Which Common House Plants are Toxic to Cats?

Ideas
Written By Plant and Bloom Design Studio

Cats and plants can coexist. Find out which house plants are toxic, and which are cat-safe!

If you’ve got a feline friend, it’s important to know that some house plants are toxic to cats - ranging from mildly irritating to seriously dangerous.

Some cats couldn’t care less about greenery, while others will chomp a plant down to a sad little nubbin. You know your cat best, so take precautions as needed!

And if you ever suspect trouble, call your vet ASAP. Now, let’s dive into a list of common house plants toxic to cats and keep scrolling for some cat-safe alternatives!

And please note that this list highlights the most common houseplants toxic to cats, as well as poisonous holiday houseplants for cats, but is by no means exhaustive.

money plant piles wood surface white background

The Chinese money-plant (Pilea peperomioides) is a cat-safe houseplant.

Common House Plants Toxic to Cats

If you believe that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, quick action is critical. Contact your vet or an emergency vet clinic immediately.

  • Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)

  • Alocasia

  • Aloe Vera

  • Amaryllis

  • Asparagus Fern

  • Azalea

  • Begonia

  • Bird of Paradise

  • Caladium

  • Carnations

  • Chrysanthemum

  • Cyclamen

  • Dieffenbachia

  • Dracaena (Including Corn Plant)

  • Euphorbia

  • Ficus (Fig)

  • Gardenia

  • Hellebore

  • Holly

  • Ivy

  • Jade (Crassula)

  • Kalanchoe

  • Lavender

  • Lemon Trees

  • Lemon Cypress

  • Lily (Including Peace Lily and Easter Lily)

  • Lime Trees

  • Marijuana

  • Mint

  • Mistletoe

  • Monstera

  • Narcissus (Including Daffodils, Jonquils, and Paperwhites)

  • Norfolk Pine

  • Oregano

  • Ornamental Pepper

  • Oxalis (Shamrock Plant)

  • Panda Plant succulent

  • Philodendron

  • Poinsettia

  • Pothos

  • Sago Palm

  • Sansaveria (Snake Plant; Mother-in-Law’s Tongue)

  • Schefflera

  • String of Dolphins

  • String of Pearls

  • ZZ Plant

a black and white tuxedo cat sits behind an easter cactus

Good news for Tom, our resident plant sampler: Easter Cactus isn’t on the naughty list! Unlike some house plants toxic to cats, this one’s feline-friendly.

Cat-Safe House Plants

  • Aeonium

  • African Violet

  • Areca Palm

  • Burro’s Tail

  • Bamboo Palm

  • Calathea

  • Cast Iron Plant

  • Chinese Money Plant

  • Christmas Cactus

  • Cuddly Cactus (Cereus jamacaru ‘Cuddly Cactus’)

  • Easter Cactus

  • Echevaria

  • Elephant Bush

  • Ferns (True ferns only- beware of other plants that are called “fern” because they resemble true ferns. Boston fern, Button fern, Staghorn Fern, Maidenhair Fern, Bird’s Nest Fern, and Rabbit’s Foot Fern are all cat-safe)

  • Frosty Fern

  • Haworthia

  • Hoya

  • Lipstick Plant

  • Lithops (Living Stones)

  • Money Plant

  • Opuntia (Prickly Pear)

  • Orchids (including Phaleonopsis/moth orchids, jewel orchids, and Dendrobium orchids)

  • Peperomia

  • Pilea

  • Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes)

  • Ponytail Palm

  • Prayer Plant (Maranta)

  • Rhipsalis

  • Roses (watch out for thorns)

  • Sedum (Stonecrop)

  • Selaginella

  • Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks)

  • String of Hearts

  • String of Turtles

  • Tillandsia (Air Plants)

  • Thanksgiving Cactus

a tuxedo cat with green eyes sitting in a window next to an elephant bush house plant

Thankfully for our little friend Boots, the Elephant bush house plant (Portulacaria afra) is not toxic to cats.

Plant and Bloom Design Studio
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