Which Houseplants Are Safe for Cats and Dogs?
Pick cat safe plants and pet friendly houseplants for your home, from palms, ferns and hoyas to orchids, Peperomia plants and Calatheas, in sizes from tabletop to floor.
But what houseplants are pet friendly?
Pet safe plants that are non-toxic to both cats and dogs include the parlor palm, Boston fern, staghorn fern, prayer plant, peperomia and spider plant. No plant is completely risk-free: a pet that eats enough of anything can get an upset stomach. These are the ones that will not poison them.
Choose a patterned foliage plant like the Peacock Plant, or something small and colorful like the Pink Polka Dot Plant.
Pet Safe House Plants: Care & Growing Guide
Taking care of cat-safe plants in indoor spaces isn’t difficult as long as you understand their growing requirements.
Watering, Light, Humidity, and Temperature
Watering needs vary by plant, so check the care guide for yours. For most, let the top inch or two of soil dry out before you water again. Some, like the Cast Iron Plant, handle low light, while others need bright indirect light; keep most of these plants out of direct sun.
Tropical plants such as ferns, Calatheas and prayer plants like extra humidity, so mist them or run a humidifier nearby. Most plants in this collection do well between 65 and 80°F.
Repotting, Soil, and Feeding
Repot your plants every 1-2 years, or whenever they outgrow the old pot. Choose a new pot that’s about 2 inches larger than the previous one.
Cat and dog safe house plants mostly need well-draining soil. Use perlite or coco coir to provide better aeration if necessary. If your pet enjoys digging, try covering the soil with decorative stones or mulch to discourage this habit.
When fertilizing pet friendly houseplants, ensure that all fertilizers stay out of your pet’s reach; accidentally ingesting fertilizer can be very harmful to both cats and dogs. Feed your plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer instead of granular fertilizer, which stays on the soil where it can be found by pets.
Propagation
Many dog safe plants are also simple to propagate if you want more plants. Division and stem cuttings are the most common propagation methods; check which one works best for the particular plant you have in mind.
Pruning, Cleaning, and Common Issues
Pets often chew on plants kept on the floor. Trim chewed or damaged leaves and stems as needed, and move a favorite target onto a high shelf or into a hanging basket, where your pet is less likely to reach it.
Other issues include overwatering or underwatering. Yellow, soft leaves often indicate overwatering. Check the soil before you water or use a moisture meter. Use organic insecticides to prevent accidental ingestion by your pet.
Pet Friendly House Plants: Select From Our Wide Selection
Here are four favorites from this collection, each on the ASPCA's non-toxic list for cats and dogs:
Parlor Palm
The Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is a compact, easy-care palm that slowly grows to 3 to 4 feet tall, so it works on a tabletop now and on the floor later.
Boston Fern
One of the most popular pet-friendly low-light plants, the Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis) grows best in medium indirect light and is one of the most low-maintenance fern types.
Staghorn Fern
The antler-like, epiphytic Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) is one of the most unusual cat-friendly house plants, thriving in warm, humid environments.
Lemon Lime Prayer Plant
The Lemon Lime Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime') is prized first and foremost for its stunning foliage; this plant’s chartreuse leaves look delightfully refreshing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What indoor floor plants are safe for cats?
Parlor palm, majesty palm, lady palm, pygmy date palm and ponytail palm are all on the ASPCA's non-toxic list for cats and grow into floor-size plants. Smaller picks like peperomia, prayer plants and Boston fern work well on a plant stand. Avoid sago palm and asparagus fern: despite their names, the ASPCA lists both as toxic to cats.
Is there a houseplant that cats won't eat?
No houseplant is cat-proof, and a plant that looks unappealing is not necessarily safe: the ASPCA lists snake plants as toxic to cats. Choose a non-toxic plant, and if your cat likes to chew, keep it on a high shelf or in a hanging basket.
What is a cat safe alternative to pothos?
Vining hoya plants are cat safe and a great alternative to pothos plants. Marantas and Calathea plants also boast beautiful foliage that brings a similar tropical vibe into your space.
What plants are okay to be around dogs?
Phalaenopsis orchids and bromeliads such as Guzmania are on the ASPCA's non-toxic list for dogs and cats. Like any plant, they can cause a mild upset stomach if a pet eats a lot of the leaves.
What indoor air purifying plants are safe for dogs?
Bamboo palm, Spider plant, and Boston Fern are beautiful air-purifying plants that are non-toxic and dog-friendly.
Which succulents are safe for cats?
Several popular succulents are on the ASPCA's non-toxic list for cats and dogs, including haworthia, echeveria (hens and chicks), burro's tail and Christmas cactus. Our Red Christmas Cactus and Ponytail Palm, a drought-tolerant plant on the same list, are both in this collection. Skip aloe vera and jade plant, which the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs.
What are non-toxic low light houseplants?
Many dog- and cat-safe plants tolerate conditions where sunlight is scarce. Some of the best non-toxic low-light houseplants include Cast Iron plant, Spider plant, Maranta, Bird’s Nest Fern, Boston Fern, and Chinese Money plant.
Which plants are safe for cats but not dogs?
Spider plant, bamboo palm and ponytail palm are safe for both: the ASPCA lists all three as non-toxic to cats and to dogs. If you have both pets, check any new plant against the ASPCA's cat and dog lists before you buy.
Pet Safe Plants Shipped From Our Growers
Every plant in this collection is non-toxic to cats and dogs, and arrives with its light and watering needs on the label.
