Is Holly poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine, NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet today

Holly is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of it. The fruits are the poisonous part.

  • Dogs Call a vet today
  • Cats Call a vet today
What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note which plant, which part, how much and when.
  3. Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
  4. Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
  5. Keep your pet calm.

Don't

  • Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

In dogs and cats, the chemicals in holly cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and decreased activity.[1]

Signs to watch for

  • Drooling
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Decreased activity
Scientific name
Ilex
Poisonous parts
fruits

What the experts say

“In dogs and cats, these chemicals cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and decreased activity.”

— US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine [1]

“Problems: Poisonous to Humans, Problem for Cats, Problem for Children, Problem for Dogs, Problem for Horses, Spines/Thorns, Weedy”

— NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox [2]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Can Holly affect cats as well as dogs?

Yes. In dogs and cats, the chemicals in holly cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and decreased activity.[1]

What signs can Holly cause?

Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and decreased activity.[1]

Sources

  1. US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine
  2. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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