Ivy is one of the moderately to highly poisonous plants in the home and garden. Not only people, cats, dogs and other pets can also become poisoned by the leaves and shoots if they nibble on them. You should therefore only care for indoor ivy in the house if you can keep your cat away from the plant.
Is ivy poisonous to cats?
Ivy is poisonous to cats and can cause severe symptoms of poisoning if consumed. Falcarinol in the leaves can cause inflammatory reactions, while triterpene saponins in the fruits are considered highly toxic. Cat owners should avoid ivy in the house.
Be careful with ivy when there are cats in the house
Ivy is a poisonous plant that can cause severe symptoms of poisoning. Poisoning does not only occur when parts of the plant are eaten or eaten, even contact with the plant sap can cause allergic skin reactions.
Responsible cat owners are therefore better off avoiding ivy in the house. Even if you grow the ivy high on a shelf or as a hanging basket, it won't stop a curious cat from "investigating" the plant.
These toxins are contained in ivy
The leaves contain falcarinol, which is responsible for inflammatory reactions of skin and fur.
The fruits of ivy, which contain triterpene saponins, are highly poisonous. However, ivy only develops berries when it is older. Indoor ivy is unlikely to ever bloom and bear fruit later.
If you suspect, go to the vet immediately
If you suspect that your cat may have eaten ivy, you shouldn't wait long. See a veterinarian immediately. If there are no veterinarians with emergency consultations nearby, call a veterinary clinic and get advice.
Tip
When you cut ivy, for example to propagate it, fine dust is created that contains the toxic triterpene saponins. If you have to cut larger amounts of ivy, you should wear a respiratory mask (€30.00 on Amazon) as a precaution.
