Plant safety · 2 min read

Is Pothos (devil's ivy) toxic to cats?

No — dangerous

Yes. Pothos (also called devil's ivy or golden pothos) contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause painful mouth irritation, drooling, and swelling.

If your cat has just eaten pothos (devil's ivy)

  1. Rinse your cat's mouth gently with cool water if tolerated.
  2. Call your vet for advice — pain relief may be needed.
  3. Watch for swallowing or breathing difficulty.

What's the full picture?

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the most common UK houseplants — easy to grow, trailing, pretty. Unfortunately it's also one of the most common cats-chewing-houseplants incidents.

The calcium oxalate crystals cause immediate pain on contact with the mouth. Cats usually spit it out quickly, but damage can still be significant.

Symptoms to watch for

Immediately
Drooling, pawing at mouth, vocalising from pain.
Within hours
Swelling of lips or tongue, reduced appetite.

If you're worried right now

Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet first. For poison advice, the Animal PoisonLine (UK) is on 01202 509000 — 24/7, charges apply. Your vet can also call the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) directly.

Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) no Ivy (English) no Monstera (Swiss cheese plant) no Peace lilies no Philodendron no ZZ plants no

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published UK veterinary toxicology sources — International Cat Care, Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) references, RCVS-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.

This is general information written for UK cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.

Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know — corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.

Last reviewed: · By the What Can My Cat Eat? editorial team

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