Plants & Pets
Pet-Safe Houseplants: How to Read the ASPCA List (and Which Plants to Keep Away From Cats)
What 'non-toxic' really means on the ASPCA plant list, popular houseplants that are listed as safe for cats and dogs, the ones to keep out of reach, and why true lilies are an emergency.
If you share a home with a cat or a dog, the first question about any new plant is not "how much light does it need?" It is "what happens if my pet chews on it?" The most useful free tool for answering that question is the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant database, maintained by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
This guide explains how to use that list well, which common houseplants it lists as non-toxic, which popular plants it lists as toxic, and the one group of plants that every cat owner should treat as an emergency.
How the ASPCA plant list works
The ASPCA keeps separate lists for cats and dogs, plus horses. Each plant is marked toxic or non-toxic for that species, and individual entries describe the toxic principle and the clinical signs where they are known.
Three things to keep in mind when you read it:
- Search by scientific name when you can. Common names overlap. "Fiddle-leaf" appears on the list as a type of philodendron, while the popular fiddle-leaf fig is a Ficus. Plant tags at the nursery usually include the Latin name.
- Non-toxic is not the same as edible. A plant listed as non-toxic is not expected to cause poisoning, but eating any plant material can still upset a pet's stomach and cause vomiting.
- Check the right species. A plant can be listed differently for cats and dogs, so look at the list for the animal you live with.
Popular houseplants listed as non-toxic
These common houseplants appear on the ASPCA's non-toxic list for cats. Most are also easy to grow, which makes them good choices for pet households.
| Plant | Why people like it | Light |
|---|---|---|
| Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) | Fast-growing, makes baby plants to share | Bright, indirect |
| Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) | Lush, great for hanging baskets | Bright, indirect; likes humidity |
| Calathea and prayer plant (Maranta) | Patterned leaves that move day to night | Medium, indirect |
| Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) | Tolerates lower light | Low to medium |
| Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) | Large, airy floor plant | Bright, indirect |
| Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) | Very drought tolerant | Bright |
| African violet (Saintpaulia) | Flowers indoors for much of the year | Bright, indirect |
| Peperomia | Compact, many leaf shapes | Medium to bright |
| Haworthia | Small succulent for sunny sills | Bright |
| Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) | Winter flowers | Bright, indirect |
Spider plants come with one practical warning: many cats love to chew their grassy leaves. It is not considered poisonous, but a chewed plant looks ragged and a cat that eats a lot of it may vomit. Hang it out of reach if your cat is persistent.
Popular houseplants listed as toxic
Some of the most popular houseplants in the country are on the ASPCA's toxic list for cats. That does not mean you can never own them, but they belong where pets cannot reach them, or in a home without pets.
- Golden pothos, philodendron and monstera. These contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing typically causes mouth pain, drooling, pawing at the face and vomiting.
- Dieffenbachia (dumb cane). Also contains calcium oxalate crystals; the mouth and throat irritation can be intense.
- Snake plant. Listed as toxic to cats and dogs; usually causes stomach upset.
- Aloe and jade plant. Both listed as toxic; signs are mainly vomiting and lethargy.
- Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) and English ivy. Both listed as toxic and can irritate the mouth and stomach.
Most of these cause unpleasant but rarely life-threatening symptoms. Still, any plant exposure in a very young, old or sick animal deserves a call to your vet.
Lilies are a different level of danger for cats
True lilies (Lilium, including Easter, tiger and Asiatic lilies) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are in a category of their own. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the entire plant is toxic to cats — stem, leaves, flowers, pollen and even the water in the vase. A cat can be poisoned by licking a few pollen grains off its fur.
The result is kidney failure that can be fatal in less than three days. The FDA notes that if treatment is delayed by 18 hours or more after ingestion, the cat will generally have irreversible kidney failure. Early signs include drooling, vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite.
That is why lilies in bouquets, which arrive every spring and holiday season, are a real hazard. If you have a cat, the safest rule is simple: no true lilies or daylilies in the house at all, including cut flowers.
Not every plant called a "lily" works this way. The FDA explains that peace lilies and calla lilies contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and throat, but they do not cause kidney failure. Lily of the valley is not a true lily either, yet it is very dangerous to both cats and dogs because it affects the heart.
How to set up a pet-friendly plant collection
- Start from the safe list. Choose plants listed as non-toxic for every species in your home.
- Put the rest out of reach. Hanging planters, high shelves your cat cannot jump to and closed rooms work better than hoping a pet loses interest.
- Give cats something legal to chew. Many cats chew plants out of boredom or because they like grassy textures. A pot of cat grass grown from wheat or oat seed gives them an alternative.
- Clean up dropped leaves and flowers. Fallen material on the floor is the easiest thing for a pet to eat.
- Keep the plant tag. If something happens, knowing the exact plant speeds up advice from your vet or poison control.
What to do if your pet eats a plant
- Remove any plant material from your pet's mouth and move the plant away.
- Identify the plant, ideally by its scientific name. Take a photo or bring a piece with you.
- Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.
- If the plant could be a true lily or daylily and your pet is a cat, treat it as an emergency even if your cat seems fine.
Frequently asked questions
Are peace lilies safe for cats?
Peace lilies are not true lilies and do not cause the kidney failure that Lilium and daylilies cause. They are still listed as toxic because their calcium oxalate crystals irritate the mouth and stomach, so keep them out of reach.
Is the ASPCA list the same for cats and dogs?
No. The ASPCA publishes separate lists by species. Many plants have the same status for both, but always check the list for the animal you have.
My cat chewed a spider plant. Should I worry?
The ASPCA lists spider plant as non-toxic to cats. Mild vomiting can happen after any plant is eaten. If your cat seems unwell or keeps vomiting, call your vet.
Sources
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