Keep Your Pets Safe and Healthy with These Pet-Friendly Indoor Plants
The third week of September is National Indoor Plant Week. It’s a week-long celebration to promote houseplants – the ultimate indoor air cleaners! It’s also an excellent time to check your houseplants. Read on to learn more about pet-friendly indoor plants, the plants that are toxic to dogs and cats, and how to keep pets away from your indoor greenery.
6 Pet-Friendly Indoor Plants
Below is a list of houseplants that are safe for dogs and cats:
Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Sometimes referred to as butterfly palm, this indoor plant can make the indoors feel like a tropical locale. Native to Madagascar, areca palm thrives in bright, indirect light and high humidity.
The plant also purifies the air making it healthier for you and your pet. However, something to be aware of is that the swaying palm fronds may trigger swatting from your cat or dog as entertainment.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis)
Boston ferns are lush, feathery plants native to Florida and tropical climates. So they prefer plenty of humidity and bright, indirect light.
Moreover, Boston ferns are evergreen plants that grow in an upright spreading habit to 3 feet tall and wide.
The shaggy, sword-shaped fronds have toothed edges. Furthermore, new fronds grow upward and then gracefully arch downward as they age.
Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)
The cone-shaped blooms and tough leaves make bromeliad plants a favorite. Bromeliads are easy to care for as they require bright, indirect light and humidity.
These pet-safe plants are native to tropical rain forests in southeastern Brazil. This air plant does not require soil, so it can be easily grown in a wall vase or container.
Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)
Friendship plant is a herbaceous perennial native to Central and South America. This bushy, trailing indoor plant features dark green, egg-shaped leaves with bronze undertones.
They thrive in bright indirectly and like humidity. Additionally, keep the plant compact by pruning wayward stems.
It does well in a terrarium, making it unlikely that your cat or dog will take a nibble.
Orchid (Orchidaceae)
This common houseplant is a pet-friendly plant known for its magenta, purple, white, and pink hues. Many types of orchids will bloom for weeks in the winter, and the flowers will last for two or three months.
They thrive in partial light and root-bound conditions or bark-based soils.
Orchids are native to South America. However, with the right amount of light and water, they can be grown inside just about anywhere in the world.
Peperomia (Peperomia obtusifolia)
Sometimes called ‘Baby Rubber Plant,’ peperomia is sold in a wide variety of colors and textures. Since it’s native to South America, it tends to thrive best in humid conditions and can tolerate dry soil.
When it comes to placing your peperomia, find a spot that receives bright, indirect light. However, you want to avoid direct sunlight because it can burn the leaves.
Peperomia like high humidity during summer so set the container on wet pebbles, so they flourish.
Which indoor plants may be harmful to pets?
If you’re a cat owner, then there are many indoor plants you should avoid having. Cats love to chew on greenery, but many houseplants are toxic to them.
Here are three popular indoor plants that feline owners should avoid:
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
Aloe vera plants are popular due to the medicinal properties of the gel inside the thick leaves. The gel is often used to treat burns for humans.
This plant is a tropical perennial that has succulent-like leaves with jagged edges. The leaves grow upward from a rosette center.
Although aloe vera may be beneficial for humans, it’s toxic to cats. If your pet ingests the aloe plant, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy has glossy, dark green leaves that drape gracefully down the sides of a hanging planter.
A woody evergreen perennial, English ivy is usually grown as a climbing vine. But, those dangling tendrils may seem like a tempting toy for your cat.
When ingested, it can cause several symptoms, including throat swelling, vomiting, weakness, excessive drooling, and dermatitis in cats.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos is an attractive, easy-care plant for the indoors. Its low maintenance requirements make it a popular addition to any home’s interiors.
This plant makes for a great decoration piece when grown in a hanging basket. Nevertheless, this plant can be trouble for your cat if they get to it.
When consumed, your cat may experience burning of the mouth, oral swelling, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting. So it’s best to avoid having this plant inside your home.
Other indoor plants that may be toxic to cats include dumb cane, jade plant, monstera deliciosa, peace lily, sago palm, and snake plant.
Does your dog tend to nibble on your decorative greens? Keep them far away from the indoor plants listed below:
Alocasia (Alocasia sanderiana)
This plant is a flowering perennial that is native to tropical and subtropical climates. They can be picky to grow, but Alocasia’s beautiful leaves make them popular nonetheless.
Unfortunately, alocasia contains calcium oxalate crystals, which make the plant toxic to dogs and cats. A pet that chews or eats the foliage may experience oral irritation, swelling, vomiting, burning of the lips and mouth, difficulty swallowing, and breathing.
Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata)
The fiddle leaf fig with its large, fiddle-shaped leaves is attractive and trendy, but the plant is toxic to dogs if ingested. The fiddle leaf fig is a medium to large-sized houseplant with a thin trunk and large leaves.
Sometimes called Banjo Fig, this broadleaf evergreen is native to Africa and typically grows up to 10 feet tall in a large container.
Unfortunately, a dog that chews Fiddle leaf fig leaves can experience painful symptoms, including skin and gastrointestinal irritation.
Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
Dumb cane is a beautiful tropical plant with variegated foliage. This evergreen perennial has glossy, oblong to egg-shaped leaves that vary in color, usually green with patches of cream or white. The sap can irritate the skin, so it’s best to wear gloves when trimming or working with Dumb Cane.
Dumb cane is toxic to both cats and dogs if chewed or eaten. Symptoms of dieffenbachia poisoning include excessive drooling, vomiting, oral irritation and swelling, and difficulty breathing.
Other indoor plants that may be toxic to dogs include Aloe Vera, Bird of Paradise, Peace Lily, Philodendron, Sago Palm, and ZZ Plant.
For a more extensive list of safe and unsafe plants for pets, visit ASPCA.org.
How can I keep pets away from my plants?
It’s always best to place indoor plants out of reach if possible. This may work well for dogs but not for cats who like to climb.
- Place hanging baskets away from furniture so pets cannot reach them.
- Plant greenery in wall-mounted containers (no shelves); they will be up and out of reach.
- Give a kitty a plant of his own. Distract your feline with a pot of cat grass, mint, or thyme placed within reach. They will entice your cat away from other greenery.
- Also, a taste deterrent, such as a bitter apple spray, can be applied to plant foliage. The best option is to remove the plants from the house.
Check that you grow only pet-friendly indoor plants so that your furry friends will stay safe and healthy. If you’re not sure about a plant, keep it out of reach of pets.
If you suspect your pet may have eaten or chewed a potentially toxic substance, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (A consultation fee may apply). Or contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.