{"id":4149,"date":"2020-05-12T08:59:09","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T08:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petz.co.uk\/?p=4149"},"modified":"2026-03-03T12:40:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:40:22","slug":"best-pet-friendly-houseplants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/best-pet-friendly-houseplants\/","title":{"rendered":"The\u200c \u200cBest\u200c \u200cPet-Friendly\u200c \u200cHouseplants\u200c"},"content":{"rendered":"It is really important to keep your pets safe at all times. When they are at home, you have full control over anything which could hurt them.\r\n\r\nPlants are potentially one of the most toxic things you can bring into your home if you own pets. They can really bring life to a room and purify the air, but if ingested, could really spell trouble for your extended family member.\r\n\r\nBut not all houseplants are toxic to pets. While you should still always keep them out of reach of nibblers, having safe plants in your home reduces the risk of potentially toxic poisoning if ingested.\r\n

The best houseplants for pet owners<\/h2>\r\nDo bear in mind that while the plants below are classed as safe for pets, you should still restrict temptation by keeping them out of reach of animals (and children).\r\n\r\nIf your dog or cat were to eat a plant, they could suffer from a painful stomach, have digestive issues, be lethargic and sick, whether it is toxic or not.\r\n\r\nThen there is the possibility that your cat or dog could cause more harm to the plant than it could ever cause back, so it is also best if you want it to keep looking great.\r\n\r\n \r\n

Boston Fern<\/h3>\r\n
\"Boston
Boston Fern – thelittlebotanical.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nA living air humidifier. Perfect for busy smoggy areas or throughout winter when it is too cold to open a window.\r\n\r\nThe soil has to constantly be kept moist, but if you care for it well it can grow huge. Plus it won\u2019t bother your four-legged friends.\r\n

Bamboo Palm<\/h3>\r\n
\"Bamboo
Bamboo Palm -greenandvibrant.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nAfter something a bit taller, a bit more tropical and a bit easier to care for? These plants grow large enough to place in that huge pot you have sat empty and will look great in that spare floor space that needs filling.\r\n\r\nBecause this means it will be within reach of your pet, you should ensure your furry pal isn\u2019t curious enough to go and take a bite.\r\n

Cast Iron Plant<\/h3>\r\n
\"Aspidistra
Cast Iron Plant – indoor-plants.co.uk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nAs the name suggests, this one is hardy. They will thrive in any room as they don\u2019t demand too much, and even if your curious critter has a nibble, anything ingested won\u2019t do them harm.\r\n

Christmas Cactus<\/h3>\r\n
\"Christmas
Christmas Cactus – housebeautiful.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nAble to bloom when the weather is cold and miserable outside, so makes the perfect addition to any home which also look a bit dreary when it is all dark and cold.\r\n

Haworthia Fasciata<\/h3>\r\n
\"zebra
Zebra Plant – stamenandstemblog.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nAKA the zebra plant or Zebra Haworthia. A form of succulents, they are generally non-toxic to both humans and animals.\r\n\r\nThey can be grown indoors with sufficient bright direct sunlight, but only need watering every 2-3 weeks so are very independent as long as you can leave them on a windowsill away from the paw of a cat.\r\n

Money Tree<\/h3>\r\n
\"Money
Money Tree – easternleaf.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nFamed for being pretty hardy as you can neglect it for a while and it is still easy to bounce back. Of course, it is best not to neglect it at all as with constant attention, it can grow pretty big.\r\n\r\nIt reduces toxins from the air, is great for people with asthma or who live in smoggy areas and is said to invite good luck and fortune. Plus it won\u2019t harm any curious animals.\r\n

Orchids<\/h3>\r\n
\"Moth
Moth Orchid – gardeningexpress.co.uk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nMoth orchids are the most common household plants in this category and are fabulous if you want a bloom as well as a bit of greenery. They still flower through winter, do well in pot bound conditions and thrive in partial light.\r\n

Spider Plant<\/h3>\r\n\"Spider\r\n\r\nAble to thrive in low light as well as only needing weekly watering. And they\u2019re safer for your pets to be around. Sounds like a win-win situation all around. They\u2019re also easy to cultivate into more and more neverending spider plants.\r\n\r\nBUT WAIT<\/strong>. They\u2019re best if you have anything except a cat because felines are drawn towards the spider plant\u2019s hallucinogenic properties. Plus, the leaves do dangle which can also be inviting.\r\n

Sunflowers<\/h3>\r\n
\"Indoor
Indoor Sunflower – morrabstudio.co.uk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nSome may say these aren\u2019t technically a plant but we are going to put them on here anyway because they are one of the most popular flowers for indoor displays during the warmer months, when your flowering plants may not be as active.\r\n\r\nPlanted sunflowers are usually found outside, but you can purchase smaller varieties for any rooms which need a bit of a bright boost. They follow the sun and are said to bring positivity and strength.\r\n

Venus Fly Trap<\/h3>\r\n\"Venus\r\n\r\nA plant for those who love a bit of danger and entertainment. The good news is that, unlike with small flies, it is harmless to your cat or dog. So, you can admire the eyelash-like teeth without panicking about your curious cat.\r\n

Plants to avoid if you have pets<\/h2>\r\nSome of the most common plants which are actually toxic to dogs and cats include:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Aloe Vera<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Baby\u2019s Breath<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • String Of Pearls<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • English Ivy<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Tulips<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Chrysanthemums and daisies<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Daffodils<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Cheese plants<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Lilies (including peace lily)<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Dieffenbachia (mother-in-law’s tongue or leopard lily)<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nAs mentioned, any plant when ingested can cause issues with your particular pet, such as vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy.\r\n\r\nBut toxic plants will be much more severe, as they may give off the same visual signs but could further cause damage to the stomach lining, liver and may even end in death.\r\n\r\nSome of these plants could also be outdoors if you own them, so if your pet has full rein in the garden then you may wish to either move the plants or restrict their freedom.\r\n

    Making your houseplants pet-safe<\/h2>\r\nAlready have plants? The Plant’s Meow has some handy tips on how you can keep them and your pet:\r\n\r\n