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The Best Houseplants for You and Your Pets

by on Apr 7, 2017

I’ve seen this phrase tumbling around on the internet for a while now: “Plant Lady is the New Cat Lady.” To that I say, why not both? I only say that because I am a die-hard cat lover who has recently discovered her love of indoor jungles. The good news is you can totally go crazy in both cat and plant departments – you just have to be smart about it. There are plenty of easily-accessible houseplants out there that are non-toxic to both cats and dogs. My green collection has been growing, and here are a few of my current favorite pet-friendly plants.


Pet-friendly Houseplants: A few of our favorite non-toxic houseplants

Maranta / Prayer Plant

(Maranta leuconeura)

  • Safe for dogs
  • Safe for cats
  • Indirect sunlight
  • Frequent watering / keep soil moist

First up on our list of pet-friendly plants is the Maranta. How funky are the leaves on this guy? As tropical native, the Prayer Plant grows low, dislikes direct sunlight, and needs frequent watering. The coloring on this plant is bold, and as such it can act as a statement piece on a shelf or ledge. Great for the boho-home, it visually takes itself pretty seriously. 


Pet-friendly Houseplants: Fern-tastic and non-toxic to pets!

Boston Fern

(Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis)

  • Safe for dogs
  • Safe for cats
  • Indirect sunlight
  • Frequent watering / keep soil moist

Fluffy, full, and fern-tastic, you can’t go wrong with this overzealous plant. While some may think of the Boston Fern as the weed-of-the-woods due to its abundance on the floors of northern forests, on closer inspection it proves to be quite a versatile plant. It can grow quite large (from 2-3 feet indoors), so give it ample room to spread its limbs – try hanging, or placing it near the edge of a shelf. Its enthusiasm goes well with interior design styles ranging from bohemian to tropical. 


Pet-friendly Houseplants: Spider plants are hearty and tough to kill. Bonus - they're pet-friendly plants!

 Spider Plant

(Chlorophytum comosum)

  • Safe for dogs
  • Safe for cats*
  • Indirect sunlight
  • Semi-frequent watering / water when soil is dry

The spider plant is a great plant for newbie houseplant parents. It’s hearty, doesn’t require daily watering, and only needs medium light. Growing in both plain green and white-striped varieties, the spider plant goes well with most types of home decor, from farm house to beach house.

*Spider plants, while completely non-toxic for both cats and dogs, actually contain mild hallucinogenic properties. If you’ve owned both a cat and a spider plant at the same time, you may have noticed how attracted kitty is to the leaves. When ingested, the effects are similar to catnip. If you want to keep your spider plant intact, keep it out of reach. Luckily these plants were seemingly made for hanging planters!


Pet-friendly Houseplants: Did you know that air plants are non-toxic to pets?

Air Plant

(Tillandsia)

  • Safe for dogs
  • Safe for cats
  • Bright, indirect sunlight
  • Semi-frequenting watering / 12 hour soaking bath every 10-14 days

The Tillandsia genus has picked up some major steam in the past few years. Everywhere you look you can find an air plant, and fortunately they’re safe for both cats and dogs. These pet-friendly plants are a bit on the delicate side, so it’s best not to let pets use them as chew toys, but you can rest easy knowing that they won’t do any harm to your furry roommates. Light and, as the name would suggest, airy, these teeny plants are perfect for that minimally green look.


Pet-friendly Houseplants: Pretty, purple, and pet-friendly!

Peacock Plant

(Calathea) 

  • Safe for dogs
  • Safe for cats
  • Indirect sunlight
  • Frequent watering / keep soil moist

To be graced by the gorgeous presence of the Calathea, you have to work a bit harder to keep it happy.  They require frequent watering without being over-watered. As they originated from the tropics, they enjoy frequent showers and humid conditions. If you’re willing to keep up with the routine, the Peacock Plant will flourish in low-light situations, blessing your space with high-contrasting striped leaves. The large, dark leaves are powerful, but with hints of pinks and stripes of white, a soft undertone can make this plant versatile in plenty of different interiors. 


Pet-friendly Houseplants: Peperomia - Cute, and non-toxic to both dogs and cats!

Baby / American Rubber Plant / Pepper Face

(Peperomia obtusifolia)

  • Safe for dogs
  • Safe for cats
  • Indirect sunlight
  • Infrequent watering / Water only when needed

At first glance, the Peperomia is seemingly understated. What it lacks in drama, it makes up for in stability. It requires water only when completely dry, and its thick branches allow it to withstand periods of drought (also known as having a black thumb)! They have short roots, so keep them in shallow or small pots. The smooth, rubber-y leaves add color to a modern home, but its basic shape and size allow it to co-exist with other plants in any design space. 


Pet-friendly Houseplants: The blue echeveria succulent is on our list of pet-friendly houseplants Some Types of Succulents

  • Blue Echeveria (Echeveria glauca)
  • Zebra Haworthia (Haworthia pumila)
  • Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum) 

I have both a dog and a cat, and neither have any interest in the succulents I bring into my home. That being said, play it safe and research your succulents to see if they qualify as pet-friendly plants. As long as they get ample light everyday, succulents only need water 1-2 times a week. Coming in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, there’s a succulent out there for every room in your home. 


A few of our favorite pet-friendly houseplants to give you peace of mind

If you’re ever unsure about bringing a plant into your home, you can reference the pet-friendly plant ASPCA Toxic Plants Database, which contains hundreds of species of plants, and any dangers they may pose to the animals in your life. 

If you have trouble keeping your houseplants alive, check out this list of pretty greenery that even a college student can’t kill.

Houseplants Even College Kids Can Keep Alive

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