch for drooling and vomiting.

Take a photo of the plant, and a cutting if you can do it safely — identification is half of the vet's decision. Out of hours, use your practice's emergency number. This page explains risk; it cannot diagnose your cat and it contains no home treatments.

If your cat has vomited after eating a plant, see the cat vomiting guide and, if there is blood, vomiting blood. For a general red-flag checklist, use sick cat symptoms. If the worry is food rather than a plant, the can cats eat guide covers 36 everyday foods.

Related plants

Browse the full UK plant checklist (72 plants).