Your cat knocked over your fiddle leaf fig. Again. Your dog just chewed a leaf off your pothos. And now you're frantically Googling "is pothos toxic to dogs?"
The short answer: yes, pothos is toxic to pets. So are philodendrons, monsteras, snake plants, and many other popular houseplants. But here's the good news — plenty of beautiful, easy-care plants are completely safe for cats and dogs.
Here are 15 pet-safe houseplants you can grow without worrying about emergency vet visits.
Quick Pet Safety Note
"Pet-safe" means non-toxic according to the ASPCA. These plants won't cause serious poisoning if your pet chews a leaf. However:
- Eating any plant can cause mild stomach upset (vomiting, diarrhea) in some pets
- Non-toxic doesn't mean non-problematic — a dog eating an entire plant can still get sick
- Watch for allergies — rare, but some pets may have individual sensitivities
If your pet eats a large amount of ANY plant or shows concerning symptoms, contact your vet.
Easy-Care Pet-Safe Plants
1. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Why it's great: Nearly indestructible, produces baby plants, tolerates neglect
Light: Low to bright indirect
Water: When top inch of soil is dry
Pet safety: Completely non-toxic to cats and dogs
Bonus: Cats love batting at the trailing baby plants. It's like built-in cat entertainment.
2. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Why it's great: Lush, feathery fronds, excellent air purifier
Light: Bright indirect (no direct sun)
Water: Keep consistently moist, never dry
Pet safety: Safe for cats and dogs
Care note: Needs high humidity. Perfect for bathrooms.
3. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Why it's great: Elegant tropical look, low-light tolerant, slow-growing
Light: Low to medium indirect
Water: When top inch of soil is dry
Pet safety: Non-toxic to pets
Perfect for: Adding height to dim corners safely.
4. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Why it's great: Tall, graceful, creates a tropical vibe
Light: Bright indirect
Water: Keep soil lightly moist
Pet safety: Safe for cats and dogs
Care note: Grows large (6+ feet). Give it space.
5. Calathea (Prayer Plant)
Why it's great: Stunning patterned leaves, non-toxic, leaves fold up at night
Light: Medium to bright indirect
Water: Keep soil consistently moist (not wet)
Pet safety: Safe for pets
Care note: Needs humidity (50%+). Use a humidifier.
6. Peperomia (Multiple Varieties)
Why it's great: Compact, diverse varieties, low-maintenance
Light: Medium to bright indirect
Water: When top 2 inches of soil are dry
Pet safety: All peperomia varieties are pet-safe
Popular types: Watermelon peperomia, ripple peperomia, baby rubber plant
7. African Violet (Saintpaulia)
Why it's great: Blooms indoors, compact size, soft fuzzy leaves
Light: Bright indirect
Water: Keep soil lightly moist, water from bottom
Pet safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Care note: Don't get water on leaves (causes spots).
8. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Why it's great: Tall, graceful, excellent air purifier, low-light tolerant
Light: Low to bright indirect
Water: Keep soil evenly moist
Pet safety: Safe for pets
9. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Why it's great: Quirky appearance, extremely drought-tolerant, low-maintenance
Light: Bright indirect to direct sun
Water: Every 2-4 weeks (let soil dry completely)
Pet safety: Non-toxic
Perfect for: Forgetful waterers with curious pets.
10. Haworthia
Why it's great: Small succulent, low-maintenance, tolerates neglect
Light: Bright indirect to direct sun
Water: Every 2-3 weeks
Pet safety: Safe for cats and dogs
Looks like: Miniature aloe vera (but unlike aloe, it's pet-safe).
Flowering Pet-Safe Plants
11. Orchids (Phalaenopsis)
Why it's great: Elegant flowers last months, surprisingly easy care
Light: Bright indirect (east or west window)
Water: Once a week, let dry between waterings
Pet safety: Non-toxic to pets
12. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
Why it's great: Blooms in winter, low-maintenance, long-lived
Light: Bright indirect
Water: When top inch of soil is dry
Pet safety: Safe for cats and dogs
13. Gloxinia
Why it's great: Large trumpet-shaped flowers, compact size
Light: Bright indirect
Water: Keep soil lightly moist during bloom
Pet safety: Non-toxic
Trailing Pet-Safe Plants
14. Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Why it's great: Trailing succulent with bead-like leaves
Light: Bright direct sun
Water: Every 2-3 weeks
Pet safety: Safe for pets
Care note: Leaves detach easily — handle gently.
15. Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus)
Why it's great: Fast-growing trailing plant, easy to propagate
Light: Medium to bright indirect
Water: Keep soil lightly moist
Pet safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Common Toxic Plants to Avoid
If you have pets, skip these popular houseplants (all toxic):
- Pothos
- Philodendron
- Monstera
- Snake plant (Sansevieria)
- ZZ plant
- Dieffenbachia
- Sago palm (highly toxic)
- Lilies (extremely toxic to cats)
Tips for Homes with Pets
- Place plants out of reach — Even pet-safe plants can be messy if knocked over
- Provide cat grass — Gives cats an approved plant to chew
- Training helps — Some pets can learn "leave it" commands
- Watch for chewing — If your pet constantly eats plants, consider limiting your collection to pet-safe varieties
Let Sprig Help You Choose the Right Plants
Sprig's plant database flags which plants are pet-safe, so you can browse with confidence. Plus, get care schedules for each plant so they stay healthy and beautiful.
Questions about pet-safe plants? Email support@sprigapp.com.