Is Arrowhead Plant toxic to cats?
Arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum, also sold as nephthytis) is an irritant to cats (S2 Irritant): its insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral pain and swelling, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing when chewed, and Pet Poison Helpline adds throat and skin irritation — the same mechanism as pothos and philodendron.
- TOXINinsoluble calcium oxalates
- WHAT TO EXPECToral irritation; intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips; pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lips; throat irritation
- CALL THE VETCall your vet if drooling or vomiting persists or worsens, or your cat stops eating — and go immediately if you see swelling of the mouth or any trouble breathing or swallowing.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| oral irritation; intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips |
| pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lips |
| throat irritation |
| skin irritation |
| excessive drooling |
| vomiting |
| difficulty swallowing |
If your cat just ate it
Safe swaps, graded S0
Graded S0 for cats. Same-shape matches are coming as the index grows.
Care at a glance
FAQ
My cat chewed an arrowhead plant leaf — what should I do?
Take the plant away and watch the mouth. Pet Poison Helpline says it "contains oxalate crystals that cause mouth, throat, and skin irritation to pets upon chewing the plant," and the ASPCA lists "Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing." Call your vet if drooling or vomiting doesn't settle, and go immediately if you see swelling of the mouth or any trouble breathing or swallowing.
Is arrowhead plant as toxic as pothos or philodendron?
Same mechanism, same grade. The ASPCA lists Syngonium podophyllum with "Insoluble calcium oxalates" and "Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing" — word for word the signs on its entry for heartleaf philodendron, and pothos carries the same toxic principle, insoluble calcium oxalates, on its own ASPCA record. All three are S2 Irritant on the same crystals. See our heartleaf philodendron verdict for the third vine.
Is nephthytis the same plant as arrowhead plant?
On both sources, yes. The ASPCA files the plant under three entry names — Arrow-Head Vine, Nephthytis, and Green Gold Naphthysis — all Syngonium podophyllum, and Pet Poison Helpline's Arrowhead Vine entry lists "Arrowhead plant, Goosefoot plant, Nephthytis" among its other names. The two sources disagree on one name, which is why we do not use it: the ASPCA writes "African Evergreen," Pet Poison Helpline "American Evergreen." Check the scientific name on the tag.