When I went to see what house plants and garden plants were poisonous to my cat, I was taken aback. By the looks of it, most plants appear to be poisonous to my cat! According to research, there are literally hundreds of common, everyday poisonous flowers and plants. Obviously, some must be consumed in large quantities to have a negative effect – but for some, simply inhaling pollen as your cat walks by could be fatal!
After reading through the seemingly endless list, I realised that obtaining a list of safe houseplants for cats might be better. It may be more convenient to have a list of cat-safe house plants to work with and to be familiar with the appearance of these harmless beauties for easy identification. Check out some of these amazing cat-safe plants that you can safely leave around your home.
Birds Nest Fern(Asplenium Nidus)
Many people wonder, “Are ferns toxic to cats?” This one isn’t! A fantastic low-light houseplant. It is native to Southeast Asia, Australasia, Polynesia, and Hawaii. This fern grows on trees, cliffs, and other objects in the wild, but you’re more likely to find it as a potted house plant. It is from a tropical environment and prefers humidity and moist soils but can tolerate the occasional dry spell.
In the wild, fronds can grow to be 20 to 59 inches long and up to 8 inches wide, but such growth is unlikely to occur in the home. It does not flower but has a lot of greenery. This is an excellent bathroom plant.
- Light Sources: Indirect light, medium to low
- Watering: Prefers moist composts and humid environments.
Calathea Rattlesnake (Calathea Lancifolia)
The rattlesnake, a native of Brazil, is not poisonous to cats or humans! In the spring and summer, it prefers indirect bright sunlight and to be kept moist but not soggy. It prefers humidity and can grow large leaves up to 30 inches tall. In the late season, it produces yellow/orange flowers. If the leaves wilt, you haven’t watered them lightly enough.
- Light Source: Direct but indirect sunlight.
- Watering: Keep moist in the spring and summer without soaking the compost. Winter watering is not necessary.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
It is very simple to grow because it tolerates many conditions. Even the most inept gardener can keep this hardy plant alive and flourishing with bright indirect light and sporadic watering. In the right conditions, a spider will produce flowers and send out tendril offshoots as it attempts to become mobile and spread. Overall growth is slowed by pot size, which makes it easy to separate and grow new plants from tendrils.
- Light Conditions: Bright but indirect light.
- Watering: Regular or sporadic – just don’t overwater.
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)
A popular houseplant that can reach heights of two to six feet in pots indoors. This small palm is popular in Mexico and Guatemala because it grows well in low light and at lower temperatures. This palm, which is usually potted in clumps, produces narrow, long, green leaves similar to those used on Palm Sunday. Although it does not produce flowers, this low-light houseplant is suitable for cats.
- Light Sources: Indirect light ranging from dim to bright.
- Watering: Prefers to be dry rather than wet, waterlogged, or sitting in water.
You May Also Enjoy: Are Succulents Poisonous To Cats and Dogs?
Staghorn Fern/Stags Horn Fern/Elk Fern (Platycerium Bifurcatum)
Its stag antler/moose antler-shaped leaves make it easy to identify. These ferns are native to Australia and grow on trees rather than the ground – though if you buy one, it will most likely come in a pot. These can grow to be quite large in the wild, but in a pot or outside of its natural environment, growth will be small and manageable.
This houseplant is becoming increasingly popular due to its distinctive appearance and the fact that it is relatively easy to care for. Are ferns harmful to cats? The staghorn fern most emphatically is!
- Light Conditions: Bright indirect light – cannot survive on artificial light alone.
- Watering: Will not tolerate overwatering; prefers misting and soaking; the more light, the more water. Water once a week on average.
Haworthia Zebra (Haworthia attenuate)
This succulent plant, which looks like a miniature cactus, is native to South Africa and is safe for cats and dogs. It has small, striped leaves and occasionally flowers when kept indoors. Temperatures ranging from 8 to 26 degrees Celsius are preferred, as is bright indirect sunlight. Similar to the aloe plant, but without the toxic latex to cats.
- Light Source: Bright indirect light.
