English Ivy, European Ivy, common Ivy or Ivy (Hedera helix) is a flowering, evergreen, clinging vine in the family Araliaceae, native to Western Asia and Europe where you will find it clinging to walls or trees as well as in gardens or waste spaces.
Common synonyms of English ivy include Hedera arborea (tree ivy), Hedera grandifolia, Hedera baccifera, Hedera poetica Salisb., Hedera poetarum Bertol., lovestone or bindwood. Additionally, it is also known as Glacier, Needlepoint, Sweetheart, California, or Branching Ivy.
Is it poisonous or safe for cats?
Besides begin an excellent ground cover, being used to suppress other weeds and beautifying unsightly facades, you can have common ivy as a versatile houseplant that will grow in baskets, at the base of larger houseplants, or on wire topiary or trellis frames.
However, before getting this hardy and easy to grow charming ornamental, we have to point out that English Ivy or Hedera helix is poisonous to cats and other pets and animals like dogs and cats.
Why is common ivy toxic to cats? It is poisonous because it has a triterpenoid saponin known as hederagenin and polyacetylene compounds, with their foliage being more dangerous than berries.
Finally, besides cats, dogs, horses, and humans, ivy is also toxic to cattle and sheep. However, deer are known to browse it.
Toxicity symptoms cats
H. helix toxicity will cause the following symptoms in your cat:
- Vomiting
- Drooling
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
If you suspect your cat has eaten H. helix leaves, stems, or berries or has any of the above symptoms, immediately call your vet or any of the following animal poisoning emergency services:
- The American Association of Poison Control Centers (800) 222-1222
- The Pet Poison Helpline 1 (855) 764-7661
- The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (800)426-4435
Toxicity symptoms to humans
Besides your pets, English ivy sap will cause contact dermatitis characterized by severe irritation, blistering, redness, and itchiness.
Ingesting its leaves will cause a throat burning, stupor, delirium, convulsions, fever, rash, hallucinations, vomiting, hypersalivation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and so on, reports North Carolina University Extension Gardener.
Protecting your cats
As a fast-growing plant, English ivy is considered a noxious weed in Australia and an environmental weed in New Zealand. It is deemed an invasive or noxious weed in some US regions, not easy to control.
The best choice would be going for other houseplants that are safe for your pets and children. Many of them include calatheas like rattlesnake and peacock plants, spider plants, Haworthia Zebra, Cast Iron plant, Christmas cactus, aluminum plant, bromeliads, palms like areca, parlor, majesty ponytail, and so on, are cat-friendly.
The other safe way is to grow this plant in a terrarium which children or your cats cannot access.
While there are other ways to protect plants from cats, such as using repellents like PetSafe SSSCAT Spray Dog and Cat Deterrent, Motion Activated Pet Repellent, cayenne pepper sprays, among many others, they cannot guarantee 100% protection.
Finally, besides English ivy and cat toxicity issues, if you use it to hide your unsightly facades. It is good to know that it may damage guttering and brickworks. Also, it may conceal structural defects and harbor pests.
Other toxic plants
Besides ivy, other plants that are toxic to your feline, which you should always protect or avoid having to include the following:
- Azalea
- Dracaena
- Poinsettia
- Stargazer lily
- Tulips
- Amaryllis
- Corn plant
- Daffodil
- Chrysanthemums
- Monstera deliciosa
- Dumb cane
- Pothos
- Sago palms
- Jade plants
- Snake plants
The list isn’t complete. There are many others we did not mention. Therefore, ensure you always check if any garden or house ornamental plants you intend to cultivate is safe for your pets and children.