Holly
Also known as American Holly, English Holly, European Holly, Christmas Holly, Inkberry, Winterberry. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Holly is mildly toxic to cats (S1 Caution): its saponins cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy after eating the leaves or berries — low toxicity per the ASPCA — but the spiky leaves can also cut a cat's lips and gums, which is a mechanical injury rather than a poisoning.
FULL VERDICT →Holly is mildly toxic to dogs (S1 Caution): its saponins cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy after eating the leaves or berries — low toxicity per the ASPCA — but the spiky leaves can also cut a dog's lips and gums, which is a mechanical injury rather than a poisoning.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
What happens if it's eaten
Signs on record for each animal, transcribed from the cited sources.
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- depression
- painful injury to lips and gums from chewing the spiky leaves (mechanical, not toxic)
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- depression
- painful injury to lips and gums from chewing the spiky leaves (mechanical, not toxic)
When to call the vet
Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, your cat stops eating, or mouth injuries from the leaves look deep or keep bleeding.
FULL VERDICT →Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, your dog stops eating, or mouth injuries from the leaves look deep or keep bleeding.
FULL VERDICT →Seasonal: this plant comes into homes around the December holidays.
FAQ
Does this cover American holly, English holly, and winterberry?
Yes — this page is graded at the genus, Ilex spp. The ASPCA carries three holly entries, two for Ilex opaca (holly and American holly) and one for Ilex aquifolium (English holly), and all three record the same toxic principle, saponins, and the same signs — vomiting, diarrhea, and depression, with leaves and berries described as low toxicity. The entries even list each other as alternative names, so the ASPCA itself draws no line between the species. Pet Poison Helpline likewise writes Ilex spp. Winterberry and inkberry are alternative names on those entries and are covered by the same S1 Caution verdict.