- Toxic parts
- Leaves and stems
- Toxin
- Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Common signs
- Drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting
- What to do
- Remove plant pieces, call your vet or a poison line
Quick answer
Is pothos toxic to cats? Yes, but it's usually an irritant rather than a life-threatening poison. The leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that sting the mouth, causing drooling, pawing at the face and sometimes vomiting. Most cats recover with basic care, but call your vet or a pet poison line if your cat ate pothos.
For milder signs, call your vet or a pet poison line: ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both charge a consultation fee.
Is pothos toxic to cats, and how serious is it?
Pothos is toxic to cats, but it sits at the milder end of the scale. It’s classed as an irritant: it hurts and can make your cat sick, but it rarely causes lasting harm. That makes it very different from true lilies, which can cause kidney failure from a tiny amount (see are lilies toxic to cats).
The pain usually stops cats after one or two bites, so most cats don’t eat much. Kittens and cats that like to chew plants are the most likely to get a mouthful. Pothos is one of the most popular houseplants in the US, which is why it’s also one of the most common plant calls to poison lines.
Pothos goes by several names, including devil’s ivy, golden pothos, marble queen and sometimes money plant. Other plants are also sold as “money plant”, such as the Chinese money plant (Pilea) and jade plant, and their risks differ. If a label is unclear, check the plant’s Latin name, Epipremnum aureum, before assuming it’s the same.
What does calcium oxalate do to a cat’s mouth?
Pothos cells contain bundles of tiny, needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals. When your cat bites a leaf or stem, the cells burst and shoot these crystals into the lips, tongue and gums. They act like microscopic splinters, causing instant stinging and swelling.
These are insoluble calcium oxalates. They stay in the tissues they touch and cause local irritation in the mouth, throat and stomach. They aren’t absorbed in a way that harms the kidneys. The same crystals are found in several other common houseplants.
What are the symptoms if a cat ate pothos?
Signs usually start within minutes. Watch for:
- heavy drooling, sometimes foamy
- pawing at the mouth or face
- head shaking or crying
- red, swollen lips, tongue or gums
- vomiting
- not wanting to eat
- trouble swallowing
Drooling is the most common sign, and it often looks dramatic. It’s the mouth’s way of washing out the crystals. Severe swelling of the throat is rare but serious, because it can make breathing hard.
| Sign | What to do |
|---|---|
| Drooling, pawing at mouth, mild redness | Monitor Call your vet or a poison line for advice |
| Vomiting more than once, not eating for a day | See vet soon See your vet today |
| Swelling of face or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing | Emergency Go to an emergency vet now |
My cat ate pothos: what should I do?
- Remove any plant pieces gently from your cat’s mouth and fur, and move the plant out of reach.
- Offer water or a little wet food. This can help rinse crystals from the mouth. Don’t force it.
- Don’t make your cat vomit. Inducing vomiting at home can cause more harm and won’t help with an irritant plant.
- Skip the medicine cabinet. A sore mouth may tempt you to give something for comfort, but human pain relievers like acetaminophen (paracetamol), ibuprofen and aspirin can poison a cat far more seriously than pothos can.
- Call your vet or a poison line. Tell them the plant name, when your cat chewed it and what signs you see. Take a photo of the plant if you can.
- Watch closely for the next few hours for swelling, breathing changes or repeated vomiting.
If you’re not sure whether the plant was pothos, look it up in our toxic plant checker. Some look-alike plants are more dangerous.
How do vets treat pothos poisoning in cats?
There’s no antidote, and most cats don’t need one. Treatment focuses on comfort. Your vet may rinse your cat’s mouth, check for swelling and give medicine for pain, nausea or inflammation if needed. Your vet will choose the medicine and set the dose for your cat.
Cats that vomit a lot or won’t eat may need fluids to stay hydrated. Most go home the same day. Out-of-hours care costs more than a regular visit, so see what an emergency vet costs for cats if you need to go at night.
Which houseplants are safe for cats instead?
Several popular plants cause the same calcium oxalate reaction as pothos, while others are listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA.
| Plant | Risk to cats |
|---|---|
| Pothos (devil’s ivy) | See vet soon Mouth irritant |
| Philodendron | See vet soon Mouth irritant |
| Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) | See vet soon Mouth irritant |
| Monstera | See vet soon Mouth irritant |
| Peace lily | See vet soon Mouth irritant |
| Spider plant | Non-toxic |
| Boston fern | Non-toxic |
| Parlor palm | Non-toxic |
| Calathea (prayer plant) | Non-toxic |
“Non-toxic” doesn’t mean your cat can graze freely. Eating any plant can cause mild stomach upset.
To keep pothos in your home, hang it well out of jumping range or keep it in a room your cat can’t enter. Trailing vines are tempting to bat and chew, so trim any that hang down. Giving your cat a pot of cat grass can also redirect the urge to chew.
Browse more plants and foods in our is it safe for cats? guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cat die from eating pothos?
It's very unlikely. The crystals cause pain and irritation in the mouth, which usually stops cats from eating much. Rarely, swelling of the throat can affect breathing, which is an emergency.
Does pothos cause kidney failure in cats like lilies do?
No. Pothos contains insoluble calcium oxalate, which irritates the mouth and gut but isn't known to damage the kidneys. True lilies are far more dangerous.
How long do pothos symptoms last in cats?
Signs usually start within minutes of chewing and often settle within a few hours to a day. If drooling, vomiting or not eating continues beyond that, see your vet.
Sources
Written by the CatsMed Team from the sources above. This guide isn’t reviewed by a veterinarian and isn’t a substitute for one. See how we research.
