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10 Pet Friendly Houseplants

pet friendly houseplants safe for cats dogs

What are the best pet friendly houseplants?

When shopping for houseplants it can be overlooked whether the plants you are buying are safe to have around your pets. In fact, houseplants are listed as the 8th most reported toxin to pets. Cats and dogs can often innocently decide to have a nibble on a leaf or two, so knowing which pet friendly houseplants to buy before you get them into your home can be crucial.

Many houseplants are considered toxic to pets. On every product page, we have offered guidance on which plants can be considered safe and which you should think twice about before purchasing.

Every pet is different and as their owner you will have a better idea on the likelihood of whether your pet will decide to nibble on your new beloved indoor plants. For instance, a placid dog may be of no risk in eating your houseplants, but a hyperactive cat might get chewing as soon as you turn your back – you might even have a mischievous tortoise who’s on the prowl for leafy greens.

To eliminate this risk we have collated a list of our Top 10 pet friendly houseplants below so you can buy your favourite plants online worry-free.

Top 10 pet safe houseplants

Cast Iron Plant

Aspidistra Elatior

safe for cats

safe for dogs

As part of our unkillable range, the Cast Iron Plant makes for a fantastic first houseplant & present. What’s even better is the fact that Cast Iron is completely pet friendly and safe.

What can be better than a durable house plant that you don’t have to worry about?

Areca Palm

Dypsis Lutescens

safe for cats

safe for dogs

This beautiful palm adds plumes of rich foliage to any home or office it resides in. Not only that, but it’s totally safe around your pets and children. Coming in three different sizes, the Areca Palm can fit in a range of environments. Our largest size (120cm) can even provide a little bit of shade for your furry friends on a hot day!

Kentia Palm

Howea Forsteriana

safe for cats

safe for dogs

Kentia Palms are a fantastic house plant that require little care and attention. As well as being tolerant to shade and the occasional under watering, they’re completely safe around your pets and children. Kentia Palms can also purify the air. This means they would be actively helping the companions in your home. 

Prayer Plant

Maranta leuconeura

safe for cats

safe for dogs

Recognisable for it’s beautiful, distinctive, leaves. The prayer plant makes a great housewarming gift for friends with pets.

Not only is a Prayer Plant pet safe, it’s small enough to be placed on a coffee table or side board. You’ll definitely be able to keep it out of the way of wandering and explorative pets!

Parlour Palm

Chamaedorea Elegans

safe for cats

safe for dogs

Another easy care indoor plant that is safe around pets is the Parlour Palm. The Parlour Palm is also shade-friendly and a beautiful addition to even the darkest of rooms. Being an air purifying plant, it can also help absorb toxins in the air helping your pets and children breathe easier.

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum Comosum

safe for cats

safe for dogs

Another pet friendly house plant you can consider introducing into your home is the spider plant. Small, beautiful, pet friendly and easy to propagate. Moreover, this non-toxic plant is perfect to sit on a table top or sideboard!

Boston Fern

Nephrolepsis Exaltata

safe for cats

safe for dogs

The fronds of the Boston Fern give it bags of character aswell as being a pet friendly house plant it has a unique form and charm. Like many of our indoor plants, the Boston Fern is also small and air purifying. You can keep it on a sideboard, so your pet won’t even notice as it removes toxins from your home. Out of all our pet friendly houseplants, this beauty will improve your quality of life!

Banana Plant

Musa Dwarf Cavendish

safe for cats

safe for dogs

Not only is the Banana Plant one of the most popular fruit plants on the planet, it is also one of our pet friendly houseplants! What’s against bringing the tropics into your living room or conservatory? Spice up your home decor with a pet-safe Banana Plant. 

Money Tree

Pachira Aquatica

safe for cats

safe for dogs

One of our most popular plants is the money tree and for good reason. It’s beautiful, fast-growing and non-toxic to pets. Additionally, the money tree also has a thick stem/trunk making it perfect for those with larger dogs like German Shepherds or Sheep Dogs. It is certainly resilient to the odd bash or contact. It’s definitely one of our most sturdy pet friendly houseplants

toxic houseplants snake plant

Why Get Pet Friendly Houseplants?

At Oxy Plants, we understand just how important our family and friends (sometimes furry) can be. When you’re trying to make your house safe for your cats, dogs or children you might add a baby-gate or plug socket covers. But have you ever considered the plants in your house?

Having a quick think about whether you have child or pet friendly house plants can be crucial in ensuring that there is no need for a sick bowl or, in rare cases, a trip to hospital! Definitely consider having some non-toxic plants if you have a little companion that you can foresee chomping on a leaf or two…

 

pet safe houseplants

What Makes a House Plant Toxic?

