Are Pothos Toxic to Cats

Pothos, also known as Devil’s Ivy, is a popular houseplant admired for its beauty and low maintenance. However, if you’re a cat owner, you may wonder if pothos plants are safe for your feline friend. Unfortunately, pothos are toxic to cats, and ingestion can lead to health issues. This article explores why pothos is harmful, symptoms to watch for, and pet-safe alternatives to keep your home stylish and cat-friendly.

What Makes Pothos Toxic to Cats?

Pothos plants contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which are sharp and irritating. When a cat chews on pothos leaves or stems, these crystals penetrate the soft tissues of the mouth, throat, and digestive tract, causing pain and inflammation.

A. Toxic Components

1. Calcium Oxalate Crystals
   • Pothos plants contain calcium oxalate crystals. When a cat chews or bites on a pothos leaf, these crystals can be released.
2. How They Affect Cats
   • These crystals are sharp and can cause irritation to the cat's mouth, tongue, and throat. Once ingested, they can also cause irritation and damage to the digestive tract.

B. Severity of Toxicity

1. Mild to Moderate Toxicity
   • In general, pothos toxicity in cats is considered mild to moderate. However, this does not mean it should be ignored.
2. Potential Complications
   • If left untreated, the irritation can lead to more serious problems such as difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, vomiting, and in some cases, loss of appetite.

Symptoms of Pothos Poisoning in Cats

A. Oral Symptoms

1. Drooling
   • One of the first signs that a cat has been exposed to pothos is excessive drooling. This is due to the irritation in the mouth caused by the calcium oxalate crystals.
2. Pawing at the Mouth
   • Cats may also paw at their mouths as if trying to remove the irritating substance.

B. Digestive Symptoms

1. Vomiting
   • The digestive tract irritation can lead to vomiting. The vomit may contain pieces of the pothos plant if the cat has ingested some of it.
     

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2. Diarrhea
   • Diarrhea can also occur as the body tries to expel the irritating substances from the digestive system.

Also Read: Understanding Cat Throwing Up and Diarrhea: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

C.Neurological problems 

• In cases of severe poisoning, cats may develop neurological problems such as muscle weakness, tremors, and ataxia.

D.Skin contact symptoms 

• If the cat's skin comes into contact with the juice of the pothos, it may lead to redness, itching, hair loss, etc.

E.Other symptoms 

• Cats may show signs of dehydration and  anemia.
• There may be increased water intake, increased urine output, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Cats eating pothos may cause liver and kidney damage, biochemical tests show a rise in liver enzyme markers and a rise in kidney markers, and further down the line shock or even death may occur.

What to Do If Your Cat Eats Pothos?

A. Immediate Action

1. Remove Plant Material
   • If you catch your cat chewing on a pothos plant, immediately remove any plant material from its mouth.
2. Rinse the Mouth
   • Gently rinse your cat's mouth with lukewarm water to try to remove any remaining crystals. However, be careful not to force water down the cat's throat.

B. Home Treanment

1. Inducing vomiting
   
   • If the cat is within 4 hours of accidentally ingesting the pothos, attempt to induce vomiting. This can be done by using hydrogen peroxide, fed at a rate of 1.5ml per kilogram of body weight, along with a 1 to 1 ratio of water to induce vomiting in the cat.
   • Vomiting can also be induced using tulip syrup, but this needs to be done under veterinary supervision.
2. Activated charcoal purification
   
   • If activated charcoal is available at home, a liquid mixture of activated charcoal can be prepared according to the instructions, and gastric tube administration is recommended to allow rapid and reliable instillation of activated charcoal.

C. Contact Your Veterinarian

1. Consultation
   • Even if your cat seems fine after initial exposure, it is still a good idea to contact your veterinarian. They can give advice based on the amount of exposure and your cat's overall health.
2. Treatment
   
   • If the cat shows symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or if the amount of pothos accidentally ingested is large, it should be taken to a veterinary hospital immediately for treatment.
   • Before or after transporting to the hospital, you need to closely observe the cat's symptoms, including appetite, mental state, whether there is vomiting, diarrhoea and so on.

How to Prevent Cats from Touching Pothos?

I. Physical isolation method

• Place them in a high place

Place the pothos in a high place that is difficult for cats to reach, such as the top shelf of a bookcase or the top of a wardrobe. Generally, cats have limited jumping height, so it is safer to place the pothos at a height of 1.5 - 2 metres from the ground.

• Setting up a barrier

If the pothos are placed on the ground or in a lower position, you can set up a fence around them. For example, use a metal fence with a small mesh at a height of about 60cm to prevent cats from getting in and touching the pothos.
You can also cover the pothos with a transparent plastic cover or a mesh cover to ensure that the cover is well sealed, giving the pothos enough room to grow while blocking cats.

II. Odour repellent method

• Natural odour source

Place items around the pothos that cats don't like the smell of, such as lemon peels, orange peels and other citrus fruit peels. Citrus odours have a repellent effect on cats.

Peppermint leaves also work. Chop up peppermint leaves and sprinkle them around the pothos, and cats may stay away when they smell them.

• Specialised repellent products

Purchase a pet-safe cat repellent spray and follow the instructions for spraying it around the pothos. These sprays contain a special scent that will keep cats away, but will not harm the pothos or people.

III. Alternative Methods of Satisfaction

• Planting cat grass

Grow cat grass indoors, such as wheat grass and oat grass. Cat grass is attractive to cats and satisfies their need to nibble on plants, thus reducing their interest in pothos.

Related: Why Do Cats Eat Grass

• Provide more toys

Provide your cat with more toys such as plush balls and cat teasers. Cats are less likely to pay attention to pothos when they have enough entertainment.

FAQs

Conclusion

In conclusion, pothos plants are toxic to cats. As cat owners, it is our responsibility to keep our feline friends safe. If you have pothos plants in your home, it is best to keep them out of reach of your cat, either by hanging them high or placing them in an area that is inaccessible to your cat. By being aware of the potential toxicity of pothos and taking appropriate precautions, we can ensure the well - being of our beloved cats.