Spider plant, Boston fern, parlor palm, calathea, and peperomia are safe for cats. Lilies and sago palm are the two to keep out of the house. Both can kill a cat.
Cats chew plants more than dogs do. A cat also climbs, so a high shelf is not always out of reach. The safest plan is to fill the spots your cat can reach with plants from this list.
Cat-safe plants
The ASPCA lists every plant here as non-toxic to cats.
| Plant | Light | Will my cat want it? |
|---|---|---|
| Spider plant | Bright indirect | Yes. The long, grassy leaves are a cat favorite. |
| Parlor palm | Low | Yes. Thin fronds get batted and chewed. |
| Areca palm | Bright indirect | Yes. Expect ragged frond tips. |
| Boston fern | Bright indirect | Sometimes. The fronds swing and invite play. |
| Ponytail palm | Bright direct | Yes. The leaf tips hang like string. |
| Calathea | Medium | Now and then |
| Prayer plant | Medium | Now and then |
| Peperomia | Medium | Not often. The leaves are thick. |
| Hoya | Bright indirect | Not often. The leaves are waxy and tough. |
| Chinese money plant | Bright indirect | Not often |
| African violet | Bright indirect | Not often. The leaves are fuzzy. |
| Moth orchid | Bright indirect | Sometimes. Flower spikes get knocked. |
| Christmas cactus | Bright indirect | Not often |
| Zebra haworthia | Bright indirect | Not often |
| Cast iron plant | Low | Sometimes. The leaves are long and strappy. |
Cats like thin, grassy leaves that move. If your cat is a chewer, expect a spider plant or a palm to look ragged. The plant will live. It may not look good.
Plants that are dangerous to cats
Lilies. True lilies and daylilies cause kidney failure in cats. This means Easter lilies, tiger lilies, stargazer lilies, Asiatic lilies, and daylilies. Every part is toxic, and that includes the pollen and the water in the vase. A cat can get sick from licking pollen off its fur. Keep lilies out of a home with cats, and tell anyone who sends you flowers.
A peace lily is not a true lily. It irritates the mouth and stomach, but it does not cause kidney failure.
Sago palm. Every part of a sago palm is poisonous, and it causes liver failure. It is sold next to true palms, which are safe. Read the tag.
Other common plants that are toxic to cats:
- Pothos, philodendron, and monstera
- Snake plant and ZZ plant
- Dracaena and lucky bamboo
- Aloe vera, jade plant, and kalanchoe
- Dieffenbachia and Chinese evergreen
- English ivy
- Amaryllis, cyclamen, and poinsettia
Dracaena is worth a second look because it has the same grassy leaves cats love. A cat that leaves a pothos alone may still chew a dragon tree.
Safe swaps for plants cats cannot have
| If you want | Grow this |
|---|---|
| Aloe vera | Zebra haworthia |
| A dragon tree | Ponytail palm |
| Pothos in a hanging pot | Hoya or Swedish ivy |
| Sago palm | Parlor palm or pygmy date palm |
| Snake plant in a dim corner | Cast iron plant |
| String of pearls | String of hearts or string of turtles |
| A holiday plant | Christmas cactus |
How to stop a cat from chewing plants
- Grow cat grass. A pot of oat or wheat grass gives a cat its own plant to chew. Put it where the cat spends time.
- Hang the favorites. Hang spider plants and ferns from the ceiling, away from furniture a cat can jump from.
- Choose thick leaves. Hoya, peperomia, and haworthia are less fun to chew.
- Move, do not scold. If one plant keeps getting chewed, give it a new spot. A closed room with good light works.
Cats that dig in the pot
My cats dig in the dirt of my houseplant pots. It is just something that happens.
A layer of large, smooth stones on top of the soil makes digging harder. Use stones too big to swallow. Lift a few to check the soil before you water, since the stones hide it.
A heavy pot also helps. A cat that jumps on a light pot knocks it over.
If your cat eats a plant
Take the plant away and find its name. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Do not wait for symptoms if the plant is a lily or a sago palm.
Even a safe plant can cause vomiting if a cat eats a lot of it. That passes on its own in most cases. Call the vet if it does not.
Quick answers
Are spider plants safe for cats? Yes. Cats find them tempting, and a big meal of leaves can cause an upset stomach.
Are succulents safe for cats? Haworthia, echeveria, and burro’s tail are safe. Aloe, jade, and kalanchoe are toxic.
Is a peace lily as dangerous as a real lily? No. It irritates the mouth and stomach. True lilies cause kidney failure.
Are orchids safe for cats? Yes. Moth orchids are non-toxic to cats.
For plants that are safe for dogs too, see the full list of pet-safe houseplants.