Snopes: Are poinsettia plants toxic to cats and dogs? Fears of serious harm are overblown

[MIButterfly]

2. Years ago, I went on vacation and left my cat, Boots, in my mother's care.

I got a call from her saying that she walked into the kitchen to find Boots chewing on the poinsettia plant. There was a vet's office a couple of blocks from her house so she called them and they said to just keep an eye on the cat. I was very upset then, but looking back on it, if it had been serious, they would have said to bring her in immediately. I still wouldn't have a poinsettia around my cats. Even if it's rarely poisonous, why take the chance?

I did have a cat once who chewed on a poisonous plant and I had to rush him to the vet for surgery. It cost me $60 back then; probably would've been over $1,000 today. I threw that plant away.