Non-Toxic Indoor Plants for Cats and Dogs (ASPCA Database)

Every plant below was checked against its own entry in the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant database, and each one is a plant we sell. Where the ASPCA lists a species and we sell a named cultivar of it, we say so.

What does "non-toxic per the ASPCA" actually mean?

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center keeps a searchable database of plants, each marked toxic or non-toxic separately for dogs, cats and horses. Toxic entries list the toxic principle and the clinical signs. Non-toxic entries mean the plant is not expected to cause poisoning.

Three things that label does not mean:

• It does not mean safe to eat. The ASPCA states that consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset in dogs and cats. A cat that eats a mouthful of spider plant may well bring it back up. That is irritation, not poisoning.
• It does not cover everything in the pot. Fertilizer, systemic pesticides, and decorative top dressings are separate questions. So is a heavy pot knocked off a shelf.
• It does not cover unlisted plants. The ASPCA says its list is not all-inclusive. A plant you cannot find is unlisted, not cleared.

Names matter too. The database is organized by common name, and common names are unreliable. The ASPCA's "Peacock Plant," for example, is Kaempferia, a ginger relative, not the calathea sold under the same name. Match the scientific name, not the label.

Non-toxic plants we sell

Palms and plants that only look like palms

The parlor palm is a true palm and is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. It tolerates lower light than most palms, which makes it one of the easier pet-home options for a room without a bright window.

The ponytail palm is not a palm at all. It is Beaucarnea recurvata, which the ASPCA files under the agave family, and it is listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. It stores water in its swollen base, so treat it like a succulent: bright light, and water only when the soil is dry. Norfolk Island pine is not a pine either, and it is listed (as Australian pine) as non-toxic.

This is exactly why the label "palm" proves nothing. Sago palm, one of the most-searched plants on the ASPCA site, is a cycad rather than a palm, and it is toxic to cats and dogs, with listed signs that include liver failure. Check each plant individually.

Spider plants

Chlorophytum comosum is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. We sell two cultivars of it, Spider Plant 'Reverse' and the curly-leaved 'Bonnie'. Cats are often drawn to the arching leaves and hanging plantlets. That is not a poisoning risk, but it can mean vomiting and a shredded plant, so a hanging basket is still a good idea.

Calathea

The ASPCA lists "Calathea spp." as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, which covers the calatheas we sell, including Calathea orbifolia, Medallion, Dottie, Makoyana and Ornata Pinstripe. Botanists have since moved most of these species into the genus Goeppertia; Kew now lists Goeppertia orbifolia and Goeppertia makoyana, for example. The plants are the same; the ASPCA listing simply predates the name change.

One exception worth knowing: Stromanthe Triostar is a close relative and is often shelved next to calatheas, but it is not covered by the Calathea entry. We have not been able to confirm its status, so it is not on this list.

Peperomia

The ASPCA lists peperomia by species rather than as a whole genus, so check the species. The ones we sell that match a non-toxic entry are Peperomia caperata (our Peperomia Rosso and 'Ripple Red'), Peperomia clusiifolia (Peperomia Ginny), Peperomia obtusifolia (Peperomia Marble), and Peperomia prostrata, which we sell as string of turtles and the ASPCA lists as trailing peperomia under the spelling "Peperomia prostata."

Money tree

Pachira aquatica is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Our money tree is one of the few floor-height plants on this list, which matters if you are trying to replace a large toxic plant such as a monstera in a pet home.

Hoya

The ASPCA lists Hoya carnosa (as honey plant or wax plant), the 'Krinkle Kurl' form, and Hoya kerrii (sweetheart hoya) as non-toxic. That covers our Hoya Carnosa, Hoya Krimson Queen, which is a carnosa cultivar, and Hoya Heart. Other hoya species are not automatically covered.

Staghorn fern

Common staghorn fern, Platycerium bifurcatum, is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It is usually mounted on a board, which also keeps it out of reach.

The full range of plants we sell that are generally listed as non-toxic is in our non-toxic plants collection.

Which popular houseplants are toxic?

These are plants many people assume are fine. Each is listed as toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA.

• Pothos (Epipremnum aureum). Insoluble calcium oxalates: mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
• Monstera (Monstera deliciosa, listed as cutleaf philodendron). Same crystals, same signs.
• Peace lily (Spathiphyllum). Same crystals. Despite the name it is an aroid, not a true lily, but it is still toxic.
• Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata). Saponins: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
• ZZ plant (Zamioculcas). The ASPCA's 2025 houseplant article names it among plants containing insoluble calcium oxalate crystals.
• Aloe (Aloe vera). Saponins and anthraquinones: vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea.
• Jade plant (Crassula). Vomiting, depression, incoordination.

Toxic does not mean you cannot own one. It means it has to be out of reach of an animal that chews. Our monstera pet safety guide covers how to place a toxic plant in a pet home, and the same approach works for every plant on this list.

What should I do if my pet chews a plant?

Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. The ASPCA says the line is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and that a consultation fee may apply.

• Move the plant so the animal cannot go back for more.
• Identify the plant. Have the scientific name if you can, or a photo of the plant and its label.
• Estimate how much was eaten, and when.
• Do not induce vomiting unless your vet or poison control tells you to.

The ASPCA's advice is to go straight to a veterinary hospital if your pet has trouble swallowing or breathing. Do not wait to see if it settles.

If the plant is on the non-toxic list and your pet has a single bout of vomiting and then seems normal, that is the gastrointestinal upset the ASPCA describes. If you are not sure what the plant is, or symptoms continue, call.

How do I check a plant that is not here?

Look up the scientific name on the ASPCA database, not the common name, and check the cat and dog columns separately. If the plant is not listed, treat it as unknown. Our pet-safe houseplant checker is a quick first check for common houseplants.

Sources

• ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• ASPCA: Parlor Palm
• ASPCA: Spider Plant
• ASPCA: Calathea
• ASPCA: Peacock Plant (Kaempferia)
• ASPCA: Emerald Ripple Peperomia
• ASPCA: Red Edge Peperomia
• ASPCA: Blunt Leaf Peperomia
• ASPCA: Trailing Peperomia
• ASPCA: Money Tree
• ASPCA: Honey Plant (Hoya carnosa)
• ASPCA: Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa 'Krinkle Kurl')
• ASPCA: Sweetheart Hoya
• ASPCA: Common Staghorn Fern
• ASPCA: Pony Tail
• ASPCA: Australian Pine (Norfolk Island pine)
• ASPCA: Sago Palm
• ASPCA: Golden Pothos
• ASPCA: Cutleaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa)
• ASPCA: Peace Lily
• ASPCA: Snake Plant
• ASPCA: Aloe
• ASPCA: Jade Plant
• ASPCA: These Houseplants Can Cause Trouble for Your Pets
• Kew Plants of the World Online: Goeppertia orbifolia
• Kew Plants of the World Online: Goeppertia makoyana