A Guide to Houseplants You Can Keep with Cats
As houseplants have grown popular, more people are bringing greenery indoors. Here are the houseplants you can grow with peace of mind while living with a cat.
Plants have become an essential part of home decor. But in a home with a cat, you have to check a plant's toxicity before bringing it in. Cats tend to chew and lick plants, so the risk of exposure to a toxic one is greater than you'd think.
Plants you can keep with confidence
Gerbera Daisy
With its bright colors that liven up a room, the gerbera daisy is safe for cats. It's popular both as a potted plant and as a cut flower.
Orchids
There are many kinds of orchids, but the ones commonly sold — like the Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) — are non-toxic to cats. Their elegant look and long-lasting blooms make them great for decor.
Roses
The ASPCA lists roses as non-toxic to cats. Mind the thorns when you choose a spot for them.
Plants that need caution
Peace Lily (caution needed)
Often called a "peace lily," it actually carries mild toxicity for cats. It isn't completely safe, but it isn't life-threatening either. If you can, keep it up high out of reach, or swap it for another plant.
Air Plants (Tillandsia)
Air plants grow without soil and are popular as decor, but they are not on the ASPCA list, so there is no confirmed source for them where cats are concerned. flower cat's air plant page marks them as caution.
An earlier version of this guide also listed waxflower and freesia here; we took them out because there is no confirmed source for either one where cats are concerned.
Common but dangerous houseplants
These popular houseplants are best avoided in a home with a cat.
Monstera
It's no exaggeration to call Monstera the number-one houseplant on Instagram, but it's toxic to cats. It contains calcium oxalate, so chewing causes mouth pain, drooling, and vomiting. Keep it on a high shelf out of reach, or replace it with a safer plant.
Pothos (Devil's Ivy)
Easy to care for and popular with beginners, pothos is also toxic to cats. As with Monstera, calcium oxalate is the problem.
Aloe Vera
Known for its skincare benefits, aloe causes vomiting and diarrhea if a cat eats it.
Dieffenbachia
Its large, tropical-looking leaves make great decor, but it's very dangerous for cats. Chewing can cause immediate mouth pain and swelling.
How to place plants safely
If a toxic plant is hard to give up, you can block your cat's access with these approaches:
- Put it on a high shelf or wall shelf your cat can't climb to
- Use a heavy pot so it won't tip over if your cat bumps it
- Enclose it in a glass case or terrarium to block access entirely
The surest approach is to choose only safe plants from the start. It stings to give up a beautiful plant, but your cat's health comes first.
Search a plant's name on flower cat to instantly check whether it's toxic to cats.