Is Amaryllis safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Toxic |
| Dogs | Toxic |
Severity: Moderate
Read the full first-aid guide: what to do if your pet ate something toxic
Amaryllis shows up in American homes every December in a specific format: the boxed bulb kit, sold at grocery stores, garden centers, and gift shops as a self-contained gift - a bulb, a pot, and growing medium, ready to plant. University extension guidance has buyers plant the bulb with its top third exposed and set the pot somewhere warm and sunny to force bloom over four to six weeks, which puts an intact bulb on a windowsill or low table for most of the holiday season.
That placement matters because amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses per ASPCA - the toxic principles are lycorine and related alkaloids - and the bulb is the most concentrated part. Ingestion can cause vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and tremors. If your pet gets into an amaryllis bulb kit, especially if they have dug into the pot itself, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
Facts and examples
- Amaryllis is commonly sold in the US in December as a boxed bulb kit (bulb, pot, growing medium), forced to bloom over 4-6 weeks in a warm, sunny spot. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
- Amaryllis is toxic to cats, dogs and horses; symptoms include vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia and tremors. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
Verdict re-verified against aspca.org, 2026-07-26 — confirmed unchanged. Source
This page is for general information only and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is showing symptoms, or you think they ate or touched something dangerous, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison-control hotline immediately.
Last verified 2026-07-26