Pet-Friendly Houseplants: Safe Plants For Cats & Dogs
There’s no question that both houseplants and pets make our homes a happier place. They both make great company, give us something to take care of, and bring so much joy to our lives. And that’s why we put together this list of pet-friendly houseplants that are easy to grow and keep alive for the long haul.
We want to make sure that your cats, dogs, and indoor plants can live together in harmony. If your pets tend to nibble on houseplants or you keep them low to the ground, make sure they’re safe.
We chose these 26 non-toxic plants because they’re easy to find online, most are sold at local nurseries and big-box stores, and are easy to maintain. We want both you and your pets to live in harmony!
Pet-Friendly Houseplants
Note: Eating any plant can cause vomiting or diarrhea in pets, even those considered non-toxic. The plants listed here are designated as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. The terms pet-friendly and non-toxic are used interchangeably when referring to houseplants.
Every pet is different. I currently have three kitties, and two of them couldn’t care less about my plants. Out of the 80+ houseplants in my home, only Tazzy likes to chomp on Spider Plants. Ivan, one of my cats from 30 years ago, was only interested in bromeliads. Pet owners, you never know!
Christmas Cactus
Christmas Cactus is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for houseplant that blooms around the holidays. It loves bright light but no direct sun, so keep yours out of a hot window. The one shown below is actually a Thanksgiving Cactus, but like many others, it was sold as a Christmas Cactus (or Holiday Cactus).
Be sure not to overwater your Christmas Cactus, because, with all plants, this will cause root rot. Since Christmas Cacti are actually tropical cacti, they like a little more humidity than other cacti. You can mist them to keep them looking nice, but avoid doing so when in bloom.
Many people think of Christmas Cactus as a blooming plant, but they are actually long-lasting indoor plants. Our neighbor growing up had one that was 22 years old and absolutely gorgeous!
Christmas Cactus Growing Guides:
- Christmas Cactus Care Tips
- How To Propagate Christmas Cactus
- How To Get Your Christmas Cactus To Flower Again
Baby Rubber Plant
A Baby Rubber Plant is a great option for beginning indoor gardeners because it’s low-maintenance. Its thick, glossy dark green leaves make it so attractive! It does well in moderate, bright indirect light. Make sure not to keep this pet-friendly houseplant too close to direct light, or else its leaves can burn.
Since the thick leaves and stems store water, it’s easy to overwater this plant. Water every 7–10 days in summer and every 14–21 days in winter, depending on your home’s conditions.
Let the soil almost dry out in between waterings. One good way to measure this is to insert your finger or a moisture meter directly into the soil. If your finger comes out dry or the meter reads dry, then it’s time to water.
Baby Rubber Plant Growing Guides:
- Pruning and Propagating a Baby Rubber Plant
- How To Plant Baby Rubber Plant Cuttings
- Baby Rubber Plant Care
Hoyas
Hoyas, usually sold as hanging plants but can be trained to grow upwards, are another great pet-friendly option for beginners because they are very durable. They offer so many choices in terms of leaf shape, size, and color; you’re sure to find one you love.
Hoyas love bright, natural light. You can keep them close to a bright window, just not in a window with a south or west exposure.
It’s definitely better to underwater your Hoya than to overwater it. In the summer, water them about every 7-10 days; in the winter water every 14 days or so. Just make sure the soil is almost dry before watering.
Hoya Care Guides:
- 4 Ways To Propagate Hoyas
- Hoya Plant Care
- How To Grow A Hoya
- Hoya Pubicalyx Care
- Sweetheart Hoya Care Tips
Spider Plant
Spider Plants are one of the most popular houseplants, and they keep on giving! As they mature, you’ll see babies, aka pups or spiderettes, appear on long stems. They’re easy to propagate and make great gifts for friends, family, or you can keep growing your collection.
They’re suited for beginners because of their durability, adaptability, and ability to thrive in various conditions.
These pet-friendly houseplants have thick roots. Check the soil every 10-14 days and water yours when the soil is almost dry. Be sure to let the water drain through the pot, and if in a saucer, don’t let it sit in water.
Spider Plants do best in bright, indirect light. That’s where they will produce the most babies. They’ll adapt to lower light conditions, but you won’t see many babies, and growth will be slower and less robust. Make sure yours isn’t in hot sun, or else the leaves will burn.
Spider Plant Care Guides:
- Spider Plant Care
- How To Propagate Spider Plants 5 Ways
- Spider Plant Repotting
- 1 Way To Get More Spider Plant Babies
Ponytail Palm
Ponytail Palms are a fun and unique houseplant that thrives with lots of bright light. It needs moderate to high light and does not do well with lower light.
