Hear us out: You don’t have to choose between Fluffy and your plant collection. Decorate your home with these cat-friendly houseplants that are safe for your furry friend.
Cats are adorable pets, but they are also known to nibble on things, like leaves, plastic bags, and even on your innocent toes. So it’s no surprise to see fang-shaped holes in one of your houseplant’s leaves and go into panic mode. Most fur parents have experienced this several times, and what’s worst is the scary and expensive emergency vet visit.
Luckily, we have the solution to get your cats and plants live peacefully! Yes, you finally breathe a sigh of relief with these beautiful and non-toxic cat-friendly houseplants.
African Violet
African Violet is one of the prettiest cat-friendly houseplants you can grow, but it’s not recommended for busy owners since it may require a little TLC, but nothing overwhelming. African Violets are known for their violet-like flowers in shades of blue, lavender, pink, purple, or red.
For new plant parents, if you want to add African Violets to your houseplant collection, we recommend you to choose the plant that has a single crown (one single center of growth) because they bloom and grow best with only one crown per pot. Don’t forget to carefully check if the leaves are deep green, growing symmetrically around the center, and spot-free.
Since African Violets are tropical houseplants, they require bright, indirect sunlight, such as from the south or east-facing window. Water your plant when the soil is dry. Additionally, it’s important to place your African Violet in a humid environment of at least 50-60% in your home. They also prefer a warm temperature between 65–80°F.
Boston Fern
Boston Ferns are popular cat-friendly houseplants that need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light to keep it beautiful and happy. It’s best to increase humidity for your Boston Fern, especially in the cold season, by getting a humidifier, misting it regularly, strategically locating your houseplants in more humid rooms, such as the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room, or by using pebble trays. Keep the soil damp, but avoid overwatering it.
Burro’s Tail
Burro’s Tail is not technically a cactus but a succulent. Plus, for most people, it can be a tricky succulent plant to grow indoors, but the key to keeping this plant happy and healthy is to ignore it. Well, not completely but give it space from time to time. Provide it with bright, indirect light and then check its soil every three weeks or every month if it needs a little water since Burro’s Tail is a drought and heat tolerant plant. Make sure that you place it in a cool area and check if its soil is well-drained.
Hen and Chicks
Hen and Chicks are mat-forming succulents that produce clusters of rosettes. The name came from the parent rosettes, which are called the “hens,” and the smaller rosettes are called as the “chicks” or “chickens.” The leaves of Hen and Chicks are typically blue, copper, green, gold, red, or a mixture of colors. It’s very easy to grow, which makes it perfect for beginners.
Hen and Chicks are drought-tolerant succulents. It grows well in full sun to part shade. Be careful not to overwater them by checking the soil first. Hen and Chicks can tolerate a wide range of humidity levels. Also, they are quite popular in dry climates.
Parlor Palm
Characterized by its elegant, featherlike leaves, and vivid green coloring, Parlor Palm is one of the cat-friendly houseplants that can grow three or four feet indoors. It creates a lush, tropical vibe in your home. Plus, it can adjust well to low light conditions, but it prefers bright, indirect light. It loves a humid and warm environment, but it will be fine in typical indoor temperatures. Make sure to keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering.
Polka Dot Plant
The Polka Dot Plant is one of the cat-friendly houseplants that will instantly catch your eyes with its brightly spotted leaves. It’s one of the easiest pet-friendly houseplants you can grow, especially if you live in a humid and warm environment since it needs bright or medium-light to thrive well. It’s also important to keep the soil slightly moist. Water when the top ¼ to ½ inch of soil is completely dry. Lastly, keep your Polka Dot Plant in a humid environment.
Ponytail Palm
The Ponytail Palm is a drought-tolerant plant that requires very little care. It’s an ideal plant for people who travel regularly or with very little time. This unique-looking plant thrives on neglect and can grow up to 4 feet. Ponytail Palm prefers to have as much light as possible, so it’s best to place the plant in a bright area of your home. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry completely before watering again.
Prayer Plant
The Prayer Plant got its name from its leaves that fold up like praying hands at night. It has one of the most strikingly beautiful leaves in the plant kingdom. They like gentle airflow, moisture, and warm conditions. Place your Prayer Plant near a window where it will receive indirect sunlight. Water it frequently and never allow the potting soil to dry out during the growing season. In the cold season, reduce watering. Lastly, it prefers a very humid environment, so mist it regularly or by using a pebble tray.
Purple Passion Plant
One of the most attractive and cat-friendly houseplants you can grow at your home. Also known as Gynura or Velvet Plant, because of its purple leaves from the thick hairs. It’s best to plant the Purple Passion Plant in a houseplant soil that offers good drainage since it’s susceptible to root rot. The Purple Passion Plant prefers bright to moderate light and a cool location. Keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering it. Never water the leaves as the hairy leaves can trap moisture and begin to rot.
Rabbit’s Foot Fern
Quite a weird houseplant, but we can guarantee you that your cat will love it! The Rabbit’s Foot Fern got its name from the furry rhizomes that grow on top of the soil, which resembles a rabbit’s foot. Sometimes it has a spider-like appearance once it grows long. It absorbs moisture and nutrients as they crawl across the moist soil. Rabbit’s Foot Fern requires bright but indirect sunlight, proper moisture & temperature, and regular fertilization. Keep the surface of the soil lightly moist, but avoid overwatering it. It’s also best if you can mist it regularly.
Spider Plant
One of the best air-purifying and cat-friendly houseplants you can easily grow. It produces a rosette of long, thin, arched leaves that is solid green or variegated with white. It prefers bright to moderate indirect sunlight. It’s a perfect bathroom plant as it likes moisture, but it’s best to keep Spider Plants on your bedroom table or home office desk.
Staghorn Fern
Staghorn Ferns are stunning and unique cat-friendly houseplants that are easy to care for and propagate. Staghorn Ferns, like air plants, are epiphytic plants, which means that they grow on other plants or trees. They absorb nutrients and water through their fronds. It prefers bright, indirect, or diffused light to thrive since they are native to the tropics. Mist or soak your Staghorn Ferns at least once a week in dry, hot times and once every two to three weeks during cooler months. Soak in a sink for 10-20 minutes, or until the roots are fully saturated.
You can now finally get your cats and plants to live peacefully together with these approved cat-friendly houseplants by ASPCA. Always remember that sometimes cats eat plants out of curiosity, but if it’s persistent, it means your cat wants to get your attention, so it’s important to keep your cats happy by giving your furry friend activities and attention.
Grow your plant knowledge. Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
