Best Pet-Friendly Houseplants

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Top Pet-Friendly Houseplants

If you want to naturally clean and purify the air in your house, you simply need a few houseplants. However, since some houseplants can be toxic to cats and dogs, you need to make sure you choose one of these best pet-friendly houseplants.

Why You Should Have Houseplants

Cute funny Thai cat in pot with houseplant at home

Store-bought cleaning supplies, carpet, furniture, paint, and more can all release harmful contaminants that can cause short-term issues like headaches and nose, throat, and eye irritation and long-term problems that include kidney failure, respiratory disease, and cancer.

Fortunately, all you need to do to clean and purify the air you and your family breathe is put a few houseplants around your home. However, you have to be careful when picking out plants because certain species are toxic to cats and dogs.

Houseplants That Are Toxic to Pets

Some of the common houseplants that are toxic to cats and dogs include:

Aloe vera
Peace lilies
Jade plant
Pothos
ZZ plant
Swiss cheese plant
Sago palm
Snake plant
Fiddle leaf fig
English ivy
Dumb cane
Philodendron
Bird of paradise
Alocasia

To keep your four-legged family members safe while providing purified air for everyone, check out these top pet-friendly houseplants.

Also, if you want to clean the air in your home but can never seem to keep a plant alive, make sure you check out our post about impossible-to-kill houseplants that are air-purifying champs.

1. Spider Plant

I have to admit, the spider plant is one of my favorite houseplants. I have some in just about every room in our house. Not only are its bright green leaves cheerful, but it’s incredibly hardy.

They really don’t care how much light they get, and they tend to like staying a little on the dry side. They’ll also eventually grow little shoots you can cut off and replant to make even more spider plants.

They’re non-toxic to cats and dogs, and they can clean formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene from your air.

2. Money Tree

Not only can the braided trunk of the money tree bring some visual interest to your room, but it also symbolizes good luck and financial success.

These plants prefer some humidity and bright but indirect sunlight. If you don’t have a bright bathroom where you can keep your money tree, you can make a pebble tray by filling a shallow tray with small rocks, adding water to partially cover the rocks, and putting the plant on top.

Even though the ASPCA says the money tree is non-toxic to cats and dogs, they do recommend you discourage nibbling since it can cause stomach upset.

3. Boston Fern

Boston ferns are popular houseplants because caring for them isn’t too difficult and they’re safe for pets. This bushy plant likes high humidity, moist soil, and indirect sunlight.

Since most homes are drier than what the Boston fern prefers, you’ll likely need to provide additional humidity. You can either create a pebble tray like the one described under the money tree, or you can lightly mist your fern with water once or twice a week.

When you introduce a Boston fern to your home, it can remove formaldehyde and xylene from your air.

4. Wax Plant

The wax plant is also known as the hoya plant or the Hindu rope plant. It’s incredibly easy to grow, purifies the air, and is safe for homes with pets.

It can grow in anything from low light to bright light. However, if you want it to flower, it needs bright light. If you forget to water it once or twice, that’s perfectly fine. In fact, this plant likes it when its soil dries out a little.

5. Gerbera Daisy

The beautiful gerbera daisy can bring a bright splash of color to your home, and you won’t have to worry about an errant nibble from a curious cat or dog.

The hardest part of keeping a gerbera daisy as a houseplant is finding the right light for it. It likes bright light but needs moderate temperatures. While some sunny windows will provide the right amount of light, they can also get too hot.

Once you find the perfect spot for your gerbera daisy, you simply need to water it when the top inch of soil feels dry. When the bloom starts to wilt, pinch it off to stimulate more blooms.

6. Purple Waffle Plant

Not only do I like the colorful leaves of the purple waffle plant and its air-purifying abilities, but I also love its name! It makes me smile every time I say it.

It’s non-toxic to cats and dogs, which is why it’s one of the best pet-friendly houseplants.

The purple waffle plant is pretty small in size, so it’s good on side tables or bookshelves. Just make sure it gets bright to medium light. It also likes moist but not overly wet soil, so don’t go overboard when you’re watering.

7. Areca Palm

If you want to bring a touch of the tropics into your home but still keep your cat or dog safe, the areca palm is a great option. Although you’ll typically buy them as small tabletop plants, keep in mind that they can grow about 10 inches a year.

The areca palm likes bright but indirect sunlight. In the spring and summer, keep its soil a little moist. In the fall and winter, let the soil get slightly dry before watering it.

When you have an areca palm inside your home, it will make sure you’re not breathing toxins that include benzene and formaldehyde.

8. Bamboo Palm

Another great palm that purifies the air and is safe for Fluffy and Rover is the bamboo palm, also known as the parlor palm. Unlike the areca palm, the bamboo palm can survive in low light. Also, you should only water it when the top of the soil feels dry.

Just keep in mind that you’ll need to find a good spot for your bamboo palm because it can grow up to 12 feet high. When it’s in your house, toxins like benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde don’t stand a chance.

9. Moth Orchids

Many people think orchids are difficult to care for, but the moth orchid actually needs very little care to thrive inside. Not only is it non-toxic to pets, but it also has beautiful blooms that last for several months and come in a variety of colors.

You’re actually more likely to kill a moth orchid with kindness by overwatering it. Only water it when the material it’s planted in is dry. They also like bright but indirect sunlight.

10. Lilyturf

Although you’ll often find lilyturf, also known as liriope, framing walkways outside of homes, it’s actually one of the best pet-friendly houseplants because it’s very easy to take care of it.

Although it likes bright light, it can handle low light. During the spring and summer, provide regular moisture. In the fall and winter, you can cut back on the waterings.

This is a great plant to keep in the same room as the litter box because it can remove ammonia from the air. You’ll also get to enjoy stems of purple and white flowers in the spring and summer.

You no longer have to choose between purified air and healthy pets. With these top pet-friendly houseplant options, you can introduce several beautiful houseplants to your home for cleaner air and rest easy knowing your cat and dog are also safe.

More Eco-Friendly Living Tips

Now that you know the best pet-friendly houseplants, are you ready to make your home even more eco-friendly? Then be sure to check out some of our other popular posts: