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Which Plants Are Safe for Cats?

Which houseplants are safe for cats, according to the ASPCA's plant database, which popular plants are not, and why a pot of cat grass helps.

Choolip Team21 Oct 2026 · 6 min read

Tabby cat sniffing a pot of oat grass beside a spider plant, two plants safe for cats, on a sunny windowsill

Plants safe for cats, according to the ASPCA's list of plants non-toxic to cats, include spider plant, Boston fern, calathea and prayer plant, parlor and areca palms, moth orchids, African violets, haworthia, Christmas cactus and cast iron plant.

Two caveats matter. The ASPCA notes that eating any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset in cats. And a few popular houseplants, including pothos, snake plant and aloe, are on its toxic list.

Below is a list you can take to the garden center, the plants the ASPCA lists as toxic, and what Cornell suggests for a cat who craves greens.

What are some houseplants safe for cats?

These are all listed as non-toxic to cats in the ASPCA Animal Poison Control plant database. The ASPCA files each plant by scientific name, often with several common names, so check the name on the plant tag.

Plant	Scientific name
Spider plant	Chlorophytum comosum
Boston fern	Nephrolepis exaltata
Calathea and prayer plant	Calathea and Maranta
Parlor palm	Chamaedorea elegans
Areca palm	Dypsis lutescens
Ponytail palm (listed by the ASPCA as bottle palm)	Beaucarnea recurvata
Moth orchid	Phalaenopsis
African violet	Saintpaulia
Haworthia	Haworthia species
Echeveria	Echeveria
Christmas cactus	Schlumbergera
Cast iron plant	Aspidistra elatior
Peperomia, including baby rubber plant and watermelon peperomia	Peperomia obtusifolia, Peperomia argyreia
Money tree (see the stomach caveat below)	Pachira aquatica
Polka dot plant	Hypoestes phyllostachya

Herb growers have options too. The ASPCA lists basil, rosemary, sage and thyme as non-toxic to cats. Mint and lavender are on its toxic list, so keep those out of her reach.

Does non-toxic mean my cat can eat it?

The ASPCA's database explains that plants listed as non-toxic, or as potentially toxic with mild stomach upset, are not expected to be life-threatening. It also says eating any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset in dogs and cats.

The money tree shows this well. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats, yet its entry still lists nausea, vomiting and loose stool as possible signs.

If she vomits after chewing a plant, or it keeps happening, ask your vet. Our guide to why is my cat throwing up covers what the sources say about when to call.

Why does my cat eat plants at all?

A study from the University of California, Davis, published in Animals in 2021, surveyed more than 1,000 cat owners. In that group, 71% had seen their cat eat plants at least six times. Only 9% said their cat often looked ill beforehand.

The researchers also tested the popular idea that cats eat grass to bring up hairballs. Short-haired cats ate plants just as often as long-haired cats, which argues against it.

Their best explanation is an old one. The authors suggest wild cats may have eaten plants to help move intestinal worms through the gut, and that house cats inherited the habit. They describe plant eating as mostly a normal, common behavior.

Cornell's Feline Health Center notes that cats who chew houseplants are usually indoor cats with little access to grass or other greens. It says they may chew as part of normal investigation and play, or may be craving vegetable matter.

Which popular houseplants are not safe for cats?

Several of the most popular plants sold today are on the ASPCA's toxic list. These are the clinical signs its plant pages list for each.

Plant	What the ASPCA lists
Pothos, monstera (cutleaf philodendron), philodendron, peace lily	Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
Snake plant	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Aloe	Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea
Jade plant	Vomiting, depression, incoordination
English ivy	Vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling (hypersalivation), diarrhea
Sago palm	Vomiting, black tarry stool (melena), yellowing (icterus), increased thirst, bloody gut inflammation (hemorrhagic gastroenteritis), bruising, blood clotting problems (coagulopathy), liver damage, liver failure, death
True lilies and daylilies	Kidney failure

Pothos, monstera and peace lily share one defense. Merck's veterinary manual explains that chewing them releases needle-like crystals called raphides into the tissues, causing irritation and trauma.

Merck lists the effects as immediate pain, irritation, redness, drooling, pawing at the mouth, swelling, lethargy and loss of appetite.

Merck notes that most of these exposures have a good to excellent outlook, with full recovery expected, often without a vet visit. The ASPCA still advises calling Poison Control or your vet right away if your pet eats a toxic plant.

Lilies are the emergency. Cornell warns they can cause life-threatening kidney failure if eaten even in tiny amounts. Our guide to holiday plants toxic to cats covers lilies in detail, including the lookalikes.

Merck adds that signs can begin within 1 to 3 hours and kidney damage can follow within 12 to 30 hours. It says the outlook is excellent when treatment starts early, and more guarded to poor if it starts after severe signs.

Call your vet or Poison Control promptly if your cat:

chewed or ate any part of a lily, even if she seems fine, since Merck says early treatment gives the best outlook
ate any part of a sago palm
is drooling, pawing at her mouth or having trouble swallowing after chewing a plant
vomits, stops eating, or seems lethargic or uncoordinated after chewing a plant
chewed a plant you can't identify, so your vet can help work out what it was

If your vet is closed, call an emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Cornell advises not to make your cat vomit unless you are specifically told to.

How do I keep my cat away from my plants?

Cornell is direct about this. It says the only way to guarantee protection for both your houseplants and your cat is to block access to the plants.

Keep anything on the ASPCA's toxic list out of the house, or in a room your cat cannot enter.
Keep the plant tag, so you can tell your vet or the poison line exactly what she chewed.
Check cut flowers and gift bouquets against the ASPCA list before they come inside, with lilies in mind.

Blocking is only half of Cornell's advice. The other half is giving her something green that she is allowed to eat.

What can my cat chew on instead?

Cornell suggests oat grass, catnip and catmint for cats who crave greens, though it notes she may still snack on houseplants. The UC Davis researchers concluded it seems reasonable to provide a grass garden for indoor cats with no outdoor access.

Cornell also suggests adding lettuce or parsley to her food bowl, or switching to a cat food with higher fiber. Ask your vet before changing her food.

Catnip comes with one footnote. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats, noting it can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and that it makes some cats sedated and others stimulated. Our article on is catnip safe for kittens explains more.

Cornell's approach pairs the two: block the plants you want to keep, and offer greens she is allowed to graze.

Questions new cat parents ask

Are spider plants safe for cats?

The ASPCA lists spider plant as non-toxic to cats. Like any plant, the ASPCA notes, eating it may still cause vomiting or stomach upset.

Is a snake plant safe for cats?

No. The ASPCA lists snake plant as toxic to cats, with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as the signs.

Is pothos safe for cats?

No. The ASPCA lists golden pothos as toxic to cats. Its signs include oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.

Are succulents safe for cats?

Some are and some aren't. Haworthia, echeveria and Christmas cactus are on the ASPCA's non-toxic list. Aloe and jade plant are on the toxic list.

Are orchids safe for cats?

The common moth orchid, Phalaenopsis, is listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats.

Sources

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your cat has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.

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