Raphide toxicity in Pothos plant?

Question

Recently I found out that the common houseplant Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is toxic to cats and dogs due to the presence of "insoluble raphides." I have a lot of these plants around my house and my cat drinks water from the vase that they are in (I put drinking water into the vase that he always drinks from). He doesn't chew the Pothos leaves, he only drinks the water, is it still dangerous? I tried several times to give him water in an ordinary bowl, but he prefers the water that's associated with the Pothos plant, so I thought that maybe the roots of the plant excrete something nutritious (but I guess that's not the case, apparently...). Is it harmful for an animal (cat) to drink water that has a Pothos plant immersed in it? Also, my other cat does chew on the Pothos leaves (he goes crazy for them). Is it possible to have immunity and not be affected by the toxic chemicals? I read that chewing is supposed to provoke stomach irritation, but I would think that if the cat that chews the leaves suffered from irritation he wouldn't keep getting excited about chewing the leaves... So what is going on? Many thanks!

Answer 1

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is toxic to cats and dogs due to insoluble calcium oxalate crystals (raphides), which can cause immediate pain and irritation if chewed. Drinking water from a vase containing Pothos presents a low risk since the crystals are not water-soluble, but it’s still safer to avoid letting pets drink it, especially if plant debris is present. Cats may prefer the taste or smell of Pothos water, but the plant does not provide any health benefits. No immunity develops to the plant’s irritation; cats may chew for enjoyment, but the risk of harm remains each time. The best approach is to prevent pets from chewing Pothos leaves by removing the plant and offering safe alternatives, and to encourage drinking from clean water sources. If symptoms like drooling, vomiting, or swelling occur, contact a veterinarian. For safety, keep toxic plants out of reach and consider non-toxic replacements.