You can have a cat and a thriving indoor jungle. The two are not in conflict. The ASPCA’s non-toxic plant database lists hundreds of common houseplants that are safe to keep with cats, and once you know which ones, the rest of plant-keeping is just regular plant-keeping.

This is the list, organized by what you actually need. Want a hanging plant for a low-light bathroom? Skip to that section. Want one plant that’s nearly impossible to kill? That section too. Every plant below has been cross-checked against the ASPCA’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List for Cats, and where there are caveats (a “safe” plant that can still cause mild stomach upset if your cat eats half of it), I’ve called them out honestly.

Quick answer

The most popular cat-safe houseplants are: spider plant, Boston fern, parlor palm, Calathea, African violet, Christmas cactus, ponytail palm, Haworthia, Echeveria, hoya, peperomia, and air plants. All twelve are on the ASPCA’s non-toxic list. None will poison your cat. Some of them will mildly upset a cat’s stomach if eaten in volume, like any salad would, but none cause the kind of toxicity that sends you to the emergency vet.

The plants you should actually worry about are at the bottom of this page, in the “wait, that’s toxic?” section. (Spoiler: lilies, pothos, peace lilies, and aloe vera. Not the ones most cat owners think of first.)

How we built this list

Every plant on this page is classified as non-toxic to cats by the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center. Where ASPCA notes specific compounds or mild GI effects (which they sometimes do for “non-toxic” plants), I’ve included that information. Where a plant has a close look-alike that is toxic, I flag the confusion explicitly.

I am not a veterinarian. For emergency advice, call your vet, the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661), or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435). This article is editorial. It cites; it does not prescribe.

Cat-safe plants for low-light apartments

Most cat owners live in apartments. Most apartments have at least one north-facing room with no useful direct sun. These four are the workhorses.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

A small palm that thrives in low to medium indirect light and tolerates neglect. The ASPCA lists Parlor Palm as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Grows slowly, stays manageable in a 6-to-10-inch pot, and forgives the kind of inconsistent watering that comes with a busy household. If your cat is a chewer, a Parlor Palm in a heavy ceramic pot near a sofa is one of the safer “real-feeling” plants you can pick.

Calathea / Prayer Plant (Calathea and Maranta species)

The Calathea genus, including Rattlesnake plant, Medallion, and Orbifolia, plus the related Maranta (Prayer Plant), are all on the ASPCA non-toxic list. They tolerate low light better than most patterned-leaf plants and prefer the humidity that bathrooms already have. The leaves move at night (which is genuinely interesting), and the patterns are striking enough that they earn their space. They sulk if the air is dry, so a bathroom or kitchen placement works better than a forced-air living room.

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Named the Cast Iron Plant because it survives almost anything. Low light, irregular watering, drafty corners, the works. ASPCA classifies it as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The drawback is that it grows extremely slowly, so plan to buy one larger than you think you need. Pair it with a heavy ceramic pot and it becomes nearly cat-proof by virtue of weight.

Peperomia (Peperomia species)

The Peperomia genus is a big family of small, easy-care plants with thick, often patterned leaves. Peperomia obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant), Peperomia argyreia (Watermelon Peperomia), and Peperomia caperata (Ripple Peperomia) are all ASPCA non-toxic to cats. They’re tabletop-sized, which means you can put one anywhere without worrying about a cat treating it as a launching pad.

Cat-safe plants for hanging baskets (high is still smart)

Even cat-safe plants benefit from being out of reach. A determined cat will eat half a spider plant just to find out what it tastes like, which won’t poison them but does ruin the plant. Hanging them solves both problems.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

The most-Googled “is this safe?” plant in the cat-owner world, and the answer is yes. ASPCA classifies spider plant as non-toxic to cats. The interesting nuance: spider plants contain mild compounds that have a faintly hallucinogenic effect on cats, comparable to a mellower version of catnip. This is why cats are drawn to chew them. If your cat eats a lot of spider plant, expect possible mild stomach upset, but not toxicity. The plant is fine; your cat is fine; the leaves they shred will regrow. For the full deep dive on why your cat is so obsessed with this specific plant, see our spider plant and cats guide.