Make sure to rotate your Ponytail Palm so it gets even light exposure all around. You might even want to move yours to a brighter window in the winter months to keep it growing strong.
They grow very slowly, which is good for beginners, since they won’t need to be repotted as often as other houseplants.
Ponytail Palms store water in their trunks and bulbous bases, so let yours dry out completely between waterings.
Ponytail Palm Growing Guide:
Haworthia
This is about as low-maintenance a houseplant as it gets, and it’s one of my all-time favorite succulents. I’ve been growing them for more than 25 years, and I love that they’re small and slow-growing. They can also stay in the same pot for years, which is a big plus if you don’t want a plant that constantly needs repotting.
Zebra Haworthias don’t need much water. Let the soil dry out completely before watering again, and always use a well-draining succulent mix and a pot with a drainage hole. When in doubt, it’s better to wait a little longer than to water too often.
They prefer bright, indirect light and should be protected from hot, direct sun, which can scorch their leaves. They can tolerate lower light, but they may become pale, thin, and weaker. One of my favorite things about these haworthias is how easily they produce babies, or pups, which can be separated and replanted to make more plants.
Haworthia Growing Guide:
Phalaenopsis Orchids
Phalaenopsis orchids are popular blooming houseplants, and for good reason! Their flowers are beautiful, they’re widely available, and when cared for properly, they can last for years and bloom multiple times. I especially love that they’re now available in so many colors and sizes.
Phalaenopsis Orchids like lots of bright, natural light, but keep them out of hot, direct sun, which can quickly burn their leaves. Water thoroughly, let the excess drain completely, then allow the orchid to dry out a bit before watering again. Make sure your Moth Orchid is properly fertilized if you want it to be a long-lasting houseplant.
Phalaenopsis Orchid Growing Guides:
Peperomias
Peperomias are very similar to Hoyas in their care. They do best in moderate, indirect light, but some can also tolerate lower light conditions. If your Peperomia has highly variegated or colorful foliage, it’ll need more light to maintain those beautiful colors and patterns.
Let your Peperomia almost dry out completely before watering again. They don’t like to stay completely dry for too long, but they also don’t like sitting in wet soil.
There are so many beautiful Peperomias to choose from, with different forms, colors, leaf sizes, shapes, and growth habits. The Baby Rubber Plant shown above is actually a Peperomia. It’s so tough and so popular that it got its own listing (plant #2)!
Peperomia Growing Guides:
- Peperomia Care
- Watermelon Peperomia Care
- Raindrop Peperomia Care
- Ripple Peperomia Care
- Peperomia Hope Care
- Answers to Peperomia Care FAQs
- Repotting Peperomias
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of those plants that’s both attractive and useful. It’s a succulent with a purpose, and the fleshy leaves contain a soothing gel that can be used for minor burns, skin irritations, and more.
When it comes to watering, this popular plant is definitely a less-is-more plant. Its thick leaves and roots store water, so let the soil dry out before watering again. As a general rule, I water mine every 2–4 weeks, depending on the temperature, light, soil, and pot size. Always use a pot with a drainage hole and don’t let yours sit in water or heavy soil.
Aloe needs lots of bright, natural light to grow well and produce those plump leaves and baby plants, or pups. A spot near a south- or west-facing window works well, but keep it a couple of feet away from hot glass. Give it enough light, don’t overwater it, and you’ll have a beautiful, useful plant for years.
Aloe Vera Growing Guides:
- Aloe Vera Plant Care
- Growing AloeVera Indoors: 5 Common Mistakes
- How To Repot Aloe Vera
- Answering Your Questions About Aloe Vera
- 7 Ways To Use Aloe Vera Leaves
Bromeliads
Bromeliads are gorgeous, colorful houseplants, and there are so many to choose from! Favorites are the Guzmanias, with their bright flower heads, and the Aechmea fasciata, with its gray-green foliage and pink flower head. My favs are the Neoregelias with their colorful, long-lasting foliage. They don’t have a tall flower spike, but their foliage is often colorful enough to be the star of the show.
Bromeliads do best in bright, indirect light, which helps them produce pups and eventually flower again. Keep the central vase about 1/4 to 1/2 full of water, and water the potting mix about once a month or every two months. Don’t keep the vase constantly full, though, because stagnant water can lead to rot. I empty and refresh the water regularly to keep the plant healthy.
Bromeliad Growing Guides:
- Guzmania Care
- Bromeliad Care 101
- Neoregelia Care
- Aechmea Care
- Pink Quill Plant
- How To Water Bromeliads
- Propagating Bromeliads
Air Plants
Air Plants are also members of the Bromeliad family, but because they’re so popular, I gave them their own section. They’re fascinating plants to have in your home because they don’t need soil to grow.
