Pet-Friendly Houseplants: 13 Safe Plants for Cats and Dogs

Cats chew leaves, puppies dig in pots, and many of the most popular houseplants, like pothos, monstera and snake plants, are toxic to pets. The good news: plenty of beautiful, easy houseplants are non-toxic to cats and dogs, so you do not have to choose between a green home and a safe one.

This guide lists the best pet-friendly houseplants with simple care for each, the common plants to keep away from pets, and what to do if your pet eats a plant.

Pet-friendly houseplants at a glance

Plant	Light	Water	Difficulty
Spider plant	Bright, indirect	When top inch is dry	Very easy
Calathea / prayer plant	Medium, indirect	Keep lightly moist	Moderate
Parlor palm	Low to bright, indirect	When top inch is dry	Easy
Areca palm	Bright, indirect	When top inch is dry	Moderate
Boston fern	Bright, indirect	Keep lightly moist	Moderate
Peperomia	Medium to bright	When half the soil is dry	Very easy
Haworthia	Bright, some sun	When fully dry	Very easy
African violet	Bright, indirect	When top is dry, from below	Moderate
Christmas cactus	Bright, indirect	When top inch is dry	Easy
Cast iron plant	Low to medium	When top 2 inches are dry	Very easy
Money tree	Bright, indirect	When top 2 inches are dry	Easy
Hoya	Bright, indirect	When mostly dry	Easy
Polka dot plant	Bright, indirect	Keep lightly moist	Moderate

All plants on this list appear as non-toxic to cats and dogs on the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants list. Always check the exact species, because similar-looking plants can differ.

The best pet-friendly houseplants

1. Spider plant

Chlorophytum comosum. The classic beginner plant: tough, fast-growing and full of arching striped leaves and baby plantlets.

Care: Bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Brown tips often come from tap water minerals; filtered water helps.

Pet tip: Cats love to chew the dangling leaves. It is non-toxic, but a lot can cause mild vomiting. Hang it out of reach if your cat is a nibbler.

2. Calathea and prayer plant

Calathea (Goeppertia) and Maranta leuconeura. Stunning patterned leaves, and prayer plants fold their leaves up at night.

Care: Medium to bright, indirect light, no direct sun. Keep the soil lightly moist and use filtered water. They like humidity of 50% or more.

Pet tip: A great swap for people who love the look of toxic plants like dieffenbachia.

3. Parlor palm

Chamaedorea elegans. A graceful, slow-growing palm that copes with lower light.

Care: Low to bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch is dry. Avoid soggy soil.

Pet tip: A safe choice for a dog-friendly living room corner.

4. Areca palm

Dypsis lutescens. Big, feathery and tropical; a pet-safe alternative to a fiddle leaf fig as a statement plant.

Care: Bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch is dry. Brown tips mean dry air or uneven watering.

5. Boston fern

Nephrolepis exaltata. Lush, full fronds that look great in a hanging basket.

Care: Bright, indirect light. Keep the soil evenly moist and humidity high. A bright bathroom is ideal.

Pet tip: Hanging it keeps it safe from digging dogs and fronds stay out of reach.

6. Peperomia

Peperomia spp.. Compact, thick-leaved and nearly indestructible, with dozens of shapes and colours.

Care: Medium to bright, indirect light. Water when half the soil is dry. Its thick leaves store water.

7. Haworthia

Haworthiopsis / Haworthia spp.. A small, striped succulent that looks like an aloe but is safe for pets.

Care: Bright light with a little direct sun. Water only when the soil is completely dry. Use gritty cactus mix.

Pet tip: Choose this instead of aloe vera, which is toxic to cats and dogs.

8. African violet

Saintpaulia spp.. One of the few houseplants that flowers almost all year indoors.

Care: Bright, indirect light. Water from below when the top of the soil is dry and keep water off the fuzzy leaves.

9. Christmas cactus

Schlumbergera spp.. Easy and long-lived, with bright flowers in winter.

Care: Bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch is dry. Cool nights in autumn trigger blooms.

Pet tip: Pet safe, unlike many other holiday plants such as amaryllis and lilies.

10. Cast iron plant

Aspidistra elatior. Earned its name by surviving low light, dry air and neglect.

Care: Low to medium light. Water when the top 2 inches are dry.

Pet tip: A safe alternative to the toxic snake plant or ZZ plant for dark corners.

11. Money tree

Pachira aquatica. A braided trunk with glossy, hand-shaped leaves; a popular gift plant.

Care: Bright, indirect light. Water when the top 2 inches are dry. Rotate it for even growth.

12. Hoya

Hoya carnosa. A trailing vine with waxy leaves and sweet, star-shaped flower clusters.

Care: Bright, indirect light. Let the soil dry out mostly between waterings.

Pet tip: A pet-safe swap for pothos and philodendron if you love trailing vines.

13. Polka dot plant

Hypoestes phyllostachya. Bright pink, red or white speckled leaves that add colour fast.

Care: Bright, indirect light. Keep the soil lightly moist. Pinch tips to keep it bushy.

Also pet safe: bird’s nest fern, ponytail palm, echeveria and rattlesnake plant. See our propagation guide to grow more of these for free.

Common houseplants that are toxic to pets

These popular plants are listed as toxic to cats and dogs. Keep them out of reach, or swap them for a safe alternative:

Toxic plant	What it can cause	Pet-safe swap
Pothos, philodendron	Mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting	Hoya
Monstera	Mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting	Calathea or areca palm
Snake plant, ZZ plant	Vomiting, diarrhea	Cast iron plant
Peace lily	Mouth irritation, drooling	Calathea or Boston fern
Aloe vera, jade plant	Vomiting, lethargy	Haworthia, echeveria
Dieffenbachia	Severe mouth irritation, swelling	Prayer plant
Fiddle leaf fig, rubber plant	Mouth and skin irritation	Money tree or parlor palm
Dracaena	Vomiting, drooling	Parlor palm

Already own toxic plants? See our Monstera deliciosa care guide and snake plant care guide for how to grow them safely out of reach.

How to keep pets and plants safe together

• Know the exact plant name before bringing it home. Common names can be misleading.
• Use height: hanging planters, high shelves and tall plant stands keep plants away from curious paws.
• Cover the soil with large pebbles or a mesh topper to stop digging and soil eating.
• Offer cat grass (wheat or oat grass) as a chewing alternative.
• Check products, not just plants. Fertilizers, systemic pesticides and some leaf shines can be harmful. Store them away and keep pets off treated plants until dry.
• Clean up fallen leaves and flowers, especially from toxic plants.
• Watch for chewing habits. Constant plant chewing can mean boredom; more play and enrichment helps.

Need to treat pests? Our houseplant pests guide covers gentle options like rinsing and insecticidal soap. Find hanging planters and stands in our houseplant supplies guide.

What to do if your pet eats a plant

1. Remove any plant material from your pet’s mouth and move the plant away.
2. Identify the plant. Take a photo or the plant tag with you.
3. Call your vet or a pet poison hotline right away, even if your pet seems fine. In the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available 24/7 at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply).
4. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
5. Watch for symptoms: drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or loss of appetite.

This guide is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Always contact your vet with concerns about your pet.

Quick action checklist

Keep a list of every plant in your home, with its safety status, in the Houseplant Journal. For light and watering basics, see our lighting guide and watering guide.

Pet-friendly houseplants FAQ

Sources and further reading

Want to go deeper? These university extension and expert resources cover the same topic:

• ASPCA: Toxic and non-toxic plants list
• ASPCA: Animal Poison Control Center
• Pet Poison Helpline: 24/7 animal poison control