Plant safety hub

Cat-safe houseplants and garden plants 74

• African Violet Saintpaulia ionanthaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Air Plant Tillandsia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Areca Palm Dypsis lutescensDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Avocado Persea americanaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs and cats: the persin that poisons birds, rabbits, horses, and livestock doesn't have the same effect on dogs or cats.
• Baby's Breath Gypsophila paniculataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic per ASPCA, though as a common bouquet filler flower it can still cause mild vomiting or diarrhea if a pet eats a large amount.
• Baby's Tears Soleirolia soleiroliiDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Bamboo Palm Chamaedorea seifriziiDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Banana Plant Musa spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no part of the banana plant, including fruit and leaves, is known to poison dogs, cats, or horses.
• Basil Ocimum basilicumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a safe culinary herb to share in small amounts or let a plant-nibbling pet explore.
• Bird's Nest Fern Asplenium nidusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Boston Fern Nephrolepis exaltataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Bougainvillea Bougainvillea spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: the thorns are the real hazard, not the plant tissue.
• Bromeliad Guzmania spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Burro's Tail Sedum morganianumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Calathea Calathea spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Camellia Camellia japonicaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a safe flowering shrub for gardens with pets.
• Cast Iron Plant Aspidistra elatiorDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Chinese Money Plant Pilea peperomioidesDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Cilantro Coriandrum sativumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: safe culinary herb for dogs and cats.
• Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indicaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: a pet-safe flowering landscape tree.
• Cretan Brake Fern Pteris creticaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
• Ctenanthe Ctenanthe spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: same Marantaceae family as Calathea/Maranta.
• Echeveria Echeveria spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Elephant Bush Portulacaria afraDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: often confused with true Jade (Crassula ovata), which IS toxic.
• Fittonia Fittonia albivenisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Forsythia Forsythia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: one of the safer early-spring flowering shrubs to have around pets.
• Freesia Freesia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a fragrant bouquet flower safe for both dogs and cats, unlike true lilies which are frequently mixed into the same arrangements and are deadly to cats.
• Friendship Plant Pilea involucrataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: a safe trailing houseplant with no known toxic principle.
• Ghost Plant Graptopetalum paraguayenseDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Grape Hyacinth Muscari armeniacumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a safe bulb-flower choice, unlike many other spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils, true hyacinths) that are genuinely dangerous.
• Grape Ivy Cissus rhombifoliaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic, despite the 'ivy' name: unrelated to true toxic Hedera ivy.
• Haworthia Haworthia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Hollyhock Alcea roseaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no toxic principle identified.
• Hoya Hoya carnosaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Impatiens Impatiens wallerianaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a reliably pet-safe shade annual.
• Ixora Ixora coccineaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: no toxic principle identified for this common tropical shrub.
• Kangaroo Vine Cissus antarcticaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic, despite the 'ivy' name: unrelated to true toxic Hedera ivy.
• Kentia Palm Howea forsterianaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Lipstick Plant Aeschynanthus radicansDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: ASPCA's confirmed entry is the closely related Aeschynanthus humilis, and no species in this genus is known to pose a chemical risk.
• Living Stones Lithops spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Maidenhair Fern Adiantum spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Majesty Palm Ravenea rivularisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Money Tree Pachira aquaticaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Nasturtium Tropaeolum majusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: flowers and leaves are even edible for people (peppery flavor).
• Orchid Phalaenopsis spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Pansy Viola x wittrockianaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: the flowers are even edible for people and used as cake/salad garnish.
• Parlor Palm Chamaedorea elegansDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Peperomia Peperomia obtusifoliaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Peruvian Lily Alstroemeria spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic despite the common name: Alstroemeria is not a true lily (Lilium) and carries none of the kidney-failure risk that makes true lilies deadly to cats.
• Petunia Petunia x hybridaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no toxic principle identified.
• Pincushion Cactus Mammillaria spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: ASPCA confirms Mammillaria fragilis (Thimble Cactus) is chemically safe for dogs, cats, and horses.
• Polka Dot Plant Hypoestes phyllostachyaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Ponytail Palm Beaucarnea recurvataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic, despite not being a true palm.
• Prayer Plant Maranta leuconeuraDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENot toxic, but the fine glochid spines are a real physical hazard: can embed painfully in paws, mouth, and skin.
• Rabbit's Foot Fern Davallia fejeensisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Rose Rosa spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no toxic principle identified.
• Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses per ASPCA.
• Rosemary Salvia rosmarinusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Sage Salvia officinalisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: safe culinary herb for dogs and cats.
• Snapdragon Antirrhinum majusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no toxic principle identified.
• Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosumDogsSAFECatsSAFEConsidered non-toxic.
• Star Jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoidesDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: despite 'jasmine' in the name, this is genus Trachelospermum, unrelated to true Jasmine (Jasminum spp.) or the toxic Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens).
• Statice Limonium sinuatumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a common dried-flower and bouquet filler that's safe around pets, though eating a large quantity of any plant material can cause mild stomach upset.
• String of Turtles Peperomia prostrataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: Peperomia genus is considered pet-safe.
• Sunflower Helianthus annuusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Swedish Ivy Plectranthus verticillatusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic, despite the 'ivy' name: unrelated to true toxic Hedera ivy.
• Thyme Thymus vulgarisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: safe culinary herb for dogs and cats.
• True Bamboo Bambusa vulgarisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: ASPCA's verified entry covers Phyllostachys aurea (Golden/Fishpole Bamboo), but no true bamboo (grass family, genus Bambusa/Phyllostachys) is known to pose a chemical risk.
• True Jasmine Jasminum officinaleDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: true Jasmine (Jasminum spp.) is safe for pets.
• Venus Flytrap Dionaea muscipulaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
• Zinnia Zinnia elegansDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a safe, easy cutting-garden flower for homes with pets.

Frequently asked questions

Which houseplants are safe for cats?

74 plants in Plant Doctor's list are classified non-toxic to cats, including Spider Plant, Boston Fern, Parlor Palm, and African Violet. The full list is on this page.

Does cat-safe mean my cat can eat the plant?

Safe means non-toxic, not edible. A curious nibble is not a concern, but heavy grazing on any houseplant can still upset a stomach.

Are the cat-safe plants on this list also safe for dogs?

Yes. Every plant classified non-toxic to cats in Plant Doctor's list is also classified non-toxic to dogs.

Is a plant that is not on this list safe for cats?

Not automatically. Plant Doctor's list is not exhaustive and is conservative by design: a plant that is not on it is unverified, never assumed safe. Check with your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435).