Cats! Sigh. Such beautiful and intelligent and…mysterious animals. A lot of things at home are bad for them. They puke more often than is healthy for our (human) heart. And what is it with them and plants?! Why can’t they just ignore houseplants? But, nope. Their curiosity, both adorable and aggravating at the same time, will not let them. My cat, whom this blog is named after (B-)), likes to chew on certain plants. I thought she was missing cat grass, but no. She just didn’t like the cat grass that I painstakingly grew for her. Ever since, I’ve wondered about houseplants that are safe for cats. Although I know about the plants I already have at home, I thought I’d find out more.
- Can Plants be Toxic For Kitties?
- Gorgeous Houseplants that are Safe for Cats
- 1 // Bamboo
- 2 // Boston Fern
- 3 // African Violet
- 4 // Cat Grass & Catnip
- 5 // Bromeliads
- 6 // Spider Plant
- 7 // Haworthia
- 8 // Cast Iron Plant
- 9 // Prayer Plant
- 10 // Swedish Ivy
- 11 // Christmas Cactus
- 12 // Banana
- 13 // Areca Palm
- 14 // Peperomia
- 15 // Mosaic Plant
- Asparagus Fern
- 16 // Phalaenopsis Orchids
- 17 // Lipstick Plant
- What if your cat has already ingested something poisonous?
- Keep a cat emergency kit at all times
Can Plants be Toxic For Kitties?
Indoor plants are important – for aesthetics and for your mental health. But, unfortunately, plants can be toxic for your cat. If your cat eats something that’s toxic to her, she can get an upset stomach and be in pain, and even vomit out the contents. It’s usually not very harmful; just scary and upsetting for her and possibly nerve wracking for you. Why go through all that – just put in some work in the beginning to ensure all the plants accessible to your cat are safe for her:)
I’m very lucky because my cat doesn’t chew up plants. She likes to munch on a few bamboo leaves once a day, but that’s basically about it. I did wonder if bamboo was safe, and it turns out, luckily, that bamboo is safe for cats. I figured (and the vet agreed) that she may be using it as fiber to aid in digestion. Plus, it’s loaded with protein, so that may be an additional plus.
Still, I’m not taking any chances with my cat, so I made a list of house plants that are safe for cats – to eat, to nuzzle, to hang around – do whatever their curious hearts desire. There’s also a list of succulents that are safe for cats. (Buy houseplants supplies from Gardener’s Supply Company). You can cross-check this list with the bathroom plants that reduce humidity in the air.
Gorgeous Houseplants that are Safe for Cats
There are numerous cat-safe houseplants that are non-toxic for cats. Here’s an easy list of commonly found house plants that are safe for your cat.
1 // Bamboo
My cat loves bamboo, so I’m starting with this one. I didn’t grow it on purpose; I got it as a gift from my workplace, and just left it on the kitchen table. She was munching on the green leaves and I noticed, decided to Google ‘Is bamboo toxic to cats?’ before panicking, and voila! It’s fine for her. It’s also sturdy, easy to grow (i.e. you can give it a healthy dose of neglect), and looks good.
Now, I have a couple of bigger bamboo plants and she eats the tips of about three-four leaves every day. Just the tips. I guess it’s her way of contributing to the home decor.
2 // Boston Fern
It’s lush, it’s pretty, and it’s safe for the cat. These ferns need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. So they’re perfect for the indoors. They tend to dry out easily, though, so make sure the humidity levels are right for them.
3 // African Violet
They’re easy to grow and bloom year-round. Win-win.
4 // Cat Grass & Catnip
It’s usually loved by cats (unless your cat is like mine), and is a healthy grass for them to chew on. Plus, it works as a good distraction from your other plants. Your cat focuses on the cat grass and (hopefully) ignores the others. But, still, you need to make sure the other plants are safe for her.
Another cat-friendly option is catnip! This cat stimulant could make your cat very happy, and distract her from pursuing other plants.
Still other options are cat thyme (an herb that stimulates cats), lemongrass (a mild stimulant for your cat and a yummy addition to your tea), silver vine and licorice root.
5 // Bromeliads
These guys don’t need much light, which means they’re blooming even during winter! They are easy to maintain and come in various colors – check out the best indoor bromeliads for your home.
6 // Spider Plant
Good for us, while being safe for the cat: Spider plants are famously talented at purifying the indoor air in our homes. It’s a bonus that it’s also very pretty and easy to care for.
7 // Haworthia
These succulents are safe for cats, and are hardy and easy to maintain. Your cat may try (or even enjoy) chewing on the fleshy “leaves,” but rest assured no harm will come to her.
8 // Cast Iron Plant
They’re not made of iron, but they could be. They’re hardy, pretty, and harmless for the kitty. Check out the cast iron plant’s care instructions.
9 // Prayer Plant
They pray to the plant gods, begging to not get eaten by your cat. I’m kidding. Prayer plants have fascinating leaves, which fold up during the night (like palms folded in prayer). They, however, cannot help it if your cat decides to chew on them. Prayer plant care instructions here.
