Thinking about adding a small indoor plant into your home? Before you head to your local greenhouse, it’s important to know which plants are not only easy to care for but also safe for cats and dogs. While dogs may be more prone to leave indoor plants alone, cats and houseplants are another story.
Your feline companion is much more likely to be able to jump onto a high shelf or warm itself in your plant’s favorite sunny window. The easiest way to prevent this wandering curiosity is to only bring non-toxic plants into your home.
While the list of houseplants can be endless, we’re identifying our favorite indoor plant options that are not only low maintenance, but safe for cats and dogs as well.
What Does It Mean To Be Toxic To Pets?
While these 12 houseplants are generally recognized as safe for cats or dogs to eat, many indoor houseplants, such as pothos or snake plants, have a varying level of toxicity. This can range from light stomach upset, stinging or burning of the mouth and throat, vomiting, drooling or diarrhea. While you want to minimize any dangerous exposure from these plants to your pet, the symptoms are generally recognized as more mild when ingested in smaller quantities.
When selecting a houseplant, many that have bright colors can be identified as more likely to contain toxins that are harmful to pets, although this is not exclusive. Plants that are under stress, have protective measures (such as thorns), or during various stages of the growth cycle (such as flowers and/or seeds) can change how toxic the plant can be to your pet. The age, size, and breed of your pet can also affect their reaction when ingesting any of this toxic plant material.
Here is an exclusive list of 7 Low Light Indoor Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs!
African Violet
African violets (Saintpaulia) are one of the most popular flowering houseplants due to their ability to bloom in low light and their affinity for the same environmental conditions that people like: moderate temperatures and average humidity. Choose a soil-free potting mix and use a balanced fertilizer for best African violet health.
Baby Tears
This creeping mat of tiny green leaves of Soleirolia soleirolii adds character to terrariums, small hanging baskets, and as a companion plant around the base of indoor trees. Baby tears plants cover the soil and might discourage pets that like to dig in your houseplants.
Spider Plant
Thank you, spider plant (Chlorophytum), for looking just as cool today as you did in grandma’s kitchen in 1978. Also known as ribbon plant or airplane plant, the spider plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs and will tolerate a wide range of light, moisture, and soil conditions.
Areca Palm
Also known as the butterfly palm, Dypsis lutescens makes any interior feel like a piece of the tropics. Sometimes palm fronds can trigger a cat’s playful swatting and biting instincts, so it’s comforting to know that the areca palm isn’t toxic for cats or dogs. Place it in a bright room, and allow soil to dry out between waterings.
Calathea
Calathea spp. plants also called zebra plants or peacock plants, bear large tropical leaves with fascinating stripes or stippling. A calathea is an excellent choice for a shady spot in the house, as too much light can cause the foliage color to fade.
Peperomia
The diversity of colors and textures across the Peperomia species keeps them on the shortlist of popular houseplants. They are non-toxic to cats and dogs, look great in hanging baskets, and don’t mind if you forget to water occasionally.
Orchid
If you have a passion for orchids (Orchidaceae), you can safely add them to your go-to list of pet-safe plants. Many orchids bloom for weeks in the winter when days are short, thriving in partial light and root-bound conditions.
