Is English Ivy toxic to cats?
English ivy is mildly toxic to cats (S1 Caution): its triterpenoid saponins cause vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, and diarrhea after ingestion, with the foliage more toxic than the berries — an upset stomach, not a systemic poisoning.
- TOXINtriterpenoid saponins (hederagenin)
- WHAT TO EXPECTvomiting; abdominal pain; hypersalivation
- CALL THE VETCall your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, or your cat stops eating or drinking.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| vomiting |
| abdominal pain |
| hypersalivation |
| diarrhea |
If your cat just ate it
Care at a glance
FAQ
Is pothos ("devil's ivy") or spider plant ("spider ivy") the same as English ivy?
No — three different plants that happen to share a word. English ivy is Hedera helix, graded S1 Caution for cats and dogs on this page, with triterpenoid saponins causing vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, and diarrhea. Pothos, sold as devil's ivy, is Epipremnum aureum and is a different case: pothos is S2 Irritant for cats because of insoluble calcium oxalates that burn the mouth. Spider plant, sometimes called spider ivy, is Chlorophytum comosum and is S0 Safe for cats. Read the plant, not the word "ivy", and use the page that matches the one you have.
Which part of English ivy is toxic — the leaves or the berries?
Both, and the leaves more so. The ASPCA's entry says "foliage is more toxic than berries," and Pet Poison Helpline names "the leaves and berries" as the parts carrying the toxin. That is the reverse of what most people expect from a plant with berries, and it matters indoors, where a potted ivy has no berries at all and the leaves are the whole risk. The signs after eating either part are the same on record — vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, diarrhea — and the grade is S1 Caution. Keep trailing stems out of reach; if signs persist, call your vet.