Is English Ivy safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Toxic |
| Dogs | Toxic |
Severity: Moderate
Read the full first-aid guide: what to do if your pet ate something toxic
English ivy's US risk profile is mostly an outdoor one, not a hanging-basket one. The Oregon Department of Agriculture lists English ivy (Hedera helix) as a List B noxious weed, restricting its sale and propagation because it escapes cultivation and smothers native groundcover - which means in parts of the Pacific Northwest it is often growing as unmanaged, spreading groundcover in yards, parks and along trails, not just trailing from a pot on a shelf.
ASPCA lists English ivy as toxic to both dogs and cats, with the leaves more toxic than the berries: triterpenoid saponins cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation and diarrhea. A dog that spends time in a yard or on a trail where ivy has taken over a slope or tree base has more repeated, unsupervised access to the plant than a cat batting at an indoor basket - worth watching for specifically if you're in an ivy-heavy region. If your pet has been chewing on ivy outdoors and starts vomiting or drooling heavily, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).
Facts and examples
- The Oregon Department of Agriculture lists English ivy (Hedera helix) as a List B noxious weed, restricting its sale and propagation in the state. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
- English ivy toxic principle is triterpenoid saponins (hederagenin); leaves more toxic than berries; symptoms are vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
Verdict re-verified against aspca.org, 2026-07-26 — confirmed unchanged. Source
This page is for general information only and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is showing symptoms, or you think they ate or touched something dangerous, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison-control hotline immediately.
Last verified 2026-07-26