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Cat Ate English Ivy (Now What? Is it Toxic? Serious?)

If your cat has eaten English Ivy you may be concerned and wondering if it is toxic and what you can use to prevent your cat from eating it (Click here to see my best option, on Amazon #Ad).

Can cats eat English Ivy?

Cats should not eat English Ivy because it is toxic to them. If it is consumed it can cause vomiting, make them over salivate, or even bad cases of diarrhea. It is known to affect other animals such as dogs as well.

Use to prevent your cat from eating English Ivy

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01. Bitter Lemon Cat Spray (My Best) Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad
02. Aluminum Foil Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad

So, now you know that cats should not eat English Ivy. But, where does it grow? How can you prevent your cat from eating it? How fast can it spread? Keep reading for these answers, and so much more…

 

What is English Ivy?

According to Wikipedia, English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a clinging evergreen vine. It is known by various other aliases such as Californian, Common, or European Ivy. In fact, some just refer to it simply as Ivy.

It grows rampant without any assistance from humans. And, this is one of the reasons why it is found in many gardens, along walls, in areas with loads of waste, etc.

Where does English Ivy grow?

This English Ivy is grown worldwide. Some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, and some parts of the United States deem it as an invasive weed and in some regions, it is banned. However, in some European countries, it is grown to cover walls.

The likelihood is, no matter where you are located, is you have probably seen or come into contact with this ivy before. Because it is so common it can make it difficult to keep it away from your cat.

How can you prevent your cat from eating English Ivy?

If your cat has eaten English Ivy before or you are worried about it you may be looking for some proactive ways to stop it from happening. Here are some suggestions for you:

01. Keep it away from your cat

The most obvious option is to keep it away from your cat. As simple as this sounds it is not always easy to implement. Why? Because it grows in so many random places it can be hard to know where your cat may come into contact with it. Especially if it is an indoor cat.

02. Citrus spray

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Cats are not big fans of citrus so you can use this to your advantage to protect them from your ivy plants. Either make your own homemade solution or get a citrus-based spray designed for repelling cats (Click here to see the reviews, on Amazon #Ad).

You can spray some on the ivy to fend off your cat. In time, it will help to train it to leave the Ivy alone.

03. Strategically place them

If you have this Ivy in your garden and you are worried you can try and relocate it so it is away from your cat. In some gardens this is possible, but in others, it could be bordering on impossible. So, if you can do it this can be a simple solution.

04. Aluminium foil nearby

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Cats are not big fans of aluminum, so you can use it to your advantage by placing it near the English Ivy.  For example, you may have it running along with a fence panel. You could lay some foil on the floor of this panel.

The idea is your cat will have to come in contact with the foil to get to the Ivy. And, because they will not want to touch the foil, they may ignore the Ivy.

05. Use Chilli powder

Another, more controversial method that some cat owners use is chili powder to repel their cat. Some cat owners say it’s not a good idea. Whereas others swear by it as an effective strategy. It requires sprinkling the chili powder around the Ivy to repel the cat.

Why do cats chew plants?

Cats chew plants for several reasons. For that reason I have a few potential reasons for you to consider:

01. Exploring with their mouths

Cats, especially young cats explore objects by smell and taste. They may put something in their mouth to get a feel for it and to check it out. Plants (Is Jade and Pothos dangerous for your cat? Click here) and grass are just some examples of this. This is not much different from young toddlers, right?

Think about it, they will put most objects in their mouth to explore. This is why we need to monitor them to make sure they do not eat (what about exotic fruits? click here) anything that they shouldn’t. So, sam for your cat putting English Ivy in its mouth.

02. Not enough distractions

Some cats are lacking entertainment. For example, not enough toys, cat trees, etc. When this happens they look for random objects to play with, bite, or chew on.

Fortunately, this is quite easy to resolve. Invest in some cat toys (Click here to see the reviews, on Amazon #Ad), or a nice cat tree (Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad) to keep it more entertained.

03. Hunting for fiber

Another lesser-known reason is the lack of fiber. If your cat is lacking this it may start trying to find it in some weird places, such as your English Ivy. The best way to get around this is to improve its diet overall and make sure it has enough fiber.

How fast does English ivy spread?

English Ivy can take a few years to get to its full length. When it does it can cover fifty feet or so. But, in the beginning, it can be a slow growth. So, the first couple of years could make you underestimate how long it will grow by year 3 or more.

Like most gardening practices patience is the key. Plant the vine and move onto another project. In time, it will come to fruition. This is the reason why some people get overwhelmed by English Ivy, it creeps up on them over years. Before they know it, it has covered their wall, etc.

How do you get rid of English ivy?

Getting rid of English Ivy can be done without any chemicals. But here are a couple of suggestions:

01. Using brute force

But, you need to be prepared to put in work. This is because to get rid of it you need to dig down to the root. You will need a strong grip and a trowel to help you.

02. Using Vinegar

You will need some white vinegar and a bottle. Ideally, the bottle will have a spray attachment. Simply spray it on the Ivy. But, the challenge is getting the Ivy and avoiding the other crops that you want to keep.

If your cat is affected by the Ivy you may be looking fr ways to get rid of it. So, now you know what you can do to get rid of it.

What animal eats English ivy?

Deer are known to eat English Ivy. This would typically be in a forest location where the Ivy is growing wild. But, it’s not a common food for domestic pets. So, for cats and dogs, it is to be avoided to keep them safe.

You may have wondered after hearing that IVy is toxic for cats if there is an animal that actually eats this stuff. So, now you know.