Is Pothos toxic to dogs and cats?
How serious is Pothos for pets?
Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing on chewing/ingestion. Rarely life-threatening but very unpleasant.
Epipremnum aureum
Also called: Devil's Ivy, Golden Pothos, Marble Queen Pothos, Neon Pothos, Jade Pothos, Potos, and Potus.
What makes it toxic
Insoluble calcium oxalates.
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Symptoms to watch for
- Oral irritation
- Intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue and lips
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
What to do if your pet chewed it
- Move the plant out of reach so they cannot take another bite.
- If your pet is alert, gently rinse their mouth and offer a little water.
- Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435, especially if you see drooling, vomiting, swelling, or lethargy.
Propagating pothos safely with pets at home
Can I propagate pothos if I have cats or dogs?
Pothos is toxic to dogs and cats, per the ASPCA. Yes, if cuttings stay out of reach. Cuttings, leaves and sap are as toxic as the parent plant.
- Treat every cutting, leaf and stem as toxic; NC State also notes contact dermatitis.
- Root cuttings in a closed room or on a high shelf, and keep the water jar, rooting hormone and perlite out of pets' reach too.
- Wear gloves if the sap irritates your skin.
Root pothos from a node cutting
- With clean scissors, cut a 4 to 6 inch piece of vine just below a node (the bump where a leaf and aerial root join). Keep at least two nodes and remove the lowest leaf.
- Optional: dip the cut end in rooting hormone and tap off the excess. A little is enough; too much slows rooting.
- Stand the cutting in clean water so the bottom node is covered and the leaves stay dry, or press it into moist perlite or potting mix with a node buried.
- Keep it somewhere bright, out of direct sun.
- In water, roots can show in about two weeks. Move it to soil once the roots are established.
Why is my pothos cutting turning yellow?
Check the base first. A brown, soft or slimy stem means rot from sitting too wet, and a stem piece with no node will not root. Cut back to firm stem just below a node and restart in fresh water or barely moist perlite. Keep it out of direct sun.
Gear (optional)
- Clear glass propagation jar (search on Amazon)
- Rooting hormone powder (search on Amazon)
- Perlite (search on Amazon)
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If a pet chews a cutting or leaf, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply), or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet or poison line tells you to.
Sources for this section
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Epipremnum aureum: water rooting in about two weeks; toxic plant parts and contact dermatitis.
- University of Missouri Extension: Home Propagation of Houseplants (G6560): stem cuttings 4 to 6 inches, cut just below a node; pothos may be rooted in water.
- Penn State Extension: Propagating Houseplants: at least two nodes per cutting; rooting hormone, a little is enough.
Section last reviewed: . Plant Doctor is a household reference, not veterinary advice.
Pet-safe swaps
The same green look without the toxicity worry. Each of these is non-toxic to both dogs and cats in our data.
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Buy Apollo a treatQuick answers about Pothos
Is Pothos toxic to cats?
Yes, Pothos is toxic to cats. See all 127 plants toxic to cats.
Is Pothos toxic to dogs?
Yes, Pothos is toxic to dogs. See all 124 plants toxic to dogs.
What is Pothos also called?
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is also called Devil's Ivy, Golden Pothos, Marble Queen Pothos, Neon Pothos, Jade Pothos, Potos, and Potus.
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Scan your plantAlways confirm with a veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) before assuming safety. This is a household reference, not a substitute for professional guidance in a suspected poisoning.
· Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control.
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