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My cat ate a pothos. Is it toxic? What do I do without a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 7 lbs

My cat bit off half a small leaf of a golden pothos plant. I heard they are very toxic to cats, but that cats can recover. He is newly adopted so I don't have a vet yet, and I don't know how to go about getting him one. What should I do?

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Tomasz Wnuk

Veterinarian

Published on June 30th, 2020

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center. Pothos plant can cause significant irritation to the mouth, esophagus and stomach. If Mooch has just eaten the leaf (in the last 30-60 min), you should rinse his mouth with water or offer him plenty of water to drink. If he is asymptomatic, you should monitor him at home. If he does not develop any worrying symptoms in the next 2-3hrs, it will mean that is fine. However, if you notice that Mooch is drooling, vomiting or finds it difficult to eat, you should take him to your local vets right away

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42Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 30th, 2019

    Chewing or biting into this plant will release oxalate crystals causing tissue penetration and irritation of the mouth and GI tract. VERY rarely, swelling of the upper airway occurs making it difficult to breathe. The symptoms should start almost immediately after chewing/ingesting so if she hasn't shown any symptoms yet then she is probably OK. These are the symptoms to watch for: Drooling Pawing at the mouth Oral pain Decreased appetite Vomiting If you notice any of these then get her to the vet for an exam. Usually toxicity from this plant is mild to moderate and does not cause death. I would not be overly worried. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on June 20th, 2022

    Pothos can be very irritating tot he mouth and GI tract. It doesn't appear that much of the leaf is missing. Monitor for drooling, redness in and around the mouth, difficulty eating, loss of appetite, lethargy or abdominal pain. These are all symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian. Typically, symptoms appear within minutes of ingestion or chewing. As long as she is not showing symptoms, she should be fine.

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