Are Pothos Toxic To Cats? Signs, Symptoms, And Treatment Explained

House plants are the best natural air purifiers that a person can ever install. However, some of them can be really toxic for kitties.  

The pothos plant is one of the most popular houseplants worldwide. The plant has various other names. These names include the golden ivy, taro vine, or ivy arum.  

However, your fur baby munching on the pothos is the last thing that you would want. Hence, several pet parents often ask, “Are pothos toxic to cats?”  

Hence, the answer to this is “Yes.” The pothos plant is scientifically known as Epipremnum aureum. 

Moreover, the plant contains insoluble calcium oxalates, which can immediately cause issues for cats.  

What Are The Major Toxins Present In Pothos? Are Pothos Toxic To Cats?

The golden Pothos belongs to the Araceae family of plants. Moreover, this group includes other plants that are equally toxic to cats, such as oleanders and philodendrons.  

These types of plants generally contain insoluble calcium to deal with some of the most insoluble crystals.  

The crystals get released as soon as your cat decides to munch on the leaf of the plant. Hence, the crystal penetrates into her body tissues.  

The crystals are very toxic to the feline body. Thus, they can cause severe issues like irritation in the mouth and throat, gastrointestinal issues, swollen tongues, vomiting, and breathing issues. 

Furthermore, the cat can even stop eating due to difficulties in ingesting food. Hence, this leads to one of the most difficult situations for cats. 

1. What Are The Symptoms Pothos Ingestion? 

People keep asking, “Are pothos toxic to cats?” Moreover, by now we have already got the answer that the plant is highly toxic to cats. 

Now you may think about how to identify if your cat has ingested Pothos or not. Hence, you should learn about the major symptoms of ingesting pothos. 

The initial signs of Pothos vomiting appear very quickly in the cats. Moreover, these signs include pawing at the mouth, vomiting, and drooling.  

Cats often stop eating. Hence, they can even stay in their hiding space to deal with discomfort and irritation. 

Additionally, they can also show signs of a lack of appetite. Hence, your cat can be less interested in having lunch or dinner. 

You should immediately rush to your vet when you notice any of these issues in your cat.  

2. What Is The Treatment For Pothos Toxic? 

While people ask,” Are pothos toxic to cats?” The cat parents should definitely be aware of the procedural nuances involved in treating issues like Golden Pothos toxicity in the cats.  

Fortunately, golden pothos poisoning is not exactly fatal for most of the cats. Hence, most of the cats make a full recovery while suffering from this issue. 

However, this type of toxicity results in immense pain for the cats. Hence, you should immediately take your feline friend to the vet to reduce its suffering. 

The vet would generally rinse out the mouth of the cat to remove all the crystals in the mouth.  The vets can also perform gastric lavage to wash out the stomach of your cat.  

In such situations, the cats often require Benadryl. Moreover, ingestion of Pothos often leads to dehydration in the cats. 

However, examination plays a crucial role. Moreover, the treatment mostly depends on the extent of the toxicity. 

3. What Is The Recovery Process After Ingesting Pothos? 

Most of the cases are different. Hence, the recovery process varies from case to case. However, you can not simply take your kitty back home after she gets treated. 

Some of the cases require special observation. However, you should be especially observant of the needs and requirements of your cat while it gets better.  

Some extra care can always fix things for your cat. You should provide the cat with a special diet consisting mostly of tablet food to avoid any issues in the future.  

A special diet helps to prevent stomach upset in cats. Furthermore, your furry friend will require an ample amount of sleep to recover properly from their sickness. 

Thing To Keep In Mind If Your Feline Buddy Is A Plant Explorer

While you take care of your sick kitty, it is important to take care of the plant. Place the plant far away from any place where your cat can even reach.   

You can always replace the photos with other types of plants, like the Boston Fern and the spider plant. 

Safer options can easily make your house look way more beautiful without causing risks to your cart’s life. 

Always remember, you should not panic at all when your cat ingests a pothos plant. Moreover, it is toxic and can cause irritation for your cat.  

However, Pothos toxicity hardly causes death in the cats. It can be fatal in the rarest situations.  

Moreover, the golden Pothos is not just toxic for the cats, but they can also be problematic for the dogs. 

They can easily block the airways of a dog. Hence, this will make breathing difficult for the dog. Additionally, the oxolade crystals can also cause irritation in the GI tract. 

In addition, they can also cause renal or cardiopulmonary issues in the dogs. Moreover, this can turn out to be fatal for the dogs. 

However, these things mostly occur as the dog becomes really old or is ailing from some chronic issue. 

Hence, along with the cat parents, even dog parents should be aware of the consequences, especially when your furbaby has the habit of chewing on everything. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions that people ask, along with “Are pothos toxic to cats?”