28 Houseplants That Are Safe For Cats and Dogs

Last Updated on October 31, 2021 by Phil

Got pets?

If you do, these are the best plants for cats and dogs.

That’s because they’re safe in case your furry ones decide to play around and chew on them.

Should that happen, you can be rest assured that these houseplants aren’t going to poison them.

And, of course, we’ve only chosen the most beautiful ones, so you can use them to beautify your home as well.

Best Houseplants that are Safe for Cats and Dogs

African Violet

The African violet is a popular houseplant because of its beauty.

You’ll often see it in different shades of purple, which is what it’s best known for.

But, this flowering plant actually comes in pink and white varieties.

They work well indoors because they thrive in fairly similar conditions we do. They like regular humidity and average temperature.

Best of all, it’s pet safe.

So, your dogs or cats are free to roam around with risk of any issues even if they decide to chew on its leaves.

Zinnia

The zinnia is another wonderful pet safe option.

It’s perfect if you want to add color to your garden.

It’s actually a relative of the sunflower and daisy. This is why some of its varieties look similar to them.

With zinnias you get to choose between yellow, pink, purple, white and orange.

You can likewise grow them together to give a extra brightness to any room at home.

Marigold

Marigolds are another multicolor flower.

Once again, it’s their beauty that makes them striking.

However, these plants have a few distinct characteristics that you may want to take note of.

They like full sun. And, they prefer hot weather.

In fact, if you put them is cooler environments or under the shade, they won’t bloom properly and become prone to mildew.

Additionally, they like rich, moist, but well-drained soil.

One last thing to note is that they have a pungent odor. This makes them a better option outdoors where their smell helps deter insects from coming near.

Baby Tears

Baby tears is a plant whose small leaves grow outward to cover the container.

As such, they work well in hanging baskets, terrariums and on tabletops.

From their shape, you probably already can tell that your dogs and cats will get curious and try something with these plants.

The good news is, they’re safe even if ingested.

So, there’s nothing to worry about.

Camellia

If you don’t like having to plant or replant your flowers, the camellia is something you’ll love.

The flower lives for decades. This gives you the ability to enjoy its beauty.

They look like roses so you know they’re very appealing to the human eye.

It’s worth noting that they like the shade or partial sun.

So, it’s a good idea to keep them away from the harsh afternoon sun if you grow them indoors.

Polka Dot Plant

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Nope, they don’t technically have polka dots.

However, they’re leaves are splotched with small dots that are bunched together.

Thus, making them very beautiful to look at.

So, when choosing them, you’ll want to decide what colors to get.

That’s because some will pop more than others. For example, the pink and white splotches are brighter than some of the other colors.

Orchids

Orchids are one of the more well-known plants.

In fact, you’ll often find them indoors in many homes.

That’s because they’re very lovely to look at.

And, they don’t like too much sun. This low light (and water) preference makes them ideal for many homeowners.

That said, these colorful flowers like humid conditions.

Gloxinia

You probably haven’t heard of this plant. But, you’ve probably seen it in the flower shop.

Gloxinia’s are a relative of the African Violet.

And, it’s shows.

They come with gorgeous flowers that liven up any room.

You can choose between purple, red, blue, white or pink varieties. All of which are amazing to look at.

Baby’s Breath

Baby’s breath is a wonderful looking flower that’s different from many of the others in the list.

That’s because you don’t get large blooms.

Instead, you get a big bunch of small flowers.

That gives it a completely different look. Yet, still beautiful to look at.

That’s one of the reason why florists will often recommend it in their shops. These plants easily fill up any space to make it look better.

That said, do check that you’re not getting the Maiden’s breath which can easily be mistaken for this plant. That’s because the former is toxic to your cats.

Peperomia

If you prefer to decorate with leaves rather than flowers, check out the peperomia plant.

This is a very popular houseplant that comes with beautiful variegated folliage.

The different striped patterns make it stand out as far as looks go.

But, one of the biggest reasons homeowners love them is they’re easy to grow.

They’re not fussy about lighting conditions. Although, they do prefer medium to bright light.

You also don’t need to water them as much as other indoor plants.

And, because they’re slow growers, you won’t need to keep pruning them as well.

Hibiscus

You’ve probably heard of the hibiscus. But, in all likelihood, not for the plant.

Instead, it’s better known for its medicinal properties.

The plant’s leaves and flowers are often made into a tea. That’s because it’s been shown to help with conditions like high blood pressure and upset stomachs.

That said, the flower itself is gorgeous to look at.

They’re big too, up to 6 inches in diameter. This makes them hard to miss.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are perfect if you want to brighten up a room or your garden.

They’re among the most popular plants around, so people already know them when they see them.

Since they’re related to the daisies, you do get some similarities between the two.

As its name suggests, these flowers like a lot of sun.

So, you’ll want to put them somewhere they get 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.

Areca Palm

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This is a plant you’ve likely seen in homes or stores.

They’re very popular because they’re lovely looking “mini trees”.

These houseplants come with long, beautiful looking fronds.

The good news is, even if your cats decide to play or chew on their leaves, your pets won’t be at any health risks, since they’re safe.

As far as growing is concerned, areca palms are often grown in pots indoors. But, you’ll want to position them where they can get a lot of sunlight.

Boston Fern

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The Boston fern is another attractive looking houseplant with unique looking fronds.

Besides their lovely looks, homeowners like their toughness.

They’re easy to propagate, do okay with little water and can tolerate a lot of light. That latter is not something a lot of ferns do. Thus, all the indoor fluorescent lights and bulbs at home aren’t a problem.