Ten Non-Toxic Houseplants Safe for Cats & Dogs

Green up your space while keeping your pets safe and mind at ease.

There's no better way to breathe life into your home than by adding a few lush plants to your living space. And we mean that literally—many common houseplant species have been scientifically proven to purify the air, improve your mood, and boost productivity.
Unfortunately, many houseplants are also toxic to animals. Casually munching on a leaf or two of a Peace Lily or Aloe Vera plant could lead to seizures, tremors, mouth irritation, or worse. Our pets can't help but swat and nibble at dangling fronds or vines, so it's up to us to ensure the plants we bring home are safe.

Luckily, there are plenty of pet-friendly plants that can green up your space without posing any risk to your furry friend. Here are ten of our favorite plants that are categorized as non-toxic by the ASPCA.

Areca Palm
Areca Palm, or Dypsis lutescens, is a tall palm that adds a tropical feel to any room. Native to Madagascar, the grass-like plant has long, narrow fronds that your cat will probably find irresistible. Luckily, it’s totally harmless. Just be sure to keep it near a bright window and let the soil dry out slightly between waterings to keep it happy.

Ponytail Palm
The Ponytail Palm, AKA Beaucarnea recurvata, has long, thin leaves that sprout out from a bulb-like trunk. It’s completely non-toxic to cats and dogs, which is good news because we’d venture to guess its leaves will trigger your cat’s swatting instincts. Bright light and infrequent watering are the name of the game with this succulent, which is native to eastern Mexico.

Prayer Plant
Prayer Plant, AKA Maranta leuconeura, gets its name from its decorative patterned leaves which lie flat during the day, and curl up at night as if in prayer. Best of all, this non-toxic beauty won’t cause your pets any harm if played with or ingested.

Spider Plant
Spider Plants, or Chlorophytum comosum, are a wonderful choice for pet parents who may be new to the houseplant game. This resilient, easy to care for plant is named for its “spiderettes,” or small offshoots that dangle off of the mother plant like spiders on a web. Sound like something your cat might be into? No worries, Spider Plants are non-toxic.

Bird’s Nest Fern
Bird’s Nest Fern, or Asplenium nidus, has long, wavy, light green fronds that resemble banana leaves. Native to tropical regions, it’ll do best in bright indirect sunlight, though it can tolerate lower light conditions. Find it a nook near a window and don’t fret if your dog takes a liking to it—it’s harmless.

Boston Fern
Another attractive, pet-friendly fern is the Boston Fern, AKA Nephrolepis exaltata. Since this plant will do best in indirect light and high humidity, consider finding it a home in your bathroom. Though it’s often kept in a hanging basket, you can also keep it in a planter on the shelf or floor, as its fluffy fronds are non-toxic to animals.

Calathea Orbifolia
We love this beautiful variety of Calathea, which features subtle stripes on bright green, round leaves. It’s a perfect option for a bedside plant or a corner in your home that doesn’t get much direct sunlight, as it prefers partial shade and is pet-friendly.

Polka Dot Plant
Polka Dot Plant, AKA Hypoestes phyllostachya, is a stunning non-toxic plant with brightly spotted leaves that are often pink and green. Warm temperatures, humidity and fertilizer are key to its longevity, so keep it by an east- or south-facing window and tend to it often.

Bromelaid
Bromelaid, or Bromeliaceae, brings an exotic and colorful element into the home. With thick foliage and brightly colored leaves that are often mistaken for flowers, it’s a beautiful option for pet parents that requires surprisingly little effort to keep looking great.

Haworthia
Haworthia are popular non-toxic succulents that have fleshy green leaves dotted with small, pearl-like warts. Treat your Haworthia as you would an Aloe plant—with bright light and not too much water—but unlike with Aloe, you don’t have to worry about your cat nibbling on its leaves.

As pet parents, we need to be especially cautious of what plants we bring home. The species above should pose no issue if ingested by your cat or dog, so you can enjoy all the benefits of houseplants without any stressful trips to the vet.