Pet-Safe Houseplants for Cats and Dogs: An Easy List

Pet-safe houseplants with a tabby cat on a sofa

If you share your home with a cat or dog, plant shopping gets stressful fast. Many popular houseplants can make pets sick if chewed. This list covers easy plants that the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs, so you can decorate without worrying as much.

Important: "non-toxic" does not mean "good to eat." A pet that chews a lot of any plant can still get an upset stomach. Always check the plant's exact name in the ASPCA database before you buy.

Easy pet-safe houseplants

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Nearly impossible to kill. It likes bright, indirect light and drying out a bit between waterings. The hanging "babies" are fun for cats, so hang it up high.

Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

A soft, tropical look that handles low to medium light. Keep the soil lightly moist, never soggy.

Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Loves humidity, so a bathroom with a window is perfect. Keep the soil evenly damp and out of hot, dry drafts.

Calathea and prayer plant (Calathea, Maranta)

Beautiful patterned leaves. They prefer medium light and are happiest with filtered or distilled water if your tap water is hard.

Peperomia

Compact and tidy with many leaf styles. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry. A great desk plant.

Areca palm and bamboo palm

Good for filling a bright corner. Give them space and bright, indirect light.

Money tree (Pachira aquatica)

Often sold with a braided trunk. Bright, indirect light, and let the top half of the soil dry before watering.

Christmas cactus and haworthia

Both are easy and stay small. Water sparingly and use a pot with drainage.

Common plants to keep away from pets

These popular plants are listed as toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA, so place them out of reach or choose a safe plant instead: pothos, philodendron, monstera, snake plant, peace lily, ZZ plant, aloe vera, jade plant, fiddle leaf fig and dieffenbachia.

See my pothos care guide if you already own one and want to keep it safely out of reach.

Tips for plants and pets

  • Use hanging planters or high shelves for any plant you are unsure about.
  • Remove fallen leaves quickly, since pets often chew these first.
  • Skip fertilizer sticks and slow-release pellets in pots your pet can reach.
  • If your pet chews a plant and acts sick (vomiting, drooling, lethargy), call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away. A consultation fee may apply.

Looking for more ideas? Read why plant leaves turn yellow in my yellow leaves guide.

Always confirm a plant on the ASPCA website, because common names are shared by different plants.

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