Although cats are not plant eaters by nature, cats may ingest plants to help with passing digested hair or as a result of playing with leaves or berries that make attractive playthings. Winterberry leaves and berries are mildly toxic and contain saponins and alkaloid compounds with toxic action similar to that of caffeine.
Although winterberry is not usually known for producing severe toxic reactions, cats can be particularly susceptible to plant poisoning due to their small size and lack of enzymes produced by their liver for breaking down plant compounds. The availability of winterberry oil used for holistic purposes and fragrance can present an additional hazard in your home to your cat. Oils contain much higher concentrations of plant compounds including toxins that, if your cat is exposed, will result in a much larger dosage of toxin being introduced to your cat. In the rare case that a large amount of the plant is ingested or poisoning with essential oil containing high saponin concentrations occurs, medical attention may become more urgent.