Is Pothos Plant safe for Cats?
✓ Sources checked by the Eaoae Safety Review · 2026-10-28 · Based on 3 sources
Pothos plants are not safe for cats. While rarely fatal, they contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting if chewed. You should keep them out of reach to prevent accidental ingestion.
🚨 Emergency: Yes — contact your veterinarian immediately.
💡 Why
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) belongs to the Araceae family, which is known for containing needle-like calcium oxalate crystals. When a cat chews the leaves, these crystals puncture the mouth and throat tissues, causing mechanical irritation rather than systemic poisoning. Symptoms typically appear within minutes and include excessive salivation, pawing at the mouth, and gagging.
🩺 What to do
- Remove the plant from the cat's immediate access area immediately.
- If your cat has chewed on it, wipe their mouth gently with a damp cloth to remove residual plant matter.
- Monitor for signs of drooling, vomiting, or difficulty swallowing for the next 24 hours.
- Contact your veterinarian if symptoms persist or if the cat ingested a large amount.
❓ Common questions
Will pothos kill my cat?
It is highly unlikely to be fatal. The reaction is local irritation, not systemic toxicity, so most cats recover quickly once the plant matter is cleared from their system.
Are all pothos varieties toxic?
Yes, all varieties of Epipremnum, including golden pothos and marble pothos, contain the same irritating calcium oxalate crystals.
Can I just trim the leaves my cat ate?
No, the crystals are present in all parts of the plant, including stems and roots. You must remove the entire plant to ensure safety.
📚 Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline: Golden Pothos Are Toxic To Pets
- What Things Are Poisonous to Cats?
- ASPCA: Golden Pothos
🔎 How the sources compare
What each authority says about pothos plant \u2014 compiled 2026-10-28. Eaoae’s verdict summarizes these sources; it is not our own diagnosis.
| Source | Dogs | Cats | Dose info |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASPCA Animal Poison Control | Toxic to dogs — listed under Golden Pothos; toxic principles are insoluble calcium oxalates; clinical signs include oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing | Toxic to cats — listed under Golden Pothos; toxic principles are insoluble calcium oxalates; clinical signs include oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing | — |
| Pet Poison Helpline | Toxic — Devil's Ivy (pothos; Epipremnum aureum) contains microscopic crystals that are released when the plant is chewed, causing irritation and pain to the lips, oral cavity and throat; drooling, gagging and vomiting are common in animals, and severe throat swelling or breathing difficulty is rare | Toxic — Devil's Ivy (pothos; Epipremnum aureum) contains microscopic crystals that are released when the plant is chewed, causing irritation and pain to the lips, oral cavity and throat; drooling, gagging and vomiting are common in animals, and severe throat swelling or breathing difficulty is rare | — |
| Merck Veterinary Manual | Not covered | Not covered | — |
| VCA Hospitals | Listed among toxic household plants for dogs — Pothos can cause oral irritation and burning, in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms | Not covered | — |
| Eaoae summary (cats) | ⛔ Unsafe \u2014 Known to be harmful or toxic. Keep it away from your pet. | ||
🔗 Related checks for cats
- Plain Yogurt ⚠️ Caution
- Peruvian lily / Alstroemeria ⚠️ Caution
- garlic ⛔ Unsafe
- Bromethalin (rat poison) ⛔ Unsafe
- Salmon ⚠️ Caution
- milk ⚠️ Caution
Checked with Eaoae’s safety lookup. Answers are generated for reference and may be incomplete — always confirm with your vet for your individual pet. Spotted an error? Let us know.
