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Well after reading through the seemingly never-ending list it occurred to me that it might be better to get a list of houseplants safe for cats. Of course, for the sake of your plants and your pets, you’ll want to keep all houseplants out of the general reach of your pets. Miller also suggests ensuring you’re not housing any toxic houseplants such as aloe vera, cutleaf philodendron and pothos and snake plants. And if you have a balcony, don’t risk allowing your cat access unless there’s a protective barrier. Snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) are popular due to their unique appearance and ability to clean the air of toxins in your home.
Why do cats eat houseplants?
Plus, they’re fairly easy to maintain, requiring just some bright to full light and weekly watering in warmer seasons. They grow best in moderate indirect light but can tolerate slightly shadier environments too, perfect if you live in a darker house or apartment. A word of warning, these houseplants can grow up to 8 feet tall, so if you’re not looking for a tall houseplant that needs some tending and pruning, this isn’t the one for you. Sturdy, safe and stylish, spider plants are aptly named for their eight legged look, and are sure to add a decorative flair to any room. Bonus – ferns are one of the easiest houseplants to look after, and are fairly low maintenance.
Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)
The plant is said to bring good fortune, hence the name, and it’s not too tricky to look after – water once the top couple of inches of compost has dried out and mist every few days. Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) is a low-maintenance house plant that will do well in a place that gets bright light. It’s also known as pancake plant due to its round leaves that can reach 15cm across. The Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is a wonderful cat safe houseplant that looks great, and your cat will also love it.
XEROGRAPHICA AIR PLANT
7 Houseplants That Are Safe for Pets (And 4 You Should Definitely Avoid) - Apartment Therapy
7 Houseplants That Are Safe for Pets (And 4 You Should Definitely Avoid).
Posted: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Even though they have an exotic appearance, they’re relatively easy to care for. They just have to be kept in a spot with bright, indirect sunlight and get watered regularly. You can keep leaf and stem cuttings in water, and they should sprout roots within a couple of weeks. The parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) adds tropical flair to even the dreariest of spaces with its cheerful nontoxic fronds.
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)
These toxic plants can have effects ranging from mild stomach upset to organ failure and even death. Below are just a few houseplants that should be avoided, according to Dr. Rosen. Spider plants grow best in light shade, and direct sunlight should be avoided to prevent scorched leaves.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis)
“Luckily, there are many types of prayer plants available, so you can relax and load up on this family of feline-friendly plants,” says Blocker. Although this charming trailing succulent is nontoxic, what's an easy way to keep it safe from your inquisitive cats? Hang it from your ceiling or on the edge of a high shelf in a bright, sunny spot. Bright light will encourage the growth of its long, ropelike stems into a beautiful hanging plant your cats can't touch. Typically topping off at about 4 feet when mature, the parlor palm grows as well in the more relaxed atmosphere of living rooms as it once did in Victorian parlors. And you won’t need to palm it off on a friend if you catch your cat eating it, since it is nontoxic.
Dr. Fox received her veterinary education at Cornell University and has 15-plus years of experience in the field. She has worked in emergency, shelter, medicine, surgery, and general medicine. Dr. Fox is passionate about client education and making sure pet parents have the most up-to-date, accurate, and accessible information to empower them as caregivers and companions. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
This attractive plant, with big oval leaves, can cope with some shade and will brighten a dull spot indoors. Xerographica air plants also tolerate higher levels of light than some other air plants. Place your air plant in really bright light, without too much direct sunlight and water once per week by submerging it in water. If you’ve got a cat at home, you’ll know they often like getting in amongst your plants and maybe even having a little nibble on a few leaves or flowers. Whilst you might be a bit upset if your houseplants lose some leaves or blooms to a hungry or curious kitty, it’s even more important to pick houseplants safe for cats.
Money tree
Money trees can grow to be several feet, making them a welcome addition for pet parents seeking large indoor plants not toxic to cats. There's nothing quite like the striking presence of a lush Boston fern to add an elegant touch to a room. As a bonus, these ferns are easy to care for, requiring warm temps and bright, indirect light. They're nontoxic to cats, but if you really want to make sure prying paws don't come into contact with your plant, simply pot it in a hanging basket and suspend it from your ceiling. That way, it'll be out of reach of even the most acrobatic kitties. Very popular due to its good looks and relatively low maintenance.
There are plenty of plants that grow well in low-light conditions that don’t pose a threat to your cats. Haworthia (haworthia species) also known as the zebra cactus, is a small succulent safe for cats. Note that not all succulents are cat friendly, so choose carefully.
However, in the winter, it’s advisable to reduce watering as the plant goes into a period of dormancy. But the cats’ carnivorous nature makes them less capable of processing plant materials. Excessive consumption of the plant may lead to digestive issues. However, some cats may have allergies or sensitivities to these plants.
The plant has saponins, which can be toxic to cats if ingested in large quantities. Kept as a houseplant, it can do well in a small hanging basket or as an addition to your terrarium. The fronds or leaves contain sap that can cause allergic dermatitis in cats. It can lead to skin irritation, redness, itching, swelling, or blisters when in contact with it. While the asparagus fern is not highly toxic to cats, it can still cause issues if ingested. To create a safe environment for your cat and your prayer plant, keep the plant out of your cat’s reach.
Some also choose non-toxic, non-allergenic, pet-safe houseplants to keep them safe. There are many reasons housecats and other pets might chew on houseplants. Bamboo palms are non-toxic to cats, and they come in a wide variety of sizes.
Native to tropical regions, Boston Ferns thrive in humid conditions. I find cats are often quite attracted to the Christmas cactus, and mine always seems to get a bit beaten up, but as long as my cat is ok, then I don’t really mind too much. Christmas cactuses are to be enjoyed, and as long as both me and my cat are having fun, then I’m happy to keep my Christmas cactus around. Check out my article about Areca palm care which goes into all the detail you’ll need to grow and care for this awesome plant. If your loved ones with cats can’t keep a plant alive, this is the gift for them. Pet parents know every cat has their quirks, and that extends to what they like to snack on.
They grow pendulous heads of waxy looking, five-pointed star-shaped flowers. Peperomia is a large genus of over 1000 small perennial plants that make great houseplants. They are kept for their wonderful ornamental foliage, which comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. As a preventive measure, refrain from bringing any plants into your home if you don’t know their species or name. If you discover that you have a toxic plant or flower, promptly rehome it or relocate it to an area inaccessible to your cat. As Poinsettia are toxic to cats and dogs, I like to use Polka Dot Plants instead at Christmas, and sprinkle them with a bit of gold dust for a real festive feel.
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