15 OF THE SAFEST PLANTS FOR CATS – AND WHICH ONES TO AVOID

Cats and indoor plants can both bring a lot of joy into your home—but the two don’t always mix.

A lot of popular houseplants, including lilies, hydrangeas, pothos plants and sago palms, are harmful or toxic to cats, so steer clear of them if you have a feline friend. Luckily, some of the safest plants for cats include a diverse group of indoor greenery from low-light spider plants to easy-care parlor palms, to distinctive sweetheart plants and elegant mini orchids.

Once you find a cat-safe indoor plant for your space, it’s still a good idea to limit your feline’s access to it. Dr. Kelly Cairns, vice president of medical excellence and education for Thrive Pet Healthcare, explains, “Eating just about any plant could cause vomiting and diarrhea in your cat, especially if ingested in large quantities.” Thankfully, online houseplant retailers like The Sill and Lively Root have conveniently curated cat-safe offerings on their sites. That said, it’s always a good idea to also do your own research beforehand; the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has an exhaustive list of toxic and nontoxic plants for cats that’s a great place to start—and keep referring back to.

Based on research, Cairns’ insights and firsthand experience from Forbes Vetted’s resident pet expert, managing editor and Pet Peeves advice columnist Emmy Favilla, we’ve listed 15 of the safest plants for cats below. Make sure to check out our guide to the best indoor plants for every home and skill level if you need more plant-specific guidance.

Hailing from the same family as prayer plants, the stromanthe “trio star” (stromanthe sanguinea) thrives in very humid climates. Known for its distinctive long leaves that are colored various pink, white and green hues, this tropical houseplant thrives in medium-to-bright indirect light but can tolerate low light, as well. Water every one to two weeks, or when the soil is halfway dry.

“Just because a plant is nontoxic doesn’t mean your cats should be able to have access to it if they’re interested in chewing on plants in general,” says Favilla. She adds that she has one cat who loves to nibble on greenery and another with “zero interest” in it. Her advice is to act based on your individual pet—and if they do take a liking to plant-chewing, get them cat grass, such as this growing kit from Frisco. Once the edible grass has grown (in about four to six days), no further maintenance is needed, and your cat will have the benefit of adding fiber to their diet.

This assortment of small, cat-safe indoor plants features three of our favorites on this list: a money tree, a hoya tri-color plant and a small parlor palm. You can choose from eight ceramic color palettes, including the Evening Sky trio pictured above. The plants are relatively compact, making them suitable for apartment dwellers who crave greenery in their space but want to protect their curious cats.

The spider plant (Chlorophytum) is nontoxic to cats and grows beautifully as a hanging plant, far out of reach. It’s also a pretty easy plant to care for, able to tolerate a range of moisture, soil and light conditions. (In fact, the spider plant made our list of the best low-light indoor plants.) For best results, place in indirect light and water sparingly (you can water it more frequently when it matures).

What our experts say: Favilla tells us, “In my experience, these plants are exceptionally low maintenance. I’ve had them thrive all over my apartment. Just be prepared for lots of spider plant babies if you’ve got a healthy plant. While it’s fine to keep them on the main plant, you might need to water it a bit more so it’s not competing with the babies. They also make cute gifts when placed in mini glass vases.”

If you’re looking for a plant that makes a statement, check out the famous money tree (Pachira aquatica), known in East Asia as a symbol of luck and prosperity. Characterized by its bright green palmate leaves and chunky trunk, this cat-safe plant requires bright direct or indirect natural light. Money trees typically require watering when the soil is 50% to 75% dry, but Easyplant offers a unique self-watering system so you only have to do it once a month.

What our experts say: According to Favilla, “Its watering needs, in my experience, are pretty precise, so using a moisture meter for this one might be a good idea.”