{"id":"holly","common_names":["Holly","American Holly","English Holly","European Holly","Christmas Holly","Inkberry","Winterberry"],"scientific_name":"Ilex spp.","urls":{"plant":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/holly","cats":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/holly/cats","dogs":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/holly/dogs","data":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/holly/data.json"},"toxicity":{"cat":{"severity":1,"grade":"S1 Caution","verdict_sentence":"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.","toxic_principles":["saponins"],"toxic_parts":["leaves (low toxicity)","berries (low toxicity)"],"symptoms":[{"sign":"vomiting","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"diarrhea","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"depression","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"painful injury to lips and gums from chewing the spiky leaves (mechanical, not toxic)","onset":"not specified in source"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/holly","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-07"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/american-holly","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-07"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/english-holly","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-07"},{"url":"https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/holly/","name":"PPH","accessed_at":"2026-09-07"}],"reviewed_by":"Zhe Li","reviewed_at":"2026-09-09"},"dog":{"severity":1,"grade":"S1 Caution","verdict_sentence":"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.","toxic_principles":["saponins"],"toxic_parts":["leaves (low toxicity)","berries (low toxicity)"],"symptoms":[{"sign":"vomiting","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"diarrhea","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"depression","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"painful injury to lips and gums from chewing the spiky leaves (mechanical, not toxic)","onset":"not specified in source"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/holly","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-07"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/american-holly","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-07"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/english-holly","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-07"},{"url":"https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/holly/","name":"PPH","accessed_at":"2026-09-07"}],"reviewed_by":"Zhe Li","reviewed_at":"2026-09-09"}},"license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","terms":"Free to reuse with attribution to Verdapaw and a link to the plant page."},"cite_as":"Verdapaw Plant × Pet Safety Index, verdapaw.com/plants/holly, reviewed 2026-09-09"}