- Watering: Water when the well-drained soil dries out in the summer, but avoid overwatering in the winter.
Xerographica Air Plant (Tillandsia Xerographica)
This amazing little plant requires no bedding at all! Its fronds/leaves wrap around itself like soft mossy leaves – very unusual but interesting to look at, and these plants are safe for cats! It prefers bright light and can live both inside and outside in the right conditions. How do you water an air plant? Spritzing and soaking Soak it for 15 minutes every other week or literally submerge it for a few minutes once a month!
- Light conditions: thrives in both direct and indirect light.
- Watering: Misting and soaking on occasion
Money Tree (Pachira Aquatica)
Another popular cat-friendly house plant is the money tree plant, which is thought to bring financial prosperity to its owner. They are easily identified by their interlocking trunks and are native to the swamps of Central and South America (that lock in good luck – so the theory goes).
They prefer water once a week and bright but indirect light and should not be confused with succulent money plants. While a money tree plant will look great in your home, it will not be suitable for your cat. Check out these cat trees to keep your cat busy and away from your plants…
- Light Source: Bright indirect light.
- Watering: Water once a week in the summer, but do not leave to stand in water.
Peperomia Green (Peperomia Obtusifolia)
This plant, also known as the baby rubber plant, is native to Mexico and the northern jungles of South America. This popular houseplant grows up to 25 cm tall when potted and flowers sporadically. It is distinguished by its cupped, fleshy, leathery leaves. Another one of those cat-friendly indoor plants!
- Light Conditions: Bright indirect light, sporadic direct light.
- Watering: Allow soil to dry before thoroughly watering – do not allow to sit in waterlogged soil.
Echeveria Lola
A small succulent plant that grows to 6 inches tall and is safe for cats. It has a distinct light purple appearance and is shaped like a single rosette. It’s simple to grow; don’t let it sit in water, remove dead leaves at the base, and give it plenty of sunlight, and it should do fine.
- Light Sources: Bright direct and indirect light
- Watering: Do not let the plant stand in water. Water frequently.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata)
If you’ve ever seen a fern indoors, it was most likely a Boston fern. Because of their interesting drooping fronds and ease of maintenance, these have been popular since Victorian times. They typically grow to be 30 cm tall but can grow much larger if repotted. These cat and dog-friendly house plants are native to most tropical regions worldwide and are said to clean the air very efficiently. They prefer bright indirect light and humid conditions, making them ideal for bathroom use. They require a lot of watering during the summer because they don’t like to dry out.
- Light Source: Bright indirect light.
- Watering: Keep moist but not wet, and take advantage of humid conditions.
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
The maidenhair fern can grow to be about 60 cm tall and diameter, but it can be kept smaller by limiting pot size. The leaves on the fronds of this fern are more rounded than those of the Boston fern. In the wild, it grows on rock faces or rocky river banks.
This is a difficult plant to keep indoors. It dislikes bright light but requires humid, wet air. This makes it a difficult plant to grow indoors. Is the maidenhair fern dangerous to cats? These picky plants are safe for your cat, but you’ll have to mist them daily, monitor water/humidity levels, and cosset the damn thing to keep it alive.
- Light Conditions: Shaded, away from direct sunlight.
- Watering: Mist the soil twice daily and keep it damp.
Bamboo Palm/Areca Palm (Dypsis Lutescens)
Our second palm on the list is a clumping palm that is graceful, upright, and easy to look at. It is very popular due to its good looks and low maintenance. Another cat-safe plant, these palms prefer bright indirect light, regular misting, and watering with soft rainwater once the top layer of their pot has dried. Keep away from radiators and other sources of high heat.
- Light Source: Bright indirect light.
- Watering: Misting occasionally, watering after the top layer of compost has dried out.
Prayer Plant (Maranta Leuconeura)
This plant, which is native to the Brazilian rainforest, gets its name from the strange spectacle of its movement as day gives way to night and vice versa. With changes in light, the plant wilts and recovers, resulting in a praying period. The interesting coloration on the leaves makes this plant a popular house plant, but it is difficult to care for. They thrive in moist, humid environments and prefer bright indirect light.
