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Written bySarah Archambault
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Experienced personal finance writer
Background working with banks and insurance companies
Sarah enjoys helping people find smarter ways to spend their money. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans.
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Edited byAshley Cox
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7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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Updated August 13, 2024
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Houseplants can be a great addition to any living space, contributing to your home’s aesthetic and purifying the air. But ingesting certain plants can harm or even kill your pet, so it’s imperative that you only choose indoor plants that are nontoxic to dogs, cats, and other furry friends in your home.
Many pets are attracted to houseplants because of their smell, appearance, or accessibility. This is especially true if you have a curious kitten or puppy. Rather than risk your pet’s health or life by keeping toxic plants around, here are 20 pet-safe plants to consider.
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Best pet-safe houseplants
Pet-friendly houseplants generally mean the houseplant is safe for both cats and dogs. But it’s important to understand that certain plants that may be safe for cats could be toxic to dogs — and vice versa.
Depending on the pets in your home, you may need to look around to find the perfect plant that’s safe for everyone in your home.
Here are 20 of the best pet-safe houseplants for cats and dogs and how to care for each.[1] [2] [3]
African violet
Aluminum plant
Bamboo palm
Begonia
Boston fern
Bottle palm
Bromeliad
Calathea
Christmas cactus
Friendship plant
Gerbera daisy
Gloxinia
Kitchen herbs
Marigold
Money tree
Orchid
Peperomia
Spider plant
Venus fly trap
Wax plant
African violet
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If you’re looking for a small plant that’ll provide you with a pop of color all year long, the African violet is worth a look. This plant is small, making it ideal for tabletops, window sills, or hanging baskets. It’s also safe for cats and dogs alike.
Care: African violets enjoy a lot of sunlight and high humidity but don’t like being misted, so keeping them in a humid room (such as a bathroom) is ideal. They also like moderate to warm temperatures but are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, so be aware of any potential drafts.
Aluminum plant
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This low-maintenance houseplant provides fun, metallic leaves and is nontoxic to both your cats and dogs.
Care: Aluminum plants are easy to care for, requiring a bright, indirectly sunny spot in your home and even watering. You may need to mist the leaves on occasion, depending on the humidity in your space, and offer a bit more water in the spring and summer than in the colder months.
Bamboo palm
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Another safe houseplant option for cats and dogs is the bamboo palm, also known as a good luck palm or fishtail dwarf palm. Depending on your lighting and pot size, these miniature palms can grow from four to 12 feet tall, making them an excellent statement piece in the larger rooms of your home.
Care: Bamboo palms like medium or bright filtered light and enjoy drying out a bit between watering. Keep the temperature medium to warm, and keep the plant out of direct sunlight.
Begonia
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If you’re looking for a great gift or just want a potted plant with a unique look, consider buying a begonia. These trailing plants are nontoxic to both cats and dogs and will occasionally reward you with a beautiful bloom.
Care: Some species of begonia like more light than others, so you may need to move yours around to find out where it thrives. This might also mean moving the plant in the summertime so it doesn’t get too much direct light. Begonias like to stay evenly moist but never soggy.
Boston fern
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If you’re looking for a low-maintenance houseplant that can survive in most conditions in your home while also not harming your pet, consider the Boston fern. Like most true ferns, the Boston fern is safe for both dogs and cats while also purifying your home’s air.
Care: Caring for Boston ferns is relatively easy, as they require indirect or partial light and the occasional misting. They’re great for open spaces, bathrooms, or shaded porches.
Bottle palm
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Also known as a ponytail plant or elephant foot tree, the bottle palm is a frondy and fun addition to any home. It’s safe for cats and dogs and is relatively easy to care for indoors.
Care: Bottle palms can be easily grown in a container as long as you have a sunny spot for them to reside. They enjoy up to eight hours of sunlight per day and infrequent watering. You may also need to occasionally wipe dust off the fronds using a lightly damp rag.
Bromeliad
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The bromeliad is a colorful and long-living houseplant that comes in a variety of styles and hues. This plant is safe for both cats and dogs, and it flowers before producing pups that you can repot to form new plants.
Care: The bromeliad enjoys bright, indirect light and humid air. Don’t allow the soil to get soggy, but mist the leaves regularly to maintain humidity.
Calathea
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While caring for this tropical plant might initially be a challenge for anyone without a green thumb, a calathea can be a beautiful and nontoxic addition to any space. Calatheas come in a variety of patterns and colors that thrive with a bit of attention.
Care: Because the calathea is native to tropical rainforests — where the tree canopy overhead shades it — it doesn’t enjoy direct sunlight. You’ll need to keep it humid with regular misting and find a spot that’s warm but with indirect light.