String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)

Trailing vines with small heart-shaped leaves, perfect for high shelves and hanging planters. ASPCA classifies Ceropegia woodii (Variegated String of Hearts is the same species, different cultivar) as non-toxic to cats. They want bright indirect light and infrequent watering. The vines can grow several feet long, which gets them well above cat-jumping height even from a mid-level shelf.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

A classic hanging-basket fern. ASPCA classifies Boston Fern as non-toxic to cats and dogs. They want humidity (bathrooms are ideal) and bright indirect light. Ferns shed a little, which means you’ll occasionally find a frond in a place you don’t expect, but the cleanup is harmless.

Hoya (Hoya carnosa, Hoya kerrii)

Hoya carnosa (Wax Plant) and Hoya kerrii (Sweetheart Hoya, the single-leaf Valentine’s Day plant) are both on the ASPCA non-toxic list. Hoyas grow slowly, tolerate neglect, and have thick, waxy leaves that cats generally find unappealing. The trailing varieties make excellent hanging plants and develop fragrant clusters of star-shaped flowers when they’re happy.

Cat-safe statement plants

Sometimes you want one big plant that anchors a room. These are the cat-safe options that hit a meaningful size.

Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

One of the best cat-safe statement plants. ASPCA classifies Areca Palm as non-toxic to cats and dogs. They grow to five or six feet indoors with the right light, want bright indirect to direct morning sun, and forgive an occasional missed watering. A floor-standing Areca in a heavy ceramic pot is the closest thing to a “tropical living room corner” you can pull off in a cat household.

Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Despite the name, not a palm. It’s a succulent with a thickened trunk and a fountain of long, narrow leaves. ASPCA classifies it as non-toxic to cats. The leaves are stringy and unappealing to most cats, the trunk stores water (which means you can underwater it and it won’t care), and a mature Ponytail Palm reads as sculptural. They’re slow growers, so buy the size you want now.

Banana Tree (Musa species)

If you have south-facing light and humidity, a Banana plant is a genuinely striking choice. ASPCA classifies Musa as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The leaves are huge and somewhat fragile (cats will occasionally bat them and tear them), but the plant grows so fast that minor leaf damage barely registers. Want a tropical room? This is the cat-safe pick.

Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)

Often sold with a braided trunk, the Money Tree (Pachira aquatica, not to be confused with the toxic Jade Plant sometimes called “Money Plant”) is on the ASPCA non-toxic list. They want bright indirect light and consistent moisture, and they tolerate average household conditions. The braided-trunk specimens make a striking floor plant.

Cat-safe plants that are nearly impossible to kill

For the cat owners who also kill plants. These are the safe-and-tough picks.

Haworthia (Haworthia species)

If you’ve wanted to grow Aloe vera but heard it’s toxic to cats (which it is), Haworthia is the answer. Haworthia is the small, rosette-shaped succulent that looks like a tiny Aloe but is ASPCA non-toxic to cats. Bright light, occasional watering, that’s it. They stay small (3 to 6 inches across) and live for years on a sunny windowsill.

Echeveria (Echeveria species)

The classic rosette succulent in every plant shop. ASPCA classifies Echeveria as non-toxic to cats. They want bright direct light and very infrequent watering. The leaves are thick and a bit waxy, which cats generally find uninteresting. Most cats walk past Echeveria entirely, which makes it one of the easier safe plants to keep at cat-accessible height.

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)

ASPCA non-toxic to cats. Christmas Cactus is the spineless, segmented succulent that blooms in late fall and winter. They want bright indirect light and a winter cool period to trigger blooming. They live a long time (decades) and the blooms are striking. The segmented stems sometimes get nibbled but cause no harm.

Air Plants (Tillandsia species)

The Tillandsia genus, sold as “air plants,” is ASPCA non-toxic to cats. They grow without soil, just bright indirect light and a weekly soak. Cats sometimes find them interesting and bat them around, which is harmless to the cat but can dehydrate the plant. Display them out of reach in a hanging glass terrarium or on a shelf where the cat doesn’t perch.

Cat-safe edibles your cat can actually nibble

The plants designed for cats to interact with. Giving your cat something legal to chew on is the single most effective deterrent against them chewing your other plants.