Air Plant care can be a little tricky in our dry homes, but they’re definitely worth a try. Look for varieties with fuzzy, thick, or silvery leaves, as they’re generally tougher and better adapted to growing indoors.
Bright natural light is best for air plants. They’re not low-light plants. Just because they don’t grow in soil doesn’t mean they don’t need light. Another interesting thing about Air Plants is that they absorb water and nutrients through their leaves rather than their roots. In a dry home, you’ll usually need to soak and/or mist them two or three times a week.
Air Plant Growing Guides:
Air Plant Care
African Violets
African Violets are beautiful flowering houseplants that are both adaptable and surprisingly durable. They do have a few special needs, including a special well-draining soil mix and careful watering, but once you get the hang of their care, they can bloom again and again.
They’re one of the most popular flowering houseplants for good reason, and there are so many to choose from, including miniatures, variegated varieties, and flowers in a wide range of colors. You’ll also find both single and double blooms.
My Nana grew African Violets in a dry sink in her Connecticut home and was an ace at getting them to rebloom over the years. I always think of her when I see these pretty little plants, which makes African Violets extra special to me—even though I haven’t been able to keep one alive for more than two years here in the Arizona desert!
African Violet Growing Guide:
Neanthe Bella Palm
This indoor palm is usually sold as a tabletop plant or used in dish gardens, but given time, it can grow into a full, bushy floor plant that tops out around 4′ tall.
A Neanthebella does best in moderate light, but tolerates lower light conditions with slower growth. While loving humidity, it handles average household humidity better than many palms. Keep an eye out for spider mites, though, as this palm is very susceptible to them. Neanthebella Palm Growing Guide:
Bonus: Cat Grass
If your curious cat nibbles on your houseplants, you might want to buy them a plant specifically for them. And cats aren’t the only pets that can enjoy eating this plant; it’s safe for dogs to eat as well. Cat Grass will provide your pets with some extra nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
Nell grew her own cat grass from seeds last year you can read more about that here.
13 Other Pet-Friendly Houseplants Worth Mentioning
These plants may be harder to find or more challenging to keep happy for the long haul than the ones listed above, but they’re still worth a shot if you come across one, like the look, and have the right growing conditions.
Kentia Palm. These palms are gorgeous, graceful, and adapt to lower-light conditions. They grow slowly and are expensive.
Bamboo Palm. These were popular floor plants when I worked as an interior landscaper in Boston, NYC, and San Francisco. They’re lovely, but like other indoor palms, they’re prone to spider mites—and they’re a bigger investment (though not as much as a Kentia or Rhapis Palm).
Areca Palm. These are the least expensive taller palms, but they’re not easy to keep alive and looking good for the long haul. When I worked for a florist, we used them often for parties and events, but rotated them out and replaced them with fresh plants to keep our stock looking its best.
Boston Fern. I used these en masse for events when I worked for a florist, and they’re beautiful plants, but they can be difficult to keep looking good for more than six months without plenty of humidity. They’re best suited to a naturally humid home or someone who doesn’t mind giving them extra attention.
Cast Iron Plant – The dark green leaves of a Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra) shoot up like flames on skinny stems reaching 2-3′ tall. This isn’t a “glitzy” plant, but it sure is a tough cookie, as its common name suggests. They can grow in lower-light situations, but can be hard to find.
Prayer Plant. These are beautiful plants with fascinating leaves, but tend to be fussy about water, humidity, and light. They’re not the easiest houseplant to keep happy long-term, especially in a dry home.
Calathea. Like Prayer Plants, Calatheas can be fussy about their growing conditions, but they also have gorgeous foliage. They’re also harder to find, depending on where you live.
Staghorn Fern. I grew Staghorn Ferns in my Santa Barbara garden for years, and even though they’re tough ferns, they need special care and plenty of humidity to do well indoors. You may find them for sale growing in pots, but I especially love the way they look mounted on a bark slab.
Venus Flytrap – I worked at a nursery in Berkeley, CA, that sold these fascinating plants, and kids went crazy for them! They’re fun and wacky, but can be challenging to keep happy indoors because they need high humidity, plenty of light, and the occasional small bug to keep them going.
Chinese Money Plant – This plant is said to bring good luck and is easy to propagate. It can be a little hard to keep happy long-term, especially if your home is dry or the light isn’t right.Money Tree. Here’s another one that is rumored to bring good fortune. It’s fun and unique because it’s usually sold with a braided trunk, but it can be a little fussy in dry homes.
