Is Christmas Heliconia toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists christmas heliconia as mildly toxic to cats — a chewing cat typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. Heliconia angusta is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database. No confirmed toxic principle has been documented for this species, but ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in cats and dogs. A precautionary mildly-toxic classification is applied until ASPCA formally confirms its status.

Heliconia angusta is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database. No confirmed toxic principle has been documented for this species, but ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in cats and dogs. A precautionary mildly-toxic classification is applied until ASPCA formally confirms its status. Signs usually appear soon after chewing rather than hours later — watch for drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy after your cat has had access to christmas heliconia.

Stay calm. Remove any plant from your cat's mouth and take the plant away. Note how much was eaten and when, and do not induce vomiting unless told to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice; a leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Christmas Heliconia is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full christmas heliconia pet-safety guide for both species.

For a similar look without the risk, see the best cats-safe plants list — every plant there is ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs.