Last updated on December 16th, 2023 at 10:53 pm
You have a curious cat or two at home, and you’re wondering which succulents are toxic to cats and which ones are safe. Worry not, my friend. This post lists 8 succulents safe for cats. Bonus? The succulents look gorgeous, they’re pretty hard to kill, and are probably the start of a beautiful friendship provided your cat(s) doesn’t get jealous and chew them up or knock them off the table. Well, even if kitty does chew them up, they won’t harm her. So, that’s the important thing here! These succulent plants are all safe for cats.
Having said that, though, kitty is a tough one to predict. So, please keep these plants somewhere she cannot easily reach them. A hanging planter can be a great (and cat-safe) addition to your home decor! And if your indoor air needs some cleaning up, here are cat-safe non-toxic air purifying indoor plants.
Ok, now without further ado, let’s jump into it.
- 16 Gorgeous Succulents Safe for Cats
- 1 // CHRISTMAS CACTUS (Schlumbergera truncata)
- 2 // MORNING BEAUTY (Echeveria Subsessilis)
- 3 // GHOST PLANT (Graptopetalum)
- 4 // HENS AND CHICKS (Sempervivum)
- 5 // PRICKLY PEAR (Opuntia ficus-indica)
- 6 // PONYTAIL PALM (Beaucarnea Recurvata)
- 7 // SEDUM BURRITO (Sedum Morganianum)
- 8 // ZEBRA HAWORTHIA (Haworthia Fasciata)
- 9 // MEXICAN PEACOCK ECHEVERIA (Echeveria peacockii)
- 10 // CHINESE MONEY PLANT (Pilea peperomioides)
- 11 // DRAGON FRUIT CACTUS AKA PITAHAYA (Selenicereus undatus)
- 12 // LIVING STONE (Lithops spp.)
- 13 // HINDU ROPE PLANT (Hoya carnosa Compacta)
- 14 // MEXICAN SNOWBALLS (Echeveria elegans)
- 15 // MEXICAN FIRECRACKER (Echeveria setosa)
- 16 // SPIDER PLANT (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Succulents Poisonous to Cats
- 1 // Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
- 2 // Jade (Crassula ovata)
- 3 // Euphorbia or Spurges (Euphorbiaceae)
- 4 // Kalanchoe or Widow’s Thrill (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
- 5 // String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
- 6 // Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
- 7 // Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
- 8 // Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)
- ASPCA's list of plants that are toxic to cats
- What if My Cat Ate a Succulent?
- FAQs
16 Gorgeous Succulents Safe for Cats
These succulents are safe for your cat, so go ahead and enjoy them! (Note: mealybugs are common pests found on succulents. Learn how to get rid of mealybugs naturally, so you don’t harm your cat.)
1 // CHRISTMAS CACTUS (Schlumbergera truncata)
Also known as Thanksgiving cactus or Easter cactus, this festive little guy is a popular holiday gift option. Though we’ve just crossed that season, you can still bring one home. The flowers are beautiful, but will only bloom in winter (so if you’re lucky, you can buy a Christmas Cactus in full bloom right now!). And unlike most other holiday gifts, this succulent is low maintenance.
Care Instructions for Christmas Cactus
2 // MORNING BEAUTY (Echeveria Subsessilis)
These rose-shaped succulents are native to the hot and dry parts of Central America. They come in a range of eye-catching colors and produce gorgeous flowers to boot.
3 // GHOST PLANT (Graptopetalum)
Apt name! These pale-looking plants with a rosette-shaped growth need watering only once every other week. A cool thing about them is that they change shades based on the amount of sun they receive. This is likely to keep you more curious about this plant than your cat will be!
Care Instructions for the Ghost Plant
4 // HENS AND CHICKS (Sempervivum)
So these hardy plants are called Hens and Chicks. They have little evergreen rosettes (‘chicks’) unfurling out of the original rosette (‘hen’), and can survive in extreme conditions.They are, in fact, popular in rock gardens because of their hardiness and their stunning colors and shapes.
Care Instructions for Hens and Chicks
5 // PRICKLY PEAR (Opuntia ficus-indica)
Other types are the cactus pear and the paddle cactus. The Opuntia is commonly known as an edible variety of cactus. Btw, did you know cacti are a type of succulent? There are over 200 edible cacti that belong to the Opuntia succulent species. They’re edible alright, but covered in prickly spines, which is enough by itself to deter your cat. They are extremely drought-resistant, so it is recommended to water them twice a month.