- Light Source: Bright indirect light.
- Watering: Keep moist but not wet, or they will succumb to root rot.
Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus Australis)
Swedish ivy is a popular house plant that spreads as a mat or cascades from high spots. It is neither a true ivy nor a Swedish ivy, but it is distinguished by its round, evergreen leaves with a saw-tooth edge.
This plant grows quickly and requires little maintenance. It dislikes overly bright areas and is frequently killed by overwatering. When touched, it produces white flowers and occasionally emits an aroma.
- Light Conditions: Shaded areas away from direct sunlight.
- Watering: Avoid overwatering; plants that have been underwatered can be revived, but those that have been overwatered are doomed. Allow the soil to dry before watering.
You May Also Enjoy: Terrarium Plants: 10 Low-Maintenance Plants That Do Well
Cast Iron Plant / Bar Room Plant (Aspidistra Elatior)
The cast iron plant, which is native to Japan and Taiwan, gets its name from the fact that it can be neglected without causing too much long-term damage. This evergreen’s broad, floppy leaves that shoot upwards from the pot make it a popular good-looking plant. Because it can withstand drought, pests, and low light, even inexperienced gardeners will find this plant simple to care for and keep looking good.
If you’re looking for the closest thing to an indestructible house plant, this is it.
- Light Condition: Avoid direct sunlight if possible.
- Watering: Water frequently in the summer and less frequently in the winter.
African Violet (Saintpaulia)
Do you need some colorful cat-safe flowers? Your huckleberry is the African violet. They are obviously African. Tanzania, in particular. They are available in various colors to suit any taste and are relatively simple to maintain. They prefer bright light to bloom but avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch delicate leaves. Once their compost has dried out, they prefer room-temperature tap water and regular fertilizing with plant feed.
- Light Conditions: Bright indirect light
- Watering: allow to dry out, then water with tepid water, and feed regularly.
Aluminum Plant/Watermelon Pilea (Pilea Cadierei)
A 30 cm tall evergreen perennial native to China and Vietnam. Both cats and humans are completely safe. A wide pointed oval variegated leaf with a shiny wax finish is typical. Flowers are produced, but they are unimpressive. The plant’s main feature is its large green and silvered leaves. It tolerates low light conditions well and must be kept moist.
- Light Sources: Indirect light and shaded conditions
- Watering: keep the compost moist but not soggy.
Friendship Plant (Pilea Involucrata)
This plant is native to Central and South America and is well-known for its ease of care and two-tone green fuzzy leaves. Likes indirect, low light and flowers with a pretty little pink flower on occasion. The friendship plant is so named because cuttings can be grown quickly into plants that can be gifted. It can reach a height of 6 to 12 inches.
- Light Conditions: Low indirect light, but some bright indirect light is required.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist in the summer and allow it to dry slightly in the winter. If possible, provide some humidity.
Lace Flower Vine (Alsobia Dianthiflora)
This is a trailing vine with lots of green soft leaves and a beautiful white flower in the spring. A lovely flower that can be moved outside in the summer.
This is a low-maintenance houseplant that can tolerate some neglect. It can be allowed to dry between waterings. It prefers bright to shaded light, making it easy to grow in most indoor environments.
- Light conditions: range from bright indirect to shaded.
- Watering: Can be left to dry between waterings.
Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus Radicans)
If you like flowers but the African violet isn’t for you, the lipstick plant might be a good substitute. This vine, named after its red flowers that protrude from darker red tubular sheaths, will flower almost continuously in the right conditions. Giving the vine plenty of water and bright indirect light should always produce red flowers. Overwatering should be avoided.
- Light Source: Bright indirect sunlight.
- Watering should be done once a week to avoid overwatering or standing in water.
Phalaenopsis Orchid/Moth Orchid
The ubiquitous moth orchid is your first port of call for a cat-safe flower. These are most likely the most popular flowering house plant. They are popular because they provide beautiful flowers in a variety of colors all year. Available at a variety of outlets for incredibly low prices. These plants produce an abundance of blooms before going dormant for an extended period of time. To re-bloom, expose them to cooler nighttime temperatures and water with an ice cube for about a month. Temperature changes bring them out of dormancy and back into bloom!
