14 houseplants that are safe for cats
I feel like all I ever do in this blog is tell you what NOT to do with your cats: don’t give your cats milk. Don’t let them play with string. Don’t use essential oils. Don’t bring flowers into the house.
Well, folks, today that all changes.
This blog is all about stuff you CAN bring into the house with cats. In fact, I encourage you to fill your home with everything on this list.
I’ve picked 14 absolutely gorgeous houseplant species that are relatively easy to take care of. All of these plants are stunning to look at and satisfying to nurture. And some of these plants also have the amazing ability to remove indoor air pollution from your home.
But most importantly, all 14 of these houseplants are absolutely safe to keep with cats.
A quick word about houseplants that are non-toxic to cats
Every single plant on this list was crosschecked with the ASPCA’s list of non-toxic houseplants. You can find the full list of both toxic and non-toxic plants here:
ASPCA Poison Control’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List
The 14 varieties that I include this blog post are far from an exhaustive list of plants that you can keep with cats. In fact, I counted 868 plants on the ASPCA list of plants that are non-toxic to cats.
The ones that I picked for this post are plants that are relatively common and easy to find, survive well indoors, and can generally be kept alive by the brownest of thumbs.
Watermelon peperomia
Peperomia argyreia
This plant has an unusual name, but once you see its waxy, striped leaves, you can’t unsee the rind of a watermelon.
While the watermelon peperomia can be grown indoors, it’s actually a tropical shrub that grows only 8 inches tall. You might also be surprised to learn that this watermelon-y plant is a member of the pepper family.
How to care for this plant
- Expose your watermelon peperomia to indirect light.
- Water the plant when the top few inches of soil are dry. Water less in the winter.
- This plant doesn’t really like wet soil, dry soil, or drafts.
- Don’t rush to repot this plant. It actually likes being pot-bound.
African violet
Streptocarpus
The African violet has fuzzy leaves that are deeply veined and wrinkled, and five-petaled flowers that can be red or purple or any shade in between. Some African violet flowers have white markings on them, or can be edged in white.
How to care for this plant
- The African violet likes bright, indirect light.
- It enjoys a humid environment, like a bathroom or a kitchen. You can also place your African violet pot on a tray with pebbles in it so that it’s surrounded by water but isn’t standing in water.
- Water your violet well, but allow it to dry out in between waterings.
Swedish ivy
Plectranthus australis
Swedish ivy has glossy green leaves with adorably scalloped edges. There are variegated versions of Swedish ivy, too, in which the leaf color is mixture of green and white, or there is white on the edges of an otherwise green leaf.
This is a trailing plant that looks great in hanging baskets.
How to care for this plant
- Swedish ivy is perfect for newbie indoor gardeners. Swedish ivy will thrive in all kinds of soil, and will tolerate a range of light conditions. It isn’t as fussy as other plants about its watering schedule.
- It does prefer bright light, however, and it’s best to water it when it feels dry.
Parlor palm
Chamaedorea elegans
The parlor palm brings a touch of the tropics to whatever indoor space you put it. It’s leafy and lush and low maintenance, too.
This palm’s scientific name comes from the Greek word “chamai,” meaning “of the ground” and “dorea,” meaning gift. Gift of the ground – that’s what this plant is, especially since the parlor palm has been shown to remove indoor air pollutants, too.
How to care for this plant
- You don’t have to do too much for the parlor palm. It prefers bright, indirect light, but it seems to thrive on dim light and dry air, too. Not many plants do.
- Let the soil dry out between waterings. Fertilize your parlor palm, keep it out of drafts, and repot it every other year.
Spider plant
Chlorophytum comosum
You probably already know this plant well, even if you didn’t know it was cat-safe.
The spider plant is known for its arching, striped, ribbon-y leaves, and the little baby spider plants that seem to bungee jump from the main plant.
Fun fact about the spider plant: it’s related to asparagus!
This plant looks equally attractive in an ordinary pot, or a hanging basket where the spiderettes can really dangle.
How to care for this plant
- This is an adaptable plant, and a little neglect won’t kill it (ask me how I know).
- It prefers medium light levels and it grows well in moist soil, although it can tolerate a little dry soil if you forget to water it. Water less in the winter.
- You can start new plants from each tiny plantlet that the main plant produces.
Baby rubber plant
Peperomia obtusifolia
Baby rubber plant has glossy, thick, green leaves and it produces tiny white flowers. It’s good for small spaces as it tends to stay compact, but it has been known to grow up to two feet tall.
This plant doesn’t ask for much: a little light, a little water, and you’ve got a little bit of the jungle in your own house.
How to care for this plant
- The baby rubber plant likes low to moderate light.
- Water it once a week or once every two weeks, but then let it dry out before watering it again.
Bromeliad
Guzmania
The most surprising fact about bromeliads is that they’re part of the pineapple family! They also grow their own water tanks.
There are many bromeliad species and they’re all a little different. Some need full sun, others need shade. But they all have arching leaves with a big, showy flower in the center called a bract.
Just as the flower starts to wilt, you’ll see bromeliad “pups” starting to pop up around the plants base. You can grow all new bromeliads from these babies.
How to care for this plant
- You’ll need to research the exact variety that you have to know whether to keep this plant in the sun or shade.
- The central “tank” in the middle of the plant should be kept full of water, and you should allow some water to flow over the tank down to the roots.
- You can just spray the whole plant with water daily, or just add a few tablespoons to the tank when the soil starts to dry out.
