Is Golden Pothos 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
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the most common plants on a US big-box garden center shelf, usually sold as a hanging basket or trailing pot near the houseplant section. According to NC State Extension's plant identification guide, the plant carries several names on retail tags - Devil's Ivy, Devil's Vine, Golden Pothos, Marble Queen, Taro Vine - so 'pothos' on one tag and 'devil's ivy' on another can be the exact same toxic plant, identifiable by its heart-shaped variegated leaves, grooved leaf stems, and a single aerial root at each node.
If a cat can reach the pot, it can reach the vine: pothos trails well past the rim of a hanging basket, and cats that jump onto shelves, plant stands, or the top of a bookcase get access to trailing stems that a high placement doesn't reliably keep out of reach. ASPCA lists pothos as toxic to both cats and dogs: insoluble calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves and stems cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing on contact or chewing. If your pet chews on a trailing vine and won't stop drooling or pawing at its mouth, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).
Facts and examples
- Pothos is sold under many overlapping retail names (Devil's Ivy, Devil's Vine, Golden Pothos, Marble Queen, Taro Vine); ID marks are heart-shaped variegated leaves, grooved petioles, single aerial root per node. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
- US potted foliage plants (the category pothos hanging baskets fall under) had a wholesale value of $756 million in 2020, per USDA NASS floriculture data. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
- Golden pothos is toxic to cats and dogs via insoluble calcium oxalates; symptoms include oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. (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