- Light Sources: A moderately bright windowsill or indirect light.
- Watering: Water every 7-10 days or when the soil becomes dry.
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya)
The polka dot plant gets its name from the visible pink spots on its broad green leaves. Its spots and dots can range in color from pink to scarlet, lavender, and white, making it a highly decorative plant native to Madagascar.
Although they can grow to be several feet tall in the wild, potted versions are much smaller. These plants prefer bright indirect light and moist soils and require monthly feeding. They will seek light in low-light conditions.
- Light Conditions: A wide range of light conditions, from shade to bright indirect light.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
This cactus is native to southeastern Brazil. They are typically found growing in humid environments on trees and rocks and are notable for their flat cacti leaves and red or white tubular flowers when in bloom.
These cacti are a popular house plant because they are simple to care for. Because they are nontoxic to cats, humans, and dogs, you can grow them without fear of poisoning your cat!
- Light Source: Bright indirect light.
- Watering: Soak once the top inch of compost is dry; do not leave it in water. Feed frequently.
Wax Plant (Hoya Carnosa)
This climbing plant, native to Asia and Australasia, has waxy leaves, hence the name “wax plant,” and produces scented flowers, making it a popular house plant.
This plant is nontoxic to cats and is relatively easy to care for because it prefers northern-facing windows with bright but indirect light. Keep the plant moist during summer; it should thrive and produce many fragrant flowers.
- Light Sources: Bright indirect light, windows facing north.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist during the growing season, but don’t overwater.
Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea)
The pony tail is a unique palm that has grown in popularity recently due to its fantastic shape and display. This plant originated in eastern Mexico and can grow to 30 feet tall in the wild, but the best you can get indoors is 4 feet!
Although it is called a palm because of its long shooting fronds resembling some palms, it is actually a succulent. This makes an easy-to-care-for houseplant because it can tolerate periods of low light and can live in semi-dry conditions, making it suitable for many home areas and lifestyles.
- Light Conditions: Preferably low light with some bright spells.
- Watering: This plant prefers dry conditions.
Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)
Basil is indigenous to tropical regions ranging from Central America to Asia. Several popular variations include Sweet, Thai, and Lemon Basil. Each variation has a distinctive flavor. This herb, well known for its culinary applications, does not flower but instead produces large leaves with a subtle aniseed flavor when cooked.
It can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Growing plants indoors is simple and requires only bright sunlight and moist, well-drained soil. Can cats consume basil? Yes, it is completely safe for both cats and humans…
- Lighting: Bright direct light is preferred.
- Watering: Keep moist but drain well.
Sage (Salvia Officinalis)
Sage is commonly used in cooking. Sage, distinguished by its woody stems, greyish leaves, and blue to purple flowers, emits a woody, pine-like aroma and is used as a flavoring in a variety of dishes, ranging from sausages to being sprinkled on meaty dishes for added flavor.
This herb, which is easy to grow both indoors and outdoors, is a must-have in any cook’s garden or kitchen. It prefers indirect light and well-drained soil, but it is very hardy and simple to grow. Non-toxic to cats and humans, as well as useful…
- Light Conditions: As much direct sunlight as possible.
- Watering: Water regularly, but avoid overwatering – Sage is drought tolerant.
Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)
Cooks love another Mediterranean herb that can be grown indoors! Is thyme safe to feed to cats? Yes, it is! Thyme is a low-growing shrub that prefers sunny, dry conditions and blooms with small white or pink flowers in the spring. Because of its drought tolerance and love of sunlight, this is ideal for keeping indoors – simply place it on a sunny windowsill, and you’re good to go.
- Light Source: Bright direct sunlight.
- Water sparingly and avoid leaving in damp conditions.
Conclusion
We love our pets and want the best for them every time. That includes choosing the best houseplants to put inside our home along with them. It’s not an easy choice, but we hope we helped you with our list of the best cat-friendly houseplant.