Christmas cactus
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The Christmas cactus is a nontoxic plant to cats and dogs and belongs to the succulent family. Its name comes from its tendency to bloom in the winter months — usually around Christmas and Easter time — though it requires more frequent watering than a true cactus.
Care: You should only water Christmas cacti when the top third of the soil feels dry. When the plant is flowering, it may require more water. They like bright, indirect sunlight and rooms with higher humidity, like kitchens or bathrooms.
Friendship plant
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Whether you buy for yourself or a loved one, friendship plants are a fun and nontoxic choice for pet owners. These houseplants grow to be about 12 inches tall with soft, patterned leaves and occasional pink blooms. They can be easily propagated into new plants that make great gifts, explaining their common name.
Care: Friendship plants enjoy bright, indirect sunlight and high humidity. You may need to water more often in the growing seasons than in fall or winter.
Gerbera daisy
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Looking for a vibrant, flowering plant that’s safe for dogs and cats? Gerbera daisies offer bright blooms that add a pop of color to your home all year long.
Care: Well-draining soil and frequent watering will keep your gerbera daisy happy. They also enjoy a lot of bright, filtered sunlight and good air circulation. You can keep this plant outdoors during the summer, but be sure to bring it inside once the temperatures begin to drop.
Gloxinia
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This soft, velvet-leafed plant provides beautiful spring flowers, and you can even take it outdoors during the summer. It’s nontoxic for cats and dogs, as well.
Care: Gloxinia enjoy bright but indirect sunlight and consistent moisture indoors. Between blooms, they go dormant, during which you’ll want to cut back on watering a bit. If you move this plant outdoors for the summer, make sure it’s in a shaded spot.
Kitchen herbs
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While you probably don’t want your pet playing with plants that you’ll eventually eat or use for cooking, it’s good to know that many kitchen herbs, such as sage, rosemary, and basil, are safe for your cats and dogs.
Care: Most herbs enjoy regular watering and bright, indirect sunlight, such as a kitchen window. You can avoid root rot by not overwatering.
Marigold
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If you enjoy colorful flowers, the nontoxic marigold can add brightness to your home while keeping your cats and dogs safe. These plants can grow year-round indoors and will provide you with beautiful orange, yellow, or red flowers.
Care: Marigolds require a lot of light, so plan on at least five hours of direct sunlight per day. But to encourage blooming, they also need about 12 hours of darkness each night. Marigolds like frequent watering but don’t appreciate being soggy, so opt for a well-draining soil and pot.
Money tree
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Aside from the enticing name, the Chinese money plant is safe for both cats and dogs and is said to bring luck, good energy, and prosperity to the owner.
Care: Money trees are tropical and require high humidity along with bright, indirect light to thrive. This might mean putting it in well-draining soil on a tray of pebbles with water or frequently misting the plant.
Orchid
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One of the most beautiful houseplants you could add to your space is an orchid. With an array of colorful flowers to choose from, this large-leaved plant provides a lovely decor piece that’s also nontoxic to your cats and dogs.
Care: Keeping an orchid alive and thriving is tricky, as they require just the right amount of bright, filtered light to avoid scorching and encourage future blooms. Orchids like to be watered once a week or so, depending on whether they’re blooming. Low-light conditions are the most common reasons these beautiful plants fail to bloom.
Peperomia
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The peperomia is a fun, shiny-leaf plant that thrives in indoor pots and behaves almost like a succulent (except it’s pet-safe). It’s nontoxic to dogs and cats and really enjoys humid areas of your home.
Care: Keep peperomia out of direct sunlight. The leaves retain water like succulents and don’t enjoy overwatering, making them a lower-maintenance option. They thrive in warmer environments, so a humid and warm kitchen or bathroom is ideal.
Spider plant
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Not only are spider plants easy to care for, they also improve the air quality in your home by removing benzene, xylene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide from the air. Spider plants are safe for both cats and dogs, making them a good choice for any pet-friendly family.
Care: Spider plants are resilient and can easily withstand neglect, so they’re an easy option. These plants enjoy medium to bright light, average humidity, and a wide range of indoor temperatures. Spider plants grow quickly and need frequent repotting to avoid crowding their roots.
Venus fly trap
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Despite their carnivorous nature, these plants are great in any house and can even provide you with entertainment while being nontoxic to dogs and cats.
Care: A Venus fly trap can be challenging to care for — at least until you get the hang of its needs. This plant enjoys at least four hours of direct sunlight daily in addition to filtered water. Nutrient-poor soil with good drainage will help it thrive, and it’s important to note that it’ll have an annual dormancy period each winter.
Wax plant
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One of the most common houseplants is the wax plant, which boasts slender vines, waxy leaves, and the occasional white or soft-pink flowers in the blooming seasons. Also known as honey plants, they’re nontoxic to dogs and cats.