Burro’s tail
Sedum morganianum
The burro’s tail is a fascinating succulent with plump little blue-green, torpedo-shaped leaves. The stems can grow up to 24 inches in length, making them perfect for a hanging basket.
The only disadvantage of keeping burro’s tail with cats is that the leaves do break off easily. So, whether this plant thrives in your house is up to your cat.
The good news is that the fallen leaves can be rooted until your whole house is filled with burro’s tail plants.
Note that just because this plant is non-toxic to cats, doesn't meant that all succulents are non-toxic to cats.
How to care for this plant
- Burro’s tail enjoys lots of light. Keep it near a window, if you can.
- It also perfers a shallow pot and dry soil. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Prayer plant
Maranta leuconeura
This pretty plant literally folds itself up at night to “sleep.” The folding of the leaves is said to resemble praying hands, thus the name.
Another unusual feature of the plant how it forms new leaves. Baby leaves appear as rolled tubes, which eventually unfurl into full-sized leaves.
Magic tricks aside, this is a beautiful houseplant with fishbone-patterned veins on colorful leaves.
How to care for this plant
- The prayer plant likes moderate light and slightly moist soil. It will tolerate low light.
- Keep it evenly moist throughout the growing season, but allow the soil to dry out a bit in winter.
- For extra humidity, keep the plant standing on a tray of wet pebbles.
Money plant
Pachira aquatica
Indoors, the money plant looks like any other houseplant. But outdoors, in the right conditions, money plant can grow up to 30 feet tall! Don’t worry, though: indoors, your money plant won’t grow more than six to eight feet high and you can prune yours to keep it small enough for perching on a windowsill.
Most money plants bought in the store have braided stems. The plant doesn’t grow naturally this way. The stems are braided as seedlings because some people believe the braiding locks in good luck. In Feng Shui, which is the ancient Chinese art of placing objects in an environment to create harmony and balance, the braided money plant is thought to create positive energy in the home.
The downside of braiding (and keeping a money plant indoors) is that it is unlikely to flower as it might if kept in its natural shape and outdoors.
How to care for this plant
- Provide indirect sun or a mix of sun and shade.
- Keep the potting soil moist.
Moth orchid
Phalaenopsis
The description of this ethereal flower is in the scientific name: “phalaina” means moth in Greek, and “opsis” means appearance. This flower looks like a moth on the wing.
You’ll enjoy the long-lasting flowers on your moth orchid - some blooms last several months! They come in a wide range of colors, from white, to pink, yellow, and purple, and some are even spotted or striped.
How to care for this plant
- Moth orchids enjoy bright, indirect light.
- Water thoroughly every week, until water runs through the drainage holes in your pot. Try to keep the soil (or plant medium) moist but not soggy and never dry.
Polka dot plant
Hypoestes phyllostachaya
It’s hard to believe the polka dot plant is even real. The oval-shaped leaves on this plant are literally dotted all over with color: rose, pink, or white. It actually also grows flowers, but they’re small, and not nearly as captivating as the polka dot plant's riotous leaves.
How to care for this plant
- This plant can be a little fussy about sunlight. It enjoys filtered bright light, but too much can cause the leaves to crinkle and too little can cause the leaves to fade.
- Keep the soil moist but not soggy, watering when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Christmas cactus
Schlumbergera
The Christmas cactus is a succulent plant. It has thick, fleshy stems that are segmented and glorious, brightly colored flowers that last for weeks. Flowering often peaks in December, thus the name.
The most amazing thing about the Christmas Cactus is that it can live for more than 100 years! Better designate a guardian in your will.
How to care for this plant
- Your Christmas cactus will enjoy bright, indirect sunlight. An east-facing window is best, allowing the plant to enjoy gentle light without getting scorched by the sun.
- This plant likes high humidity. Consider keeping the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water.
- Your watering schedule should change with the seasons. Water regularly in spring and summer, keeping the soil moist. Water less in autumn, until flower buds start to form, and then water regularly until they begin to fade. After flowering, give the plant a little rest from so much watering, letting the soil dry out a little.
Boston fern
Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis
First, a word about ferns. All true ferns are non-toxic to cats. But just because a plant is called a “fern” doesn’t mean it’s a true fern. Asparagus fern is not a true fern, for example, and it’s highly toxic to cats.
Stick with a Boston fern, then, for the cats’ sake. It’s a lush, low-maintenance plant that will make you feel like you’re living in the Amazon jungle. Plus, it helps remove indoor air pollutants. This plant is a winner.
Quick note: there are spores on the underside of the leaves of a Boston Fern. They look like little brown or black dots that are easily mistaken for insects or disease, but they are just a natural part of this plant.
How to care for this plant
- Keep this plant in indirect light, in a warm room: 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The Boston fern likes high humidity. Place it near a bathroom or kitchen, or put the pot on a tray of wet pebbles.
- Mist frequently, and never allow the soil to dry out.
- Water a little less in winter.
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Dawn LaFontaine is a lifelong animal lover who always seems to have a little pet hair in her keyboard. Her blog, Kitty Contemplations, helps cat guardians better understand and care for the special beings they share their lives and homes with. Her cat-products business, Cat in the Box, sells beautiful, well-made, and award-winning products that she designed to meet the biological needs of cats.
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FOOTNOTES
“Poisonous Plants.” ASPCA, www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/w. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/
UF/IFAS Extension Gardening Solutions, gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/houseplants/