Care Instructions for Prickly Pear
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6 // PONYTAIL PALM (Beaucarnea Recurvata)
The naming is not a surprise, although they could’ve also gone with ‘coconut palm’ or ‘fountain palm!’ The Ponytail Palm is very hardy, and often used as a decorative piece of home decor. I guess it’s easy to forget it’s alive when you only water it once a month or whatever!
7 // SEDUM BURRITO (Sedum Morganianum)
Also known as Burro’s Tail or Donkey’s Tail, the Sedum Burrito is a cute little fleshy succulent that your cat probably would love to play with. This plant is easy to deal with, and is a perennial succulent. And it looks great from a hanging planter set-up.
Care Instructions for Sedum Burrito
8 // ZEBRA HAWORTHIA (Haworthia Fasciata)
This is among the most popular Haworthia species, with its thin leaves and ‘zebra’ striping. This low-maintenance succulent can be a stunning addition to your home that will also not adversely affect your home’s feline inhabitants.
Care Instructions for Zebra Haworthia
9 // MEXICAN PEACOCK ECHEVERIA (Echeveria peacockii)
These low-maintenance, flower-shaped echeverias are little feline-friendly gems. They just need a sunny nook and a sip of water every now and then to brighten your space and give you a vibrant splash of color.
10 // CHINESE MONEY PLANT (Pilea peperomioides)
Meet the Chinese money plant, a little charmer with plump, coin-shaped leaves. This succulent thrives on neglect. It needs bright, indirect sunlight and occasional watering.
11 // DRAGON FRUIT CACTUS AKA PITAHAYA (Selenicereus undatus)
Imagine biting into a juicy, magenta dragon fruit grown right in your living room. That’s what you get with some perfectly calibrated TLC for this succulent. Bonus? This cactus is not so prickly.
12 // LIVING STONE (Lithops spp.)
If you want to bring in some weirdness into your home, then this is a good cat-safe option. They have no stems, and look like stones – an evolutionary advantage that protects them from hungry animals. They might fool your cat, but make sure your cat doesn’t try to play fetch with these “balls.”
13 // HINDU ROPE PLANT (Hoya carnosa Compacta)
The Hindu rope plant (Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ or ‘Krinkle Kurl’) is a succulent vine with dangling stems and thick waxy leaves. It is native to East Asia and Australia and is very cute with its unique foliage and fragrant flowers. It needs bright indirect light, well-drained soil, moderate watering, and high humidity to thrive.
14 // MEXICAN SNOWBALLS (Echeveria elegans)
Mexican snowballs have extremely pretty blue-green to silver-green leaves that form rosettes. They are native to Mexico and produce pink and orange bell-shaped flowers in spring and summer.
15 // MEXICAN FIRECRACKER (Echeveria setosa)
Mexican firecracker is a succulent plant with green leaves covered with fine white hairs that form rosettes. It is native to Mexico and produces red and yellow flowers in spring and summer. It needs well-drained soil, bright light, and occasional watering to be happy.
16 // SPIDER PLANT (Chlorophytum comosum)
I have seen this show up on many succulent lists. Although not a true succulent, the spider plant is adapted for drier conditions, and – just in case – it is safe for cats.
Succulents Poisonous to Cats
The succulents listed below are some of the major offenders, and it’s best you keep them out of your house if you have a cat. If ingested by kitty, these succulents can cause a host of symptoms, from mild discomfort to vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy – to even severe symptoms such as depression, low heart rate, and incoordination.
1 // Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
2 // Jade (Crassula ovata)
3 // Euphorbia or Spurges (Euphorbiaceae)
4 // Kalanchoe or Widow’s Thrill (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
5 // String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
6 // Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
7 // Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
8 // Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)
ASPCA’s list of plants that are toxic to cats
What if My Cat Ate a Succulent?
Stay calm, and move the plant away from your cat. Do you know what she ate? If it’s a toxic succulent, 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.
If your vet isn’t reachable, your other options are to call ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or the Pet Poison Helpline ((855) 764-7661).
FAQs
1 / What are the symptoms of plant poisoning in cats?
Symptoms of plant poisoning in cats can vary, but look out for these:
Symptoms of Irritants
- Itchiness, scratching
- Swelling
- Red, watery eyes
- Irritation around the mouth
Serious Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Breathing difficulties
- Irregular heartbeat
- Drooling, difficulties swallowing
- Frequent Urination
2 / How long does it take for a cat to react to a poisonous plant?
A cat can react within minutes of ingesting a poisonous plant. And if you suspect your cat has ingested a poisonous plant, but is yet to show symptoms, do not wait – call your vet immediately.
That’s it! I hope this post was useful to you and your cat. Enjoy the cat-safe succulents!
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