Cat Safe Indoor Plants: Keep Your Feline Well

Indoor plants not only do turn your home into a green paradise for pet owners, particularly those with equally curious cats but choosing the right plants is also crucial. Cats, especially kittens, are known to nibble on indoor plants, and many popular houseplants are toxic to them. The positive news is that there are numerous other attractive, non-toxic colorants available to satisfy your pet! Not only do cat safe indoor plants look good, but they are also easier to maintain than others, providing comfort knowing your feline friends can move around their home without fear of dangerous plants.

If you are a seasoned plant lover, or you just became too into the trend of indoor gardening, opting for cat-safe indoor plants ensures your home is also not dangerous for your animals. Whether a long-time flower lover or novice in planting indoors, choosing a cat-friendly houseplant will keep your pets from their sheltered position! Whether you prefer leafy greens or delicate flowers, there are countless options available to keep your cats safe from carcinogenic plants. Here we explain several different cat safe indoor plants, how to care for them, and some unique attributes that make each one worth getting.

Why Cat Safe Indoor Plants?

Cats are by nature curious animals, and they will usually find their way around your home. Which of your houseplants might your cat be tempted to nibble on the leaves or dig in the soil? Unfortunately, most indoor plants, allies, in all forms (even without flowers), philodendrons, and pothos, are particularly toxic to cats. If cats consume these plants, they may experience mild stomach problems, convulsions, or severe poisoning.

And the only way to make the latter a reality is by having some of these cat safe indoor plants around your living space. Here are some non-toxic plants that can help you create a greener living space without worrying about the lives of your pets. From leafy greens and succulents to flowering plants, there are numerous cat safe indoor plants in choice.

Spider Plants

The spider plant is also one of the most popular cat safe indoor plants due to being hardy and simple to care for. It makes a stunning statement in any room, with its arching green leaves streaked with white. The plant is also non-toxic, which does matter: you may find that your cat loves to play with those long, hanging leaves, so it’s a comfort to know they’re not going to poison the one who looks after them.

Care Tips: Spider plants thrive in indirect sunlight and require watering when the soil appears dry. They are also excellent air-purifying plants and, as a result, make for a suitable new addition to any cat home.

Boston Fern

The iconic Boston fern has voluminous, feather-like fronds that form a beautiful part of any indoor garden. Fortunately, they are also non-toxic to cats, making them a great choice for cat lovers. Although the leafy green is irresistible to some cats, you don’t have to worry about your pets getting sick if they snack on a few leaves.

Care tips: Boston ferns prefer a humid environment and indirect, bright light. For these plants, moisture and water requirements can be a little finicky, they need their soil to stay moist but not constantly saturated.

Areca Palm

If you need to fill room space with the largest plants, there is the Areca palm, which is also known as one of the top cat-friendly indoor plants. Its elegantly arching fronds deliver tropical vibes in minutes, and its non-toxicity to cats is a well-known fact.

Care Tips: Areca palms need bright, indirect light and regular watering to keep the soil moist. Like all my other plant children, I water them by misting them.

Calathea

Characterized by their lovely, colorful foliage and day-weary leaves that fold up at night (resembling hands in prayer), Calatheas aka “prayer plants” aren’t as highly featured indoors as they are on blogs. These plants are available in many patterns and colors, which will also look attractive in your home. Even better, these plants specifically cater to cats and pose no harm.

Care tips: Calatheas like low to medium, light, and continuously moist soil. These cat safe indoor plants prefer high humidity, so it’s important to regularly mist their leaves.

Bamboo Palm

If you want a slightly larger plant, then the bamboo palm is another excellent choice. Much taller than other houseplants, this variety features dainty leaves with long stalks that mimic bamboo, creating a cool, tropical vibe. The bamboo palm, known as one of the leading air-purifying plants available on the market, is another perfect example of a top choice amongst cat safe indoor plants.

Maintenance: Bamboo palms prefer bright, indirect sunlight and humid environments. Keep the soil moist but not wet, as overwatering could cause root rot.

Ponytail Palm

The ponytail palm is one of the few plants your cat will tolerate. With a bulbous base and thin, cascade-y leaves, ponytail palms have a distinctive look to them, and they require hardly any water, so it’s great for pet owners who want a low-maintenance cat-safe plant.

Care Tips: Ponytail palms are sun-lovers; do not water frequently. Watering: Take care to allow the soil to dry out completely between each watering; it is very different from overwatering.

Peperomia

Peperomias have many different types, with heart-shaped leaves or crinkly textures, and they are all non-toxic to cats. You can place these small, beautiful leaves in assorted containers anywhere with your feline.

Care Tips: Peperomias want diffused light, and you should water them once the top of the soil feels sandy to the touch. Not only is it safe for your cat, but it tolerates indoor conditions, making it one of the most versatile cat safe indoor plants.

Money Tree

Many of our readers are familiar with the money tree, also known as the braided tree in a pot. It is believed to bring luck, and as long as you keep it away from other low-growing plants, especially when you first add it, it won’t cause any trouble. Even if your cat goes so far as to snack on its leaves, you can breathe easily because it is not harmful.

Care Tips: Keep it in bright, indirect light and allow the soil to completely dry out before watering. They are also pretty low-key and will put up with various indoor conditions.

African Violet

African violets can bring a pop of color to your indoor plant lineup. With year-long blooms of bright, purple flowers, this plant is a fully cat safe indoor plants.

Care Tips: These beauties thrive in bright, indirect light and require watering from the bottom to ensure their leaves are dry. The soil surrounding an African violet should always remain moist but do not use cold water when removing excess moisture pinned beneath it. Water the plants regularly, but do not overwater them. Read more about african violet soil here.

Haworthia

Aloe is one of many succulents that are toxic to cats, although they are the most popular indoor plants. The positive news, though, is that Haworthia makes a pet-friendly option to satisfy the same aesthetic need. Haworthia is a spiky plant with some structure, so it looks great in modern or minimalist homes.

Care Tip: Haworthia plants thrive in bright light and require sparing watering. Do not water again until the soil is completely dry between waterings, as overwatering can lead to root rot.

Conclusion on Cat Safe Indoor Plants

If you have cats and are a gardener, it can be challenging to balance having an attractive indoor garden while not creating a hostile environment for your pets. However, with the sheer number of cat safe indoor plants that exist, you don’t have to choose between having plants or keeping your four-legged friends safe. With styles and textures that can blend with house decor, from the elegant areca palm to the color African violet, these plants promise to keep your cat in excellent health. You may like to know more about cat-friendly plants here.

As with any indoor plants safe for cats, you want to always verify the toxicity of the cat-safe houseplant you choose, as others of a similar plant genus may be toxic (or potentially confused with toxic lookalikes). With some care and maintenance, you could easily create a peaceful pet-friendly oasis that both you and your feline friends would love.