Safe House Plants For Pets
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on my site, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.
Keeping safe houseplants around pets is crucial because many common indoor plants can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested or chewed on. Curious pets often nibble on leaves or dig in plant soil, so choosing non-toxic plants protects their health and keeps your home worry-free.
Here are the key reasons it’s best to stick with pet-safe houseplants:
- Prevents Accidental Poisoning – Plants like lilies, philodendrons, and pothos can cause vomiting, drooling, kidney damage, or worse in pets. Safe plants eliminate this risk.
- Peace of Mind – You won’t need to constantly monitor or stress about your pets getting into your greenery.
- Healthier Home Environment – Many safe plants, such as spider plants, Boston ferns, and areca palms, not only pose no danger to pets but also help purify the air and add natural beauty indoors.
- Encourages Positive Behavior – Pet-safe plants mean you don’t have to scold your furry friends for being curious. This creates a calmer, friendlier environment at home.
- Supports Long-Term Pet Wellness – Avoiding toxic plants helps prevent unnecessary vet visits, medical bills, and stress for both you and your pet.
In short, choosing pet-friendly houseplants is the best way to enjoy the beauty and benefits of greenery indoors without compromising your pets’ safety.
If you have pets in your home, knowing which houseplants are safe and non-toxic around your pets is important.
Safe House Plants For Pets:
- African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)
- Baby’s Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
- Chinese Money Plant (Pilea Peperomioides)
- Banana Tree (Musa spp.)
- Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa)
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum)
- Parlor Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
- Boston Fern (Nephrolepis)
- Calathea (Calathea spp.)
- Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
- Air Plant (Tillandsia stricta)
- Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
- Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)
- Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)
- Orchid (Orchidaceae)
- Mosaic Plant (Fittonia albivenis)
- Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)
- Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
- Purple Passion Vine (Gynura aurantiaca)
- Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
- Calathea rattlesnake (Goeppertia insignis)
- Staghorn fern (Platycerium)
- Money Tree (Guiana chestnut)
- Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus australis)
- Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
- Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)
- Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi)
There are more, but I stopped the list here. If you’re wondering if a plant is toxic to pets, Google it, and you’ll find out. Use trusted sources.
Ivy & House Plants:
Ivy has never bothered my house plants, nor has she in the past. However, I still keep houseplants out of her reach if possible. She is pretty tall when she stands on her hind feet, though, so I’m vigilant.
She might dig a little in the dirt, but that’s it.
My favorite house plants to grow indoors are various pothos, ponytail palms, calatheas, prayer plants, snake plants, spider plants, and money plants. The pothos and snake plants are toxic to pets.
That’s not to say I don’t like other plants. There’s just too much to list here.
I’ve had the most luck with pothos, ponytail palms, prayer plants, snake plants, and money plants.
I tend to overwater calatheas and spider plants because they don’t seem to last as long as the others. I’m going to work on rectifying that.
One of you mentioned yesterday that you water your plants from the bottom. I’m going to try that because fungus gnats are laying eggs on the surfaces and are really annoying.
I have missed the house plants I had before and gave to Maria for her mother. But it just wasn’t wise to try to deal with the plants I had when it was time to bring them indoors last fall.
It was just months after my ankle surgery, and I was barely getting around on my knee scooter. Now that I’m able to walk a little better, I think I can handle smaller house plants.
Loving the houseplant posts! I especially like the round leafed plant in the photo today – the one between the pony tail palm and the prayer plant – think I got that right. You take such good care of them and they look so happy!
Just re-potted (for the second time)my rabbit-foot’s plant so hoping it will be ok. Those “feet”really cling to the pot!
Hug to you, pats to Ivy
It is a money plant.
Thank you for that list! I do have orchids and I do have a plant with polka dot leaves, but it doesn’t look like the one in the picture when I clicked that link. I appreciate you doing this post, as I’d like to make sure the next time I buy a plant, it will be safe for my pup. You’ve given me lots to choose from. Thank you.
I’m sure there are far more. But this is a long list and I had to stop somewhere! Just Google the name of the plant you’re interested in if it isn’t on the list. Type in the name of the plant and “is this plant toxic to pets?”
Thanks for all the recent posts on houseplants. One of the things I also love about houseplants is how well they clean your inside air, lower your blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and just make you happy!
Yes, those are reasons to have house plants. They release serotonin by digging around in the dirt, and the other reasons you mentioned. I am trying to satisfy my urge to go crazy with a garden because I will be very limited this year. When I get my office set up I will try to get Steve to take me to the place where I don’t have to walk very far to choose house plants. One thing at a time. Something I’ve only recently accepted doing!
Years ago, the local paper ran a sad story on a sweet cat poisoned from an Easter lily and how a young couple spent thousands to save her. I hadn’t known about those plants.
What I’m still confused about is poinsettias. Have read that the common idea that they’re poisonous is not true. Does anyone know the facts on those? Still, I will not buy either item as long as my kitties are in residence. Silk blooms will do just fine!
What I read said poinsettias are mildly toxic. But to me toxic is toxic and I wouldn’t take the chance.
I am starting to try some inside house plants. I was always good with my outdoor plants but never with house plants. I have two now and am trying to keep them going. I heard watering them from the bottom was good too. So far it is working well. Happy New Week.
Oh good! Getting your hands dirty in the garden can increase your serotonin levels. And since you’re living in a condo, you don’t have the same access to outdoor gardening. So that’s what I’m doing. Trying to satisfy my urge to garden with house plants.