Many people like bringing houseplants into the home to liven up the mood of a home. However, if you have a cat, be careful which types of houseplants you bring home because some houseplants can be toxic to your cat.

The pothos plant (Golden pothos, Devil’s ivy, Ivy taro vine, Ivy arum, and its scientific name Epipremnum aureum) is a common beginner plant, but the leaves and stems on the pothos plant both contain calcium oxalate crystals. If a cat consumes some of the plants, calcium oxalate crystals will enter the soft tissues of areas like the cat’s mouth, stomach, and throat, which can lead to breathing issues.

So before you bring any houseplant home, make sure it’s safe for your cat. Better yet, just use fake plants to make sure they can’t hurt your cat in any way.

To learn more about houseplants that may be toxic to your cat, click here.