Houseplants That Are Safe for Cats and Dogs
Our own greenhouse has a cat. She is not allowed in, and she knows it, but she has made it clear over the years that she is interested in anything green and leafy. So when customers ask which plants are safe to have around pets, it is a question we take personally.
Here is what we tell them, along with a few habits that make life easier for plants and animals sharing the same home.
What "safe" means
When we call a plant safe for pets, we mean it appears as non-toxic to both cats and dogs on the widely published plant toxicity lists that vets and animal charities use. Non-toxic does not mean a pet should eat it. A cat that chews a lot of any plant may vomit, and a dog that eats a houseplant can still end up with an upset stomach. The point is that these plants are not known to cause poisoning.
If your pet eats any plant and seems unwell afterward, call your vet.
Our three pet-safe plants
We keep our list short, because we only stock plants we know well. All three of these are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Calathea has the most striking leaves of the three, striped and patterned in green, cream and silver, often with purple undersides. It wants bright, indirect light, steady moisture and some humidity. It is the most demanding of the three, but its leaves are spectacular.
Parlor palm is the easiest. It forms a soft clump of feathery fronds, grows slowly, and copes with rooms where many plants would struggle. Water it when the top inch of soil is dry and it asks for very little else.
Boston fern is the lushest, a cascade of arching fronds that looks best hanging or on a stand. It needs bright, indirect light and humid air, and it should not be allowed to dry out. Cats do tend to bat at the fronds, so hanging it high helps the plant as much as the pet.
You will find all three together in our pet-safe collection, with notes on the light and care each one needs.
Popular plants to avoid
Several of the most popular houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs, and some of them are plants we grow and sell ourselves. If you have pets, avoid these, or keep them somewhere your animals truly cannot reach:
- Snake plant: toxic to cats and dogs. Avoid it in a home with pets that chew.
- ZZ plant: toxic to cats and dogs. Avoid it if your pets can get to it.
- Golden pothos: toxic to cats and dogs. Its trailing vines are especially tempting to cats.
- Monstera: toxic to cats and dogs.
- Lilies: some are extremely dangerous to cats in particular, even in small amounts. Do not keep them in a home with a cat.
These are not the only toxic plants, just the ones we are asked about most. Before buying any plant for a home with pets, check it against a toxicity list rather than relying on a label or a guess.
Keeping pets and plants apart
Even with safe plants, a few habits help.
- Go up. Shelves, hanging planters and plant stands keep leaves out of reach of dogs and make them less tempting to cats.
- Give cats their own greenery. A pot of cat grass grown on purpose often draws attention away from your houseplants.
- Cover the soil. Some pets dig rather than chew. A layer of large pebbles over the soil discourages digging and also stops soil being scattered across the floor.
- Watch new arrivals. Pets are most curious about a plant in its first few days in the house. Keep an eye on them while the novelty wears off.
- Clear up fallen leaves. A dropped leaf on the floor is far more inviting than one still on the plant.
If you already own a toxic plant
You do not have to give it away. Many pet owners keep toxic plants safely by putting them where pets simply cannot go: a room with a closed door, a high shelf a cat cannot jump to, or a hanging planter well clear of furniture. Be honest about your own animals. A sleepy older dog and a young, climbing cat are very different risks.
If you are building a collection from scratch with pets in mind, though, the easiest path is to start with plants that are safe in the first place. Choose from pet-friendly options like the three above, enjoy them anywhere in the house, and save yourself the worry.