Just like humans, plants are made up of thousands of chemical compounds. This helps them to stay alive, absorb nutrients and sunlight, remain rigid, and survive in some of the harshest conditions. However, if humans, cats and dogs are to accidentally ingest some of these plants, they can have some quite nasty effects on our health.

One of the most common poisonous chemical components found in plants is insoluble Calcium Oxalate.

  • Spathiphyllum (Peace lily)
  • Alocasia (African mask)
  • Colocasia (Elephant ear)
  • Monstera (Swiss cheese)
  • Caladium
  • Epipremnum (Pothos, Devil’s ivy)
  • Philodendron
  • Diffenbachia (Dumb cane)
  • Zantedeschia (Calla lily)

These plants form calcium oxalate crystals in order to regulate their own calcium levels; the crystals act as a calcium reserve.1 They also function as protection against predation. These needle-sharp crystals usually exist in formations called raphides. When an animal bites into the plant tissue, the crystals are released and cause irritation, swelling of the oropharyngeal region, and vomiting.1 It’s recommended by the ASPCA to keep these types of plants away from pets. They have a great, comprehensive list for cats and dogs. A popular recommendation is to provide cats with cat grass instead.

Where possible we have tried to indicate on product pages what some of the toxic effects are from each plant and how to proceed if an accident occurs. For example, on the Fiddle Leaf Fig we highlight the following:

The fiddle leaf fig is classed as poisonous; if parts of the plants are eaten, vomiting, nausea and a loss of appetite could occur. Consumption of large quantities must be dealt with quickly; acquire medical assistance for further information. The sap can also cause dermatitis and skin allergy to sensitive individuals, so be sure to wear gloves when handling.

If you own one of these, you may want to have a think about where you’re going to place these plants in your home. Why not move them into an upstairs bedroom, or on a windowsill that is out of reach?

What Pet Friendly Houseplants are Suitable for Big Dogs?

When it comes to big dogs with even larger personalities, it can sometimes be difficult to find house plants suitable to live alongside them. Whether you have a German Shepherd that loves to chomp on some foliage or a Golden Retriever that gets a little too excited for its walk, having some non-toxic, pet friendly houseplants that are up to the challenge of taking a bashing really goes a long way! There are three things you can do to prevent any of the accidents mentions above:

money tree large
Choose Strong Pet Friendly Houseplants
Sometimes, a house plant with a strong stem, or trunk, can be the perfect addition to a home with an excitable pet. We get it, sometimes plants can be knocked over through no fault of our own. Making sure you have a houseplant with a strong stem can go a long way in ensuring that you still have a live plant after an encounter with a wagging tail or energetic puppy! If you’re wanting a house plant that is going to be placed on the floor, why not consider a Money Tree or Ponytail Palm? These two hardy house plants are stalwarts of the busy home and can really put up with a battering. Similarly, if your plant does get knocked over and soil is knocked out of the pot, these plants are fairly tolerant. Simply refill the soil in the nursery pot and act like nothing ever happened!
Choose Some Smaller Pet Friendly Houseplants

It may sound like common sense, but if you have an energetic puppy or a wandering toddler, why not keep your plants off the floor?

One of the simplest things we can do as plant owners is to keep them out of the way of danger. Try keeping your smaller house plants on windowsills or mantle pieces so that they’re unlikely to be touched by your pets or children. 

Some suitable house plants would be the Spider Plant and Boston Fern. These will sit happily on a ledge or table and unlikely to be toppled over and get soil all over that rug or carpet!

chinese money plant pilea peperomiodes
pet safe houseplant placement corner
Put Your Pet Friendly Houseplants in a Safe Corner

If you do opt for one of our large pet friendly houseplants, choosing where to place them can help minimise any pet or child induced accidents. We advise opting for a safe corner where the wall can offer some extra cover and support; opposed to having your houseplant free where it can be knocked over from multiple angles.

Choose a spot that doesn’t have regular traffic of passers by to reduce the chances of your houseplant getting knocked over. Voila, your pet friendly houseplants will be in tip-top condition for years to come!

Struggling to Find What You're Looking For?

Still haven’t found the perfect plant for you? Or, are you eager to find more plants to add to your collection? Maybe you don’t need one of our pet friendly houseplants! Browse our indoor plant range to find a plant that you can rely on.

 

Equally, if you want to do some more research on pet friendly house plants, we find Gardener’s World to be a really useful place to start!

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