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 * 20 cat-friendly house plants

❚ All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review
contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made.
Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more.



20 CAT-FRIENDLY HOUSE PLANTS

 * Tamsin Hope Thomson

Published: Monday, 27 February 2023 at 11:51 am

Find and buy house plants that are safe for cats, with our easy guide

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House plants fill your home with greenery and flowers, adding impact to every
room. There's a huge variety to choose from, whether you're looking for bright
flowers, height or dramatic foliage. However, if you have a cat, choosing house
plants can be a worry, as cats are prone to eating greenery and many house
plants are toxic to pets. So, to help you make safer choices, we've created a
guide to some of the best cat-friendly house plants to buy.


Advertisement


The charity Cats Protection has a list of indoor plants that are safe for cats,
so if there's a plant you would like that's not on our list, their website is a
good place to check. You'll also find filters on many house plant websites, such
as Patch Plants and Beards & Daisies, which let you search through all their pet
friendly plants for sale.



If you're looking for large cat-friendly house plants, why not try a kentia palm
or parlour palm? Or perhaps a hanging plant like string of hearts to improve the
look of a shelf? There are also lots of easy-to-grow house plants that are also
cat friendly, from spider plant to Chinese money plant and even pineapple plant.
Whatever type of house plant you're drawn to, we've plenty of options to suit
you and your cat.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------








PINEAPPLE PLANT (ANANAS COMOSUS)


Pineapple plant. Getty images.

This plant isn't toxic to cats, but you