If you share your home with a curious cat or a nibbling dog, choosing houseplants comes with an extra question: is this safe if they chew it? The good news is you don't have to choose between plants and pets — plenty of genuinely beautiful houseplants are non-toxic and safe to have within paw's reach. Here are 15 of the best, plus an honest look at the popular plants to keep away from animals.

A note on sources and safety: the toxicity information here reflects widely used veterinary and poison-control references. It's general guidance, not veterinary advice, and no list is exhaustive. If your pet ingests any plant and shows symptoms — drooling, vomiting, lethargy — contact your vet or a pet poison-control line straight away.

#15 pet-safe houseplants

#1. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Easy, forgiving, and it makes free baby plants. One of the best all-round pet-safe choices — cats often bat at the dangling plantlets harmlessly. See spider plant care.

#2. Calathea & Maranta (prayer plants)

Stunning patterned foliage and pet-safe — a rare combination. They want humidity and indirect light. See calathea care.

#3. Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides)

Round, coin-like leaves, easy care, endless pups, and non-toxic. A modern favourite. See Chinese money plant care.

#4. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Lush, cascading fronds and pet-safe — just keep the humidity up. See Boston fern care.

#5. Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

An elegant, compact, pet-safe palm that tolerates lower light — a soft tropical touch with no worries.

#6. Peperomia (many varieties)

Compact, varied, easy, and non-toxic — perfect for shelves and desks, in dozens of leaf shapes and colours.

#7. Areca palm

A larger pet-safe palm for a bright spot, adding feathery height to a room safely.

#8. Money tree (Pachira aquatica)

A braided-trunk statement plant that's non-toxic to pets and easy in bright, indirect light.

#9. Bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus)

Wavy, ribbon-like fronds, pet-safe, and more forgiving than many ferns.

#10. Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Tough, shade-tolerant, and non-toxic — ideal for a dim corner a cat might explore.

#11. Haworthia

A small, spiky-but-soft succulent that's pet-safe (unlike aloe), great for a sunny sill.

#12. Polka dot plant (Hypoestes)

Colourful pink-, red-, or white-speckled leaves, compact and non-toxic.

#13. Baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)

Despite the name, a peperomia (not a true rubber plant) — glossy, easy, and pet-safe.

#14. Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)

Patterned leaves that fold up at night, non-toxic, and happy in medium light with humidity.

#15. Friendship plant (Pilea involucrata)

A textured, easy Pilea relative — pet-safe and quick to share as cuttings.

You can still own these — just keep them genuinely out of reach (hanging, high shelves), because they're toxic if chewed:

Plant Why
Pothos, Philodendron, Monstera Calcium oxalate crystals (mouth irritation, vomiting)
Snake plant, ZZ plant Toxic if eaten (nausea, vomiting)
Peace lily, Anthurium Calcium oxalate crystals
Aloe vera, Jade plant Toxic (vomiting, lethargy)
Especially dangerous for cats: true lilies (genus Lilium) and daylilies are extremely toxic to cats — even small amounts can cause fatal kidney failure. These aren't houseplants people usually grow indoors, but keep cut-flower bouquets containing lilies well away from cats.

#Keeping plants and pets together

  • Toxic plants up high or hanging — most cats and all dogs can't reach a properly placed hanging plant.
  • Non-toxic plants for accessible spots — coffee tables, low shelves, the floor.
  • Give cats their own greens — a pot of cat grass often satisfies the urge to nibble.
  • Watch determined chewers — if your pet eats everything, the safest policy is to keep only non-toxic species within reach.

#The bottom line

You really can have a lush, plant-filled home and safe pets. Build the accessible parts of your home around non-toxic favourites — spider plants, calatheas, Pileas, peperomias, palms, and ferns — and keep the toxic-but-gorgeous ones (pothos, monstera, snake plant) up out of reach. A little planning lets your plants and your animals share the same happy space.

Frequently asked questions

What houseplants are safe for cats and dogs?
Spider plants, calatheas and prayer plants, parlour palms, Boston ferns, peperomia, Chinese money plants (Pilea), and many true palms and ferns are non-toxic and safe for pets. Always confirm a specific plant before buying if you have a determined chewer.
What does 'toxic to pets' actually mean for houseplants?
For most common houseplants, 'toxic' means chewing causes mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting — unpleasant but rarely life-threatening. A few plants (like true lilies for cats) are far more dangerous. Either way, if a pet ingests a toxic plant and shows symptoms, contact your vet.
Which popular houseplants are toxic to pets?
Pothos, philodendron, monstera, snake plant, ZZ plant, peace lily, aloe vera, and jade plant are all toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. You can still own them — just keep them genuinely out of reach, such as hanging or on high shelves.
How do I keep pets away from my plants?
Place toxic plants high up or in hanging pots out of reach, choose non-toxic plants for accessible spots, and redirect cats with their own cat grass. If a pet is a determined plant-eater, the safest approach is to only keep non-toxic species within reach.
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