Cat grass (oat, wheat, barley, rye grass blends)

Cat grass is a generic name for any of several grasses (most commonly oat grass, Dactylis glomerata, or wheat grass) that are safe and digestible for cats. Buy a starter kit, grow a tray for a couple of weeks, and put it somewhere your cat can find it. ASPCA lists oat grass as non-toxic, and the same applies to common cat-grass blends. Cats chew grass partly because it helps them pass hairballs. For the full deep dive on species options, growing from seed, and how to use cat grass as a houseplant-chewing redirect, see our cat grass guide.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

ASPCA non-toxic to cats (obviously). Some cats are sensitive to catnip and others are not (it’s genetic, about 70% of cats respond). Catnip is easy to grow indoors in a sunny window. If you grow it where your cat can reach it, expect the plant to get demolished. Most people grow it in a separate room and offer dried leaves as a treat.

Basil, rosemary, thyme (with small caveats)

Basil (Ocimum basilicum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and thyme (Thymus species) are all classified by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats. Cats occasionally nibble herbs and the small amounts they eat are fine. The caveat is that a cat that eats a whole pot of basil will likely vomit it back up, which is harmless but unpleasant.

Avoid chives, garlic, and onion greens entirely, all are toxic to cats. Mint is technically non-toxic but can cause GI upset in large quantities, so keep it out of reach.

African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)

For a cat-safe flowering plant, African Violet is the classic answer. ASPCA non-toxic to cats. They want bright indirect light, consistent watering from the bottom (not on the leaves), and average humidity. They bloom on and off year-round with the right conditions. The flowers are small and pink, white, or purple; cats sometimes bat them but rarely chew them.

The “wait, that one’s toxic?!” list

These are the look-alike traps. If you’ve ever bought a plant assuming it was cat-safe because it looked like one of the above, check this list. The wrong-side plants here are toxic enough that you should not keep them in a cat household at all.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is toxic; the look-alikes vary

Pothos is the most commonly mistaken-as-safe houseplant. It is toxic to cats, per ASPCA, due to calcium oxalate crystals that cause oral and GI irritation. The trailing-vine look is similar to several safe plants. Safe trailing alternatives: Hoya, String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii), Peperomia. Toxic look-alikes that are sometimes mistaken for safe: Heartleaf Philodendron (also toxic), and many other Philodendron species (also toxic). For the full safety guide on what pothos toxicity actually does and what to do if your cat chewed a leaf, see our pothos and cats article.

Aloe vera is toxic; Haworthia is safe

Aloe vera is toxic to cats per ASPCA, due to saponins and anthraquinones that cause vomiting and lethargy (full details in our aloe vera and cats guide). Haworthia looks similar (small rosette, succulent leaves) and is safe. If you want the “Aloe look” in a cat household, buy Haworthia. If you specifically want Aloe vera for topical use on yourself, keep it in a room your cat does not enter.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is toxic; Prayer Plant is safe

The Peace Lily is toxic to cats per ASPCA, due to calcium oxalate crystals. It is not a true Lily (and is far less dangerous than a true Lily, see below), but it does cause oral irritation and vomiting. Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura), often confused with Peace Lily because of similar leaf shape, is safe. If you want a striking single-leaf-pattern plant in a cat household, go Prayer Plant. For the full safety guide on the Peace Lily / true Lily distinction, see our peace lily and cats article.

True Lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis) are emergency-level toxic

True Lilies, including Easter Lily, Tiger Lily, Asiatic Lily, Day Lily, and any lily in the Lilium or Hemerocallis genus, are acutely toxic to cats. Per the Pet Poison Helpline, even small amounts of pollen, leaves, stems, or vase water can cause acute kidney failure within 12 to 72 hours. This is the one plant emergency you cannot wait on. If your cat has had any contact with a true lily, including walking through pollen and grooming themselves, call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately.

A note on labels: “Calla Lily” and “Peace Lily” are not true Lilies (they cause less severe oral irritation, not kidney failure), but it’s safer to assume any plant with “Lily” in the name should be kept out of cat households until you’ve verified it.

