Pet friendly house plants
House plants instantly add a splash of colour to your home. They can lift your mood, improve the air quality inside your house, and even increase productivity – perfect for working from home (RHS). But how safe are they for our furry family members?
Whether it’s a curious cat or a dopey dog, we’ve all seen our pets investigate something they shouldn’t. So, a shiny new plant in the living room is probably going to catch their eye (or nose).
Luckily, there’s plenty of dog and cat safe plants to choose from. So you can enjoy all the benefits of owning house plants without worrying about your pet.
Read on to find out how to pick the perfect pet friendly house plant.
Pet friendly plants
When you have a four-legged friend hanging around the house, it’s important to make sure the plants you choose are safe and non-toxic – just in case they get a little too interested.
Steer clear of lilies – the prime offender – and other toxic plants like elephant’s ear and dumb cane. Instead, opt for non-toxic plants that are perfectly safe for any cats, dogs or rabbits you may have.
Think bright African violets, easy-to-grow spider plants and air-purifying Boston ferns. You can also pet proof your indoor herb garden with cat and dog safe plants like basil, sage and thyme.
Cat friendly house plants****
Keep any curious cats and kittens out of harm’s way with cat safe plants that add a touch of greenery to your home.
Looking for something luscious and leafy to go in your bathroom? Try a non-toxic bird’s nest fern. Or upgrade your work from home set-up with a delicate orchid that won’t interrupt your cat’s nap on the keyboard.
Here are some of our other favourite cat friendly house plants:
Money tree
With its braided trunk and deep green leaves, an evergreen money tree is the perfect statement for your workspace or bedroom. When properly positioned in line with the Chinese art of feng shui, the money tree is thought to bring prosperity to the household.
And pet owners can benefit from this good fortune as the money tree is completely non-toxic and safe for any cats (or dogs) roaming around.
Cat grass
Tailor your houseplants to your cat’s needs with this unique foliage, created especially to benefit our feline friends. Cat grass is an indoor, non-toxic plant for cats, that not only looks good in your home, but is completely safe for cats to eat too.
As a grass, it’s a completely versatile plant that can be used in each and every room. Put it in small or large pots, or why not even plant some outside?
African violet
If you’re looking to add some florals to your pet-friendly houseplant collection, an African violet should be your go-to. Compact and colourful, this blooming plant can flower non-stop in the right conditions, with petals in a range of shades, from deep blue and violet purple to pastel pink and lilac.
The leaves and flowers are completely non-toxic for both cats and dogs, so you don’t have to worry about keeping them out of reach. African violets love warmth, humidity and indirect light, so position them on a north-facing windowsill where they can soak up the sun without getting scorched.
Dog friendly house plants
While most dogs won’t scale shelves and hop onto windowsills, it’s still important to ensure your houseplants don’t pose any risks.
As well as the pet safe plants above, there are a few more dog-friendly plants to keep your pup safe.
Spider plant
Easy to grow and even easier to keep alive, the spider plant is a staple in most pet-friendly homes. It thrives in bright spots around the house that get indirect sunlight but can also handle darker corners of the room.
The spider plant’s vibrant green spindly leaves look great on shelving or suspended from a hanging planter. And even if your dog manages to nibble any overhanging leaves, the spider plant is non-toxic so shouldn’t cause them any issues.
Calathea
Add some extra colour to your home interiors with this evergreen exotic, complete with intricate patterned leaves and dark red details. The calathea – or prayer plant – is a popular pet safe plant, which even purifies the air around you.
You’ll find several types of pet-friendly calathea plants on the market, including:
- Rattlesnake (calathea lancifolia)
- Zebra (calathea zebrina)
- Freddie (calathea freddie)
Air plants
These low-maintenance houseplants are perfect for dog owners as they don’t require any soil – so there’s no need to worry about your pups going digging. Hang in front of a window, out of direct sunlight, and water once a week to keep them hydrated.
Air plants are non-toxic for cats too. But bear in mind, these hanging plants might look like a play toy for your fluffy felines. So, you might want to try something on the ground to reduce the risk of your cat pulling them down.
A house quickly becomes a home with a few plants and pets, so don’t let your four-legged friends stop you creating your own indoor jungle. Use our handy tips and suggestions to find pet safe plants for your house today