Is amaryllis toxic to cats? Yes. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists amaryllis as toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and names vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, loss of appetite and tremors among the signs. The Christmas cactus that often arrives in the same gift season is the opposite case: the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic. If your cat has chewed an amaryllis leaf, stem, flower or bulb, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) now.
If Your Cat Chewed an Amaryllis: What to Do Right Now
- Call for advice first. Phone your veterinarian, the nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Both poison lines answer 24 hours a day, and a consultation fee may apply.
- Do not try to make your cat vomit and do not give any home treatment, food, milk or medicine, unless a veterinarian or poison-control specialist tells you to for this exposure, at this moment. Home remedies can harm a cat, and the decision belongs to the professional on the phone.
- Go to an emergency vet immediately if your cat is trembling, having a seizure, collapsing, very weak or struggling to breathe.
- Work out what was chewed. Leaf, stem, flower, or the bulb itself? Is the plant definitely an amaryllis, or could a true lily be in the same pot or arrangement? Take a photo or bring the plant label.
- Have the details ready: the plant, the time, and your cat's age, weight and health conditions.
Toxicity varies with the individual cat's size and health and with how much and which part was eaten. Only a veterinarian can judge that. This article is general information, not a diagnosis.
Is Amaryllis Toxic to Cats? What the Sources Say
The sources we read agree that amaryllis is toxic to cats. Here is what each one says, in its own terms.
- The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists amaryllis (Amaryllis spp., family Amaryllidaceae) as "Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses." It names "Lycorine and others" as the toxic principles, and lists these clinical signs: "Vomiting (not horses), depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors."
- The Pet Poison Helpline covers Hippeastrum species and Amaryllis belladonna. It says amaryllis leaves, stems and bulbs contain phenanthridine alkaloids, and that the plant also contains raphide oxalate crystals, "which are more concentrated in the bulbs." It lists "dose-dependent vomiting, hypotension (drop in blood pressure), tremors/seizures, and respiratory depression," along with excess salivation and abdominal discomfort.
- The Merck Veterinary Manual, in its chapter on houseplants and ornamentals toxic to animals (reviewed by Renee D. Schmid, DVM, of Pet Poison Helpline, last updated September 2024), lists Hippeastrum (amaryllis) among the "common imposter lilies," which it separates from the true lilies that injure cats' kidneys.
Two points come out of reading these together. First, every part of the plant is named as a concern, and the bulb is where the Pet Poison Helpline says the crystals are most concentrated. Second, the Pet Poison Helpline describes the effects as dose-dependent, which means the amount matters. This site does not publish an amount that is safe or unsafe, because no owner can measure a chewed leaf against their own cat's size and health at home. That is the poison line's job.
Amaryllis Is Not a True Lily, and That Matters
The ASPCA's additional common names for amaryllis include "Belladonna lily" and "Saint Joseph lily." That naming causes real confusion, because true lilies are among the most dangerous plants a cat can touch.
The Merck Veterinary Manual describes cats as "highly sensitive" to true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) and describes kidney injury as the outcome, with clinical signs beginning within 1 to 3 hours of ingestion. It places amaryllis in a different group, the imposter lilies.
This does not make amaryllis safe. It means the two plants are different problems, and the poison line needs to know which one your cat reached. If you are not certain what the plant is, say so on the call, and send a photo if they ask for one. Our guide to which lilies are deadly to cats and which are not sets out the difference in detail.
Holiday and gift arrangements are where this matters most. An amaryllis bulb can arrive on its own, but amaryllis flowers also turn up in mixed bouquets and centerpieces, and the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that lilies "are frequently part of cut flower arrangements." If an amaryllis came in a mixed arrangement, check every stem.
Is Christmas Cactus Toxic to Cats?
The ASPCA lists Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii, family Cactaceae, also called Easter cactus) as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses."
That is a genuinely different answer from amaryllis, and it is one of the few plant questions where the sources give a clear no. Two cautions still apply.
- Non-toxic does not mean nothing happens. The ASPCA's plant list says that "the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats." A cat that chews a lot of Christmas cactus may still be sick. If your cat is unwell after chewing any plant, call your vet.
- Be sure it is the plant you think it is. Holiday plants are sold under loose common names, and the Merck Veterinary Manual stresses identifying a plant by its scientific name as well as its common name, because plants that share a common name can differ in toxicity. The label on the pot, or a photo, helps the person on the phone.