What NOT to worry about

This site exists partly because most “cats and plants” content on the internet is alarmist in ways that aren’t useful. Here’s what you can stop worrying about:

  • A cat brushing against a safe plant. Contact alone with a non-toxic plant causes no problem.
  • A cat sniffing or licking a safe plant. Same.
  • A cat eating a single leaf of a safe plant and then vomiting once. Cats vomit. Sometimes it’s the plant, sometimes it’s a hairball, sometimes it’s because they ate too fast. A single isolated vomit after eating a known-safe plant is not an emergency. If it recurs, becomes lethargy, or your cat stops eating, then call the vet.
  • A cat playing with an air plant. They might dehydrate the plant, but the cat is fine.
  • A “safe” plant causing mild stomach upset. Several non-toxic plants (spider plant, spider plant again, the herbs in volume) can cause mild GI upset. This resolves on its own and is not the same as toxicity.

What you should worry about: any contact at all with a true Lily, ingestion of a known toxic plant (Aloe, Pothos, Philodendron, peace lily, sago palm), or unusual symptoms (lethargy, repeated vomiting, drooling, not eating) after any plant interaction.

Living with cats and plants

A few practical notes that make the whole thing easier.

Hanging plants work because cats are bad at hanging. Cats can jump roughly five times their height, so a hanging plant at six feet is generally safe from a determined cat. A trailing plant on a high shelf with vines that dangle down is not safe; cats will absolutely climb shelves to reach dangling vines. Hang from the ceiling or a high wall hook, not from a high surface a cat can reach.

Bitter sprays work for some cats and not others. Bitter Apple and citrus-based deterrent sprays applied to leaves discourage about half of cats. The other half don’t mind. Try it on one leaf first.

Cat grass is the biggest single behavior change you can make. A cat with a designated grass tray is significantly less likely to chew the rest of your plants. It’s a behavioral redirect, not a guarantee, but it works for most cats.

Heavy pots matter. A cat-safe plant in a lightweight plastic pot is still going to get knocked off a windowsill. Heavy ceramic or terracotta pots solve a lot of problems at once.

When to call the vet

For genuine emergencies (suspected toxic-plant ingestion, true lily contact, severe symptoms):

  • Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661 (around-the-clock, $85 consultation fee)
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435 (around-the-clock, $95 consultation fee)
  • Your nearest emergency vet: look this up before you need it

For mild symptoms after a known-safe plant nibble (single vomit, brief lethargy), watching at home for 12 to 24 hours is reasonable. If symptoms recur, worsen, or your cat stops eating, call.

Either helpline can usually advise within five minutes whether your situation needs an immediate ER visit or can be watched at home. The fee is small relative to a wasted ER trip or a missed real emergency.

FAQ

What plants are completely safe for cats? The plants on the ASPCA’s non-toxic list, all of which are featured above, including spider plant, Boston fern, parlor palm, Calathea, African violet, Christmas cactus, ponytail palm, Haworthia, Echeveria, air plants, hoya, and peperomia. “Completely safe” means non-toxic; a cat that eats a whole spider plant might still vomit, but it won’t poison them.

Are spider plants toxic to cats? No. ASPCA classifies spider plants as non-toxic. Cats are drawn to them because of mild compounds with a catnip-like effect, but the plant itself is safe. Mild GI upset from heavy chewing is possible and resolves on its own.

Are succulents safe for cats? It depends. Haworthia, Echeveria, Christmas Cactus, and Air Plants are safe. Aloe vera and Jade Plant are toxic. Check the scientific name against the ASPCA list before buying any succulent; the look-alikes are the most common source of confusion.

Can my cat eat herbs? Some, in small amounts. Catnip and cat grass are designed for cats to eat. Basil, rosemary, and thyme are safe in small quantities. Chives, garlic, onion greens are all toxic and should be kept entirely out of cat reach.

What’s the most common plant that poisons cats? True lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species). Even tiny amounts of pollen or vase water can cause acute kidney failure. If your cat has had any contact with a true lily, call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) immediately.

Sources and further reading

If you want to go deeper on a specific plant, our forthcoming single-plant guides will cover spider plants, lilies, and pothos in more detail. For now, the ASPCA list is the canonical reference, and this list is the curated, organized-by-use-case version.