Which Common House Plants are Toxic to Cats?
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 common houseplants toxic to cats but is by no means exhaustive.
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
Asparagus Fern
Azalea
Begonia
Bird of Paradise
Caladium
Carnations
Chrysanthemum
Cyclamen
Dieffenbachia
Dracaena (Including Corn Plant)
Euphorbia
Ficus (Fig)
Gardenia
Hellebore
Ivy
Jade (Crassula)
Kalanchoe
Lavender
Lemon Trees
Lily (Including Peace Lily and Easter Lily)
Lime Trees
Marijuana
Mint
Mistletoe
Monstera
Narcissus (Including Daffodils, Jonquils, and Paperwhites)
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
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
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)
Haworthia
Hoya
Lipstick Plant
Lithops (Living Stones)
Money Plant
Opuntia (Prickly Pear)
Peperomia
Pilea
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes)
Ponytail Palm
Prayer Plant (Maranta)
Rhipsalis
Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks)
String of Hearts
String of Turtles
Tillandsia (Air Plants)
Thanksgiving Cactus
Thankfully for our little friend Boots, the Elephant bush house plant (Portulacaria afra) is not toxic to cats.