Amaryllis and Christmas Cactus Side by Side
| Amaryllis | Christmas cactus | |
|---|---|---|
| ASPCA listing for cats | Toxic | Non-toxic |
| Scientific name (ASPCA) | Amaryllis spp. | Schlumbergera bridgesii |
| Toxic principles named | Lycorine and others (ASPCA); phenanthridine alkaloids and raphide oxalate crystals (Pet Poison Helpline) | None listed |
| Signs the sources list | Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, loss of appetite, tremors (ASPCA); drop in blood pressure, tremors or seizures, respiratory depression (Pet Poison Helpline) | None listed; any plant material may cause vomiting or stomach upset (ASPCA) |
| What to do if chewed | Call your vet or a poison line now | Call your vet if your cat is unwell |
Signs of Amaryllis Poisoning in Cats
These are the signs named by the sources above. They are listed so you can describe what you see accurately, not so you can decide at home whether your cat is affected.
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Drooling (hypersalivation)
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Depression or lethargy, and loss of appetite
- Tremors, and in the Pet Poison Helpline's list, seizures
- A drop in blood pressure and depressed breathing, both named by the Pet Poison Helpline
Tremors, seizures, collapse, weakness or difficulty breathing mean go to an emergency vet now, not wait for a callback. A cat can also look normal soon after chewing a plant, which is not a reason to skip the call. For the wider picture of how poisoning in cats differs from dogs, see our guide to cat poisoning and why cats are different.
"It Was a Gift. Do I Have to Get Rid of It?"
That decision is yours, and there is no single right answer. What the sources support is simple: amaryllis is listed as toxic to cats, and the bulb is where the Pet Poison Helpline says crystals are most concentrated. With that in mind, these are the realistic options.
- Keep it in a room your cat cannot enter. A closed door is more reliable than a high shelf. Cats climb and jump, and no shelf is guaranteed out of reach.
- Give it to a household without cats, or move it to an office or other space your cat never visits.
- Think about what happens as it fades. Dropped petals and dying leaves end up on the floor, where a cat can find them when nobody is watching.
- Store dormant bulbs securely. Many people keep amaryllis bulbs to regrow them. A bulb in a bag on a counter or in a garage is still an amaryllis bulb.
- Keep the Christmas cactus if you want it. It is listed as non-toxic, although, like any plant, it can still upset a cat's stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Save both poison line numbers in your phone: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 888-426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661.
If your cat already has a habit of chewing plants, our guide on what to do when your cat chewed a houseplant covers the first steps for any plant, including the ones you cannot identify.
What to Tell the Poison Line or Vet
The call goes faster when you have the answers ready.
- The plant: amaryllis, Christmas cactus, or something else in the same arrangement. A photo or the label helps.
- The part: leaf, stem, flower, pollen or bulb.
- How much might be missing: a nibbled leaf edge, a whole flower, or a chewed bulb. An estimate is fine.
- When: the time you found it, or the last time you saw the plant intact.
- Your cat: age, weight, health conditions and any medicines.
- What you have seen since: vomiting, drooling, trembling, hiding, or nothing yet.
Sources Checked
On September 27, 2026 we read the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's plant entry for amaryllis, its entry for Christmas cactus and the introduction to its toxic and non-toxic plants list. On the same date we read the Pet Poison Helpline's page on amaryllis and the Merck Veterinary Manual chapter on houseplants and ornamentals toxic to animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is amaryllis toxic to cats if they only chew a leaf?
The ASPCA lists amaryllis as toxic to cats, and the Pet Poison Helpline names leaves, stems and bulbs as containing the plant's alkaloids. How a cat is affected depends on the amount and on the cat's size and health, so call your vet or a poison line whichever part was chewed.
Which part of the amaryllis is most dangerous to cats?
The Pet Poison Helpline says the plant's raphide oxalate crystals are more concentrated in the bulbs. That does not make the leaves or flowers safe; the ASPCA lists the plant as a whole as toxic.
Is amaryllis the same as a lily?
No. The ASPCA lists "Belladonna lily" and "Saint Joseph lily" as other names for amaryllis, but the Merck Veterinary Manual places amaryllis among the imposter lilies, separate from the true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis) that injure cats' kidneys. Amaryllis is still listed as toxic.
Is Christmas cactus safe for cats?
The ASPCA lists Christmas cactus as non-toxic to cats. It also notes that any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset, so call your vet if your cat is unwell after chewing one.
How much amaryllis is dangerous for a cat?
This site does not publish amounts. The Pet Poison Helpline describes the effects as dose-dependent, and only your vet or a poison line can weigh what was eaten against your cat's size and health.
This article is general information and does not replace veterinary care. If you think your cat has chewed an amaryllis or any plant you are unsure of, contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 now. Toxicity varies with your cat's size and health, and only a veterinarian can assess your individual cat.