Decorating your home for the holidays gets your whole family in the festive spirit, but it's important to be aware of dangerous plants for cats.

It's hard to resist decking the halls with the stunning live plants that are plentiful this time of year! Unfortunately, some of the most popular holiday flora are harmful and even poisonous for cats. Avoid these common holiday plants to ensure a safe season for your kitty.

Poinsettia

It seems that no holiday table is complete without a beautiful poinsettia with its dark leaves and velvety red petals. This traditional holiday plant has received a bad rap over the years as being a highly toxic plant for cats, but it's not as dangerous as others, says PetMD. Poinsettias aren't life-threatening, but they may give your kitty a stomachache or diarrhea if she ingests or licks the plant. Stick to admiring other people's flowers, or display the plant out of your cat's reach (if there is such a place in your home!). There are also many faux options available that can bring your holiday display to life without threatening your cats.

Christmas Tree

Pine trees are toxic for cats, notes Petcha, because they may cause liver damage and can be fatal. If you wish to have a live tree, choose a fir or spruce. Additionally, you should regularly dispose of any stray needles–no matter the tree type–because they're sharp and may be dangerous to your kitty's internal organs. Cover the tree stand so your cat can't drink the water. As with artificial trees, other common hazards include your cat knocking the tree over or ingesting harmful decorations like tinsel, ribbons, string, and beads. Cats can be very mischievous and see all the twinkling lights as opportunities to explore, and nothing is more enticing than the opportunity to climb a tree that mom and dad brought inside. It is always best to secure the tree to the ground or floor if you can to avoid her knocking it over and injuring anyone, herself included. As far as ornaments and other tree decorations, make sure they are not small enough for her to ingest and try to avoid any that contain sharp objects. Try your best to tie your ornaments on the tree so that she is not tempted to try to take them off. Finally, make sure to unplug your lights when you're not around to watch your kitty to help avoid her electrocuting herself.