10 Indoor Plants that are Safe for Cats

Having houseplants is both beautiful for the home and beneficial for your health. They produce more oxygen and purify the air that you breathe. This is especially important if you have cats at home and need an extra refreshment from the litter scents.

Cats also love houseplants. You may find your pet spending an inordinate amount of time around them. They can often be seen playing with the plant’s leaves, chewing on them, or even eating parts of the plant. While it is normal for cats to chew on greenery, not all plants are created the same.

You would be surprised as to how many plants are toxic to cats. When chewed, these plants can even be fatal. That is why it is so important to double-check the types of plants you want in your home when you share it with your furry friend. Here are the plants that are safe for your cat.

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Indoor Plants That Are Safe For Cats

Below are some of the indoor plants that are safe to when in case you have cats at home.

Bamboo Plant

If you are a fan of all things Asian and enjoy this large-growing plant, you can go for the bamboo even if you do have a cat. Bamboo grows quickly and is safe for all types of house pets.

Cats love bamboo plants too.

You might even find that your cat snacks on it sometimes. Luckily, the bamboo grows quickly, so you won’t need to worry about it getting damaged too much.

Related article: Types and Benefits of Indoor Bamboo Plants

African Violet Plant

If you want a beautiful plant that is safe for cats and flowers all year round, you can go for the African violet.

It has dense leaves with a thick texture and small patches of flowers that bloom many times throughout the year. They come in different colors and have a particular glow to them. Most importantly, your cats can also enjoy them safely.

Peromia Plant

Peromia is a houseplant that comes in many different sizes and leaf shapes. This plant is very resilient and will stand the care of someone that is less consistent with watering and plant care.

The best part of the plant when it concerns your cat is that the leaves are strong enough to withstand an attack from your pet.

Echeveria Plant

These small and compact plants have a rosette form that is very pretty to the eye and does not include danging leaves on which your cat can chew. The plant needs less light than most plants, but it is relatively easy to grow.

You can make more of your echeveria by planting pieces of the leaves. If you have a larger space in your pot, you can make a whole colony of echeveria pants from a single one.

Cast Iron Plant

This plant is not called an iron plant without a reason. It is one of the toughest houseplants when it comes to its leaves and stamina to survive under all sorts of conditions. The foliage of the plant is extremely tough. It will take your cat a true effort to cut through this one.

Luckily, it is also safe for your cat even if it does manage to bite on its strong leaves. Just remember that this plant loves low light and will grow verdantly green leaves when not given too much light.

Fittonia (Nerve PLant)

The nerve plants have beautiful green, red or pink leaves that are cut through by contrasting in color veins. This plant loves humid places, so if you live in a humid climate, this one is for you. It is great for growing in terrariums as well.

Because they do not reach more than 50 cm in height, fittonia are great for homes that do not provide too much space. You will need to water it more often and have a good draining of the soil so the roots do not get waterlogged.

With its small size and non-toxic leaves, it is a great plant for a home with a cat that loves to play with plants or occasionally knock them over.

Phalaenopsis Orchid Plant

While there are many species of orchids, the phalaenopsis orchids are better for homes with cats. They have striking flowers that bloom for many months and are a great addition to your home. They thrive in the lower light that is typical for most homes and can fare well with lower humidity.

Being a flower that blooms yearly, you will enjoy this plant for many years if you take care of it properly. This plant is a little more delicate than others as the blooms grow tall and look like they could easily break if pushed over.

While they are stronger than they might seem, you might want to give them additional support as it is often done with orchids. Luckily for your cat, this plant is safe for felines.

Wax Plant

Wax plants or hoya plants are a variety of plants that can be grown on a trellis, planters or a wire. They have beautiful flowers with a waxy look which attributes to their name. Another plus of these exquisite flowers is their beautiful scent that tends to grow stronger during the nights.

The wax plant does not like direct sunlight and will be best near a window that faces the north. It thrives in moderate temperatures and will grow well if you fertilize it regularly. While the dangling flowers can be a real lure to your cat, you can rest assured that the cat will be safe and that the plant will grow new and numerous flowers.

Zebra Plant

This plant is both compact and tough. It is also resilient to less diligent care from your side. Because it does not reach more than 20 cm in height, it is the ideal plant for a cat that loves knocking down pots once in a while.

This plant thrives best next to a sunny window.

The only thing that poses a challenge to this plant is overwatering. Make sure that the soil is completely dry before watering it again.

Staghorn Fern Plant

If you enjoy a plant with large foliage and your cats love hiding behind plants, this one is the option for both of you. Because it usually grows on bark in the wild, this plant will usually require a bark mix medium to grow in.

It thrives in high light, so you will need to put it somewhere where the indirect sunlight is abundant.

You will need to water it according to its growing medium. It can absorb water through its leaves, so misting it regularly is another good way of making sure that the plant looks fresh.

Xerographica Air Plant

This plant thrives in dry home conditions. If you live in a sunny home, this plant will thrive better than most other air plants. It is best to keep direct sunlight away from it though. You can water it by submerging it in water once per week.

Because it is an air plant, it has the typical durability of its kind. You can mount it on many places throughout the home. Its tough leaves can withstand the occasional attacks from your cat. It is also safe when ingested.

Christmas Cactus Plant

The Christmas Cactus does not look like a cactus, although it is. While it is different than the desert cactus, the name for this plant was given because of its bloom that occurs around Christmastime.

These plants will bloom yearly throughout the holidays with simple care from you. It can live in normal home conditions with a moderate temperature and low humidity. It needs more water during its blooming and growing phase with less water given to it during its dormant phase.

While the plant is particularly liked by cats, it is proven to be safe for them to ingest. Because the plant grows abundantly in flowers and leaves, you shouldn’t have a problem with keeping it from looking pretty even if the cat does chew on its leaves.

Areca Palm Plant

If you are the owner of a cat that is a little less prone to jump on your plants, this slender and beautiful palm will satisfy your taste for a beautiful houseplant. The feathery look of this plant will thrive best in low to medium light conditions with less maintenance.

The plant does grow slowly, but the result is worth the wait.

The fully-grown 6-8 feet plant is completely safe for cats. Because it is more expensive than other plants and requires more time to grow to its large size, it is best for homes with more tranquil and mature cats.