Animal-Friendly Houseplants That Are Safe for Dogs and Cats
Ready for a little spring greening? Adding a new houseplant is a great way to brighten the ambiance, boost your mood, and help clean the air inside your home—but if you have a dog or a cat, it’s important to choose houseplants that are safe for them.
Some houseplants are toxic to animals and can cause mouth and digestive irritation, seizures, breathing issues, and even death. Before bringing any new plant into your home, you should be sure that it isn’t toxic to your cat, dog, or any other animal companion with whom you share your home.
The good news is that many gorgeous houseplants are safe for the dogs and cats in your household! Here are just a few:
Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Blue Echeveria (Echeveria glauca)
American Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)
Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
Edible Plants (such as basil, cilantro, and dill)
Orchids
Rattlesnake Plant (Calathea lancifolia)
Hens and Chicks Plant (Sempervivum tectorum)
Zebra Plant (Haworthia fasciata)
Air Plants (Tillandsia)
Don’t Forget These Cat-Friendly Plants!
Alfalfa grass
Alfalfa grass is a great option for your feline friend, as it’s been shown to help prevent and treat kidney disease in cats.
Oat grass
Oat grass can help digestion, is high in protein and soluble fiber, and contains iron, manganese, zinc, and B vitamins.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, making it a great all-around option for adding nutrients to cats’ diets.
Which Houseplants Are Toxic to Animals?
Many common houseplants, such as aloe vera and lilies, are toxic to companion animals. For a more comprehensive list, check out our guide to houseplants that are toxic to dogs and cats.
If one of your animals does ingest a houseplant—any houseplant—always play it safe and immediately call your veterinarian or the 24-hour Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) for further guidance. If any of these sources are unresponsive, call PETA immediately, day or night, at 757-622-PETA (757-622-7382) and listen to the prompts.
Don’t just keep your companion animals safe—help all cats and dogs! Here are some ways you can take action:
- Sponsor a doghouse.
- Always spay and neuter your companion animals and urge others to do the same.
- Adopt, don’t shop!
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