Our Top 15 Favorite Cat Friendly Plants
Are you a cat lover and a plant lover, yet are afraid that the two can’t safely coexist in your home? Never fear — there are some cat-friendly plants that you can grow inside your home without fear of harming your feline friend. With all plants, however, it’s a good idea to make sure to keep them in an area that is hard for your cat to reach, as curious cats and plants of any type are never a favorable combination!
Christmas Cactus
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s nice to know that this plant is safe to have in a home with cats. It is not toxic to dogs or cats, for that matter. If ingested by your cat, it can cause digestive problems, so, as with all plants, keep it out of the reach of your feline. Also, make sure not to confuse the non-toxic Christmas Cactus with the highly toxic Amaryllis. That is one plant you definitely don’t want in your home if you have a cat!
African Violet
The beautiful African Violet not only is safe for a home with cats, it also requires little maintenance, can grow in lowly lighted areas, and is hard to kill (good news for those of us without green thumbs).
Spider Plant
Often grown in hanging baskets, the Spider Plant is one of the most commonly seen plants in homes with cats. It will grow anywhere inside the home and is usually safer from kitties than many other plants as it lives in a hanging basket and might be harder for cats to reach.
Hens and Chickens
Those who know their plants will realize that this does not refer to fowl, but rather, a common succulent plant. Its scientific name is Echeveria elegans, and it is non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Not all succulent plants are non-toxic to cats, however, so if you are thinking of getting one, be sure to research its toxicity before bringing it into your home with your cat.
Calathea
Also known as Prayer Plant, this smaller plant with green, red and cream-colored leaves is perfect for smaller homes with cats. It is also a house plant that is hard to kill (another boon to those of us cat lovers lacking green thumbs).
Aluminum Plant
Also known as Watermelon Plant, this plant with gray and green leaves is the perfect addition homes with cats as it is known to be non-toxic to felines.
Boston Fern
While not all ferns are recommended for homes with cats, the Boston fern is one that is perfectly safe. Some plants that have “fern” in their name, like the asparagus fern, however, are not safe for cats. So, if in doubt, check it out.
Air Plant
The Tillandsia air plant is safe for cats and is known to clean the air inside a house. However, it is also attractive to cats and you’ll likely find your feline friend chewing on your air plant. While this is safe for your cat, it will probably kill your plant unless you put it in an area your cat can’t reach.
Friendship Plant
The Friendship Plant, also known by its scientific name Pilea involucrata, is non-toxic to cats. Its fuzzy leaves might attract your cat, however, so you’ll want to keep this one out of kitty’s reach.
Basil, Sage and Thyme
These herbs are safe to cats when grown indoors. However, many other herbs including oregano and lavender are toxic to cats, so avoid growing those inside your home if you own kitties.
Lipstick Plant
The Lipstick Plant of the Peperomia family of plants is so named because of its blooms that look like lipstick tubes. It is known to be non-toxic to cats and grows well in bright light.
Phalaenopsis Orchid
This common type of orchid is safe for homes with cats. However, keep the orchid away from your feline friend, as they might be attracted to its potting mix which contains bark and is not safe for cats.
Parlor Palm
This green plant resembles a small tree and is safe for homes with cats. It is also recommended as a good starter plant for those who have never owned plants before.
Polka Dot Plant
This plant, known under its scientific name Hypoestes phyllostachya, is recognizable for its green leaves with splashes of pink or white. It is non-toxic to cats but might cause digestive upset if the leaves are chewed by your cat. As with all plants, it’s a good idea to keep the Polka Dot Plant out of your kitty’s reach.
Lace Flower Vine
Another hanging plant, the Lace Flower Vine is pretty and safe for cats that might be able to reach the hanging basket in which it grows. It is also known by the name Chocolate Soldier.
