Best Pet-Safe Houseplants for Cats and Dogs
Non-toxic houseplants that are safe around cats and dogs, drawn from the ASPCA's database, plus which popular plants to avoid and what to do if a pet nibbles a leaf.
Plenty of common houseplants are toxic to pets, and curious cats and dogs love to chew. The good news is that the ASPCA maintains a thorough list of plants that are non-toxic to cats and dogs, and many of them are easy, attractive, and widely available. This guide highlights the best pet-safe choices and pairs each with its care reputation so you can pick one that fits your home.
A word on what 'pet-safe' means: these plants won't poison a pet, but eating any plant in quantity can still cause mild stomach upset or vomiting simply from the fiber and irritation. Non-toxic means there is no dangerous toxin, not that a plant is meant to be eaten. When in doubt about any plant, check the ASPCA database directly, since common names overlap and a single shared name can cover both safe and toxic species.
Easy pet-safe plants for beginners
The spider plant is the poster child for pet-safe houseplants: non-toxic, nearly indestructible, and tolerant of a wide range of light and watering habits. The parlor palm and the kentia palm are both elegant, pet-safe palms that the ASPCA lists as non-toxic, unlike the toxic sago palm they are sometimes confused with. The Boston fern adds lush texture and is safe, though it wants higher humidity. The areca palm and majesty palm are also non-toxic and make safe floor plants.
For low-effort color, the calathea family (including calathea orbifolia and the prayer plant) is non-toxic to cats and dogs and brings striking patterned foliage, though they prefer humidity and even moisture. Peperomias are another compact, safe, low-maintenance group with dozens of leaf shapes to collect.
Pet-safe plants with personality
If you want trailing greenery, the string of hearts and the hoya carnosa are both listed as non-toxic, making them safer hanging-basket options than toxic trailers like pothos and most philodendrons. The Christmas cactus is pet-safe and blooms in winter, and the African violet (not on your collectible list but worth knowing) is also non-toxic. The polka dot plant adds pink-speckled color and is safe, as is the friendship-favorite Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides).
For something architectural, the ponytail palm is non-toxic and drought-tolerant, and the money tree (Pachira aquatica) is a safe, braided-trunk floor plant. The phalaenopsis orchid is also non-toxic, so it's a safe flowering choice for homes with pets.
Popular plants to keep away from pets
Several of the most common houseplants are toxic and best avoided or kept well out of reach. Pothos, monstera, all philodendrons, peace lily, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), and ZZ plant contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause intense mouth and throat irritation, drooling, and vomiting when chewed. Aloe, jade, and snake plant are also mildly to moderately toxic. Sago palm and lilies are far more dangerous: lilies can cause fatal kidney failure in cats from even tiny exposures.
If you already own toxic plants, you don't necessarily have to give them up, but place them where pets truly cannot reach them, since determined cats can access most shelves. When adding new plants, defaulting to the pet-safe list removes the worry entirely.
- Always verify a plant by its scientific name in the ASPCA database, since common names overlap between safe and toxic species
- Even non-toxic plants can cause mild vomiting if a pet eats a lot, so discourage chewing
- Keep the ASPCA Poison Control number (888-426-4435) saved in case of an emergency
- Use hanging baskets or high shelves for any plant you're unsure about
FAQ
What should I do if my cat or dog eats a houseplant?
First identify the plant by its scientific name and check whether it's toxic in the ASPCA database. For a non-toxic plant, watch for mild vomiting or drooling, which usually passes quickly; offer water and monitor. For a toxic plant, or if you're unsure, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 right away. Lily ingestion in cats is an emergency requiring immediate veterinary care, even from licking pollen.
Are spider plants really safe for cats?
Yes. Spider plants are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Cats are sometimes especially drawn to them and may chew the dangling leaves, which can cause mild stomach upset and vomiting from the fiber, but there is no dangerous toxin. If your cat is obsessive about chewing it, hang it higher or offer cat grass as a safer alternative.
Is the snake plant pet-safe?
No. The snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) is considered mildly toxic to cats and dogs and can cause nausea, vomiting, and drooling if chewed. It's a frequent point of confusion because it's such a popular easy-care plant. If you want a similarly tough plant that's pet-safe, choose a parlor palm, ponytail palm, or spider plant instead.