Burro’s Tail. These popular succulents are also known as Donkey’s Tail or Horse’s Tail. They do well in partial sun or bright, shaded areas outdoors, but need strong light indoors. Given the right conditions, their trailing stems can eventually grow several feet long.
String Of Hearts. This beautiful trailing succulent can grow long enough for its vines to reach the floor. Mine happily outdoors in Santa Barbara, and I brought it with me when I moved to the Arizona desert. Sadly, it died two years later (it missed the humidity and fog!).
Tips for Living With Plants and Pets
Pets chewing on plants is part of their nature, but not all of them are interested in houseplants. I’ve lived with plants and cats for over 40 years, and only two of my kitties have shown much interest in them—and even then, they were very particular. Ivan loved crunchy bromeliads, while Tazzy loves crunchy Spider Plants.
Dogs get plenty of opportunities to sniff and interact with plants when they’re outside for walks, but many cats live indoors. Your houseplants may be their only chance to chew on something green! If your pet shows an interest in your plants, here are a few things to consider.
Keep plants out of reach. Place them on high shelves, bookcases, or in hanging pots. Keep in mind that cats are good jumpers, so make sure your plants are truly out of reach.
Think about plant choice. My kitties were drawn to grass-like plants such as bromeliads and Spider Plants. Cacti and Snake Plants don’t seem nearly as appealing to them.
Pick up fallen leaves and stems. Do this as soon as you can. A fallen leaf can be hard for a curious pet to resist!
Be careful with fertilizers and pesticides. Avoid granular fertilizers and systemic pesticides if your pet likes to dig in the soil. I don’t use pesticides, and I feed my plants with liquid fertilizers.
The bottom line: Pets chewing on plants is instinctive. Playing with your pets and giving them toys may distract them, but if yours really wants to feast on your plants, it probably won’t stop them completely. I’ve heard that some pets outgrow the habit, but you never do know. If yours is a plant chewer, it’s best to choose from this list of non-toxic plants.
Heads up: If your pet chews on a plant you know or think is toxic, stay calm. First, identify the plant so you know what you’re dealing with, then watch for signs to see how your pet is reacting. Contact your veterinarian or a pet urgent care clinic immediately if needed. The ASPCA also has a Poison Control service if you need further guidance.
General Plant Care Tips
I thought I’d include this section in case you’re a beginning gardener. We’ve written many articles on houseplant care and succulent care that you can reference if you need more help.
Here are a few basics to get you started. Plants grow best when they’re in the right light and location for their needs. Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect light without strong, hot sun shining directly on them, which will burn their foliage.
Most like to dry out a bit before being watered again, so easy does it with the watering can! Use a potting mix formulated for houseplants or succulents (depending on the plant), and always use a well-draining mix and pots with drainage holes so excess water can flow out to prevent root rot.
Fertilize monthly during the growing season, repot as needed, keep your plants clean, and be on the lookout for pests.
Pet-Friendly Plants FAQs
Can a pet-friendly plant make my cat or dog sick?
Yes. Eating leaves and stems can cause mild stomach upset and vomiting even if the plant isn’t toxic. Every three weeks or so, my kitty Tazzy loves to chomp on his Spider Plant (yes, he has his own that sits on a low stool) and throws up soon after, usually with a hairball.
Which non-toxic houseplants are the easiest for beginners?
My top three easy-care picks for safe indoor plants are haworthias, aloe vera, and ponytail palms. Ask me next week; this could change!
My pet ignores plants now. Is it worth buying pet-safe plants?
That’s up to you. I’ve heard that a pet’s habits can change over time. Personally, though, that hasn’t been my experience. Out of all the cats I’ve owned over the years, none have suddenly started chewing on my houseplants.
Are hanging plants completely safe from pets?
Depending on how high up and where they’re hanging, yes and no. If they’re next to a chair or table, your pet could access them. Cats are excellent climbers, so don’t assume a hanging plant is completely out of reach.
Do pet-safe houseplants need special fertilizer compared to regular houseplants?
No, they use the same fertilizers as any other houseplant. If your pet tends to dig in the soil, choose an organic fertilizer and avoid using a granular one that sits on the soil surface. Liquid fertilizers mixed into water are the safest option for homes with curious pets.
Conclusion: I hope this list of pet-friendly houseplants inspires you to add more greenery to your home. By choosing pet-safe options, you can enjoy beautiful indoor plants while creating a healthy environment and a pet-friendly home for your furry friends.
Happy gardening,
Humane Society Of Southern Arizona. Summer lives with Miranda & was adopted from the
Animal Rescue Foundation.
- About the Author
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Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.