10 // Swedish Ivy
Hanging planters are tricky. We all know cats have a special weakness for anything that dangles. But, while you cannot prevent the pot from being knocked over by a mischievous cat, you can rest easy knowing this cat-friendly plant isn’t going to harm her. And you can get one of these hanging baskets to further prettify the plant!
11 // Christmas Cactus
The jolly season is almost upon us, and whaddaya know: these hardy cacti that bloom at Christmastime are perfectly safe for your cat! Merry Christmas, little kitty!
12 // Banana
What? Can I grow a tropical plant indoors? Yes. The banana (Musa) plant – usually the Dwarf Cavendish – needs bright light, nutritious soil and sufficient water to thrive. And it’s perfectly safe for cats.
13 // Areca Palm
Swaying Areca palms can trigger your cat’s inner hunter, but luckily, there’s nothing to worry about if your cat “hunts” and eats this prey. Palms in general may not be safe for your cat, but the Areca palm and even the parlor palm and ponytail palm specifically are non-toxic and safe for kitty.
14 // Peperomia
Caution must be exercised: these plants will pique the curiosity of your cat. But, they’re safe for kitty, and as a bonus they are air purifiers that clean your indoor air. Plus, they can go without water for longer than most other plants.So while you ideally shouldn’t forget to water them, it wouldn’t be an immediate disaster if you do.
15 // Mosaic Plant
A gorgeous plant that’s part artwork and part nature, it does well in low-light conditions, so it’s great for your basement, for example.
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Asparagus Fern
[Edited to add: The asparagus fern is toxic to dogs and cats. Please ignore this option from the list.]
It’s not a vegetable, but is related to the better-known asparagus, favorite vegetable of the healthy. It’s also not really a fern. Then what is it? I don’t know, but it’s certainly safe for your cat.
16 // Phalaenopsis Orchids
Edible flowers originally from Hawaii. Enough said.
17 // Lipstick Plant
Lovely bright red lipstick shade. They’re gorgeous, and definitely add a certain panache to your decor. And they’re super easy to care for, despite looking high maintenance.
For a comprehensive list of cat-safe plants, head to the ASPCA list of plants that are safe for pets.
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What if your cat has already ingested something poisonous?
Stay calm, and move the plant away from your cat. Try to induce vomiting using hydrogen peroxide if the substance was ingested. In case of topical contact, wash the area with mild dish soap.
Take your cat to the vet, if possible. Make sure you save a sample of the plant for your vet to look at. In any case, keep an eye on your cat – she may not exhibit adverse effects until hours after contact.
Keep a cat emergency kit at all times
Have the following items at home: 3% hydrogen peroxide, mild dish soap, saline solution wipes, eye flushing lubricant, and a syringe. Keep her harness (or leash) and her cat carrier ready to whisk her to the vet quickly.
Coming up next: which cats are safe for plants? Research has been inconclusive so far LOL.
We hope you enjoyed this list of indoor plants safe for cats! House plants that are safe for cats are not all that many, so do be careful when you’re choosing which ones to bring home. These plants are generally pet-friendly, and safe for cats and dogs, but, to reiterate, please do your research, as you know your cat/dog better than anyone.
If you liked this post, please share it with your friends. Thank you!<3
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
Because I live in Australia and often plants have different names here……..and I am new to indoor plants, could you possibly think about putting example pictures under your plant titles? It would be enormously helpful to a novice like me. This is just a suggestion, but I have never heard of a Mosaic Plant, so have no idea what it looks like or if it could be called something different here – just an example. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Hi Gina! That’s a good idea. Thank you for the suggestion:) I should have done that. I’m planning to write some more plant-related posts, and will include photos of all the plants. And I’ll update this post with all plant pictures as soon as possible:)
Thanks for stopping by! Love to Australia in these difficult times.
I just wanted to let you know that according to the ASPCA website, the asparagus fern is *toxic* to cats, which is the source always check for my houseplants. I just looked it up the other day because I saw one in a greenhouse and it was so pretty 🙁
Hi Lola,
OMG, thanks so much for letting me know. Really appreciate it. I’ve updated the entry on asparagus ferns to include the ASPCA information.
Thanks a ton! And thanks for stopping by. I hope you keep reading here:)
Hi, I was searching for some plants and I read that spider plant is toxic if eaten. Sometimes our fluffy friends might try to eat it. So we need to be aware
Hi Rita!
Thank you for highlighting this. I checked up on the ASPCA site, and they say the spider plant is non-toxic to dogs and cats. Of course, some cats and dogs may find it indigestible and may hurl it out, so it’s definitely important, as you said, to be aware and alert to their behavior and remove the plant if they react badly to it.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I really appreciate your comment.
Hydrogen peroxide is not safe to use for cat first aid !! “The use of hydrogen peroxide in cats is no longer recommended since it is rarely effective and can instead induce severe, life-threatening ulceration of the stomach.” (www.thesprucepets.com/make-cat-throw-up-5069519)