Is Helleborus Niger Poisonous to Cats?

Christmas Rose Toxins

• As a member of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family, Christmas rose is loaded with a variety of cat-threatening poisons. Present in all its parts, they include heart-damaging glycosides and bufadienolides and the skin- and stomach-irritating oil protoamemonin. The good news is that the plant’s sap also contains saponins. Their foaming action and bitter taste might eliminate kitty's appetite after a single nibble.

Signs of Poisoning

• Making a meal of Christmas rose can affect your cat in a number of ways. Contact with the toxic sap may cause excessive salivation followed by reddening, burning or blistering of his skin and oral tissues. Swallowing the sap may give the cat gastric symptoms, including stomach irritation, colic and bloody diarrhea. Even more dangerous are the plant’s glycosides; they cause heart muscle contractions, vomiting and kidney damage.

Quick Action Is Critical

• The California Poison Control System rates Christmas rose as a Level 4 toxic plant. If you even suspect Fluffy has been eating plant, don’t wait for the cat to develop symptoms of poisoning. Check its mouth for irritation and clear or rinse visible traces of the plant. If your pet seems thirsty, give it a small amount of water but don’t attempt to treat the animal. Call your veterinarian, a pet poisoning help line or the ASPCA for emergency care instruction, and get the cat to an animal hospital as quickly as you can. Take a sample of the plant along.

What to Expect

• Your cat's symptoms dictate the type of veterinary treatment it receives. Common remedies include atropine to manage heart symptoms and activated charcoal to absorb the toxins in its digestive tract. If your cat has swelling or irritation from the toxic sap, the vet may administer antihistamines. The cat may also need to remain on intravenous fluids until it's stable enough to eat and drink on its own.

Avoiding the Problem

• Christmas rose is also known as Easter or Lenten rose, so don't purchase any plants marketed by those names believing they're safe for your cat. Remove your existing Christmas roses and check with your vet or local ASPCA branch before choosing their replacements. Christmas roses are just one of many plant species toxic to cats or dogs.