Care: Wax plants are in the hoya family and enjoy smaller pots with airy, well-draining soil. Water regularly, but let it dry out a bit between watering, and withhold water in the winter months to avoid root rot. Wax plants like bright, indirect sunlight and frequent fertilization.
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Most unsafe plants for cats
Many plants are mildly unsafe for cats and can cause dermatitis (itching skin), burning in the mouth after ingestion, and similar reactions. These include chrysanthemums (“mums”), irises, poinsettias, and azaleas, to name a few.[3] [4]
Some plants are toxic to your cat and can cause vomiting, digestive upset, kidney failure, or even death. Some of these include:
Aloe vera
Amaryllis
Asparagus fern
Begonia
Carnations
Eucalyptus
Geranium
Hydrangea
Lilies, including Easter lilies, peace lilies, and daylilies
Philodendron
Pothos or “Devil’s Ivy”
Tulips
Most unsafe plants for dogs
Even if they aren’t life-threatening, some plants are still mildly toxic to dogs, causing a burning sensation in the mouth, irritation, or itching on the skin. These might include daylilies (which can irritate sensitive dogs but are toxic to cats), junipers, poinsettias, and tradescantia.[3] [5]
There are also poisonous plants that can be very harmful to dogs and may even be fatal if ingested. These include:
Aloe vera
Amaryllis
Asparagus fern
Carnations
Geranium
Philodendron
Pothos
Tulips
What to do if your pet interacts with a toxic plant
If you suspect ingestion or notice any symptoms of plant toxicity in your cat or dog, follow these steps:
Get emergency advice. Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1 (888) 426-4435 right away. Experts are available 24/7, but you may need to pay a consultation fee. The Pet Poison Helpline can help you identify the plant your pet ingested and the immediate steps you should take to protect it.
Go to the vet. Depending on the severity of the symptoms and advice the Pet Poison Helpline provides, you may need to head to the veterinary hospital or make an appointment with your veterinarian. Seek immediate care if you have doubts.
Get a plant sample. Snip a sample of the toxic plant and bring it to the vet with you. This can be helpful with diagnosis and treatment.
Understand the treatment plan. Make sure you’re clear on the protocol for ongoing treatment, including medication dosage.
File a pet insurance claim. If your cat or dog has pet insurance, file a claim with your insurer for reimbursement.
Pet-safe plants FAQs
Check out this additional information about pet-friendly plants and houseplants that are toxic (or nontoxic) to cats and dogs.
Are pothos and succulents safe for pets?
No. Pothos is toxic to both cats and dogs, making it an unsafe houseplant to keep around pets. Certain succulents, like chicks and hens, are considered pet safe. But other succulents, such as aloe vera, are toxic.
If you have pets in the house, it may be a good idea to do your research or avoid succulents altogether.
Are pet-safe plants completely nontoxic to all pets?
Some pet-safe plants are only nontoxic to dogs, while others are only nontoxic to cats, so it’s important to research each plant according to the specific pets in your home.
Additionally, some plants are considered pet-safe but may still cause an allergic reaction in sensitive pets. The ASPCA has a great reference guide on pet-safe plants.
What symptoms may your pet display after ingesting a toxic plant?
Depending on your pet’s sensitivity and the plant’s toxicity, your pet may experience itching, burning of the mouth, drooling, or digestive upset. Severe toxicity can result in abdominal distress, kidney failure, lethargy, seizures, and even death.
If you suspect your cat ate a toxic plant, call your vet immediately and keep your cat from eating any more of it.
How can you safely keep your pet from ingesting your plants?
To keep your pet safe from plants, you should always ensure that you only bring nontoxic houseplants into your home. Even nontoxic plants can upset a pet’s stomach if ingested, so putting plants out of reach — such as in a hanging basket or high windowsill — can help prevent your pet from eating them.
Sources
- Homes & Gardens. "Best pet-safe indoor plants – 10 house plants to keep your furry friends safe."
- Chewy. "9 Air-Purifying Plants Safe for Dogs and Cats."
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Poisonous Plants."
- Metropolitan Veterinary Center. "Avoid This CAT-Astrophe! 10 Spring Flowers That Are Toxic To Cats."
- Leaf & Paw. "A Guide to Tradescantia."
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Sarah Archambault
Sarah Archambault enjoys helping people figure out how to manage their finances and credit. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans. Her work has been featured on Credit Karma, Experian, LendingClub, Sound Dollar and USA Today Blueprint. She also writes for national insurers, banks and financial institutions like Aetna, MassMutual, Stripe, and UnitedHealthcare.
Sarah has been a contributor at Insurify since December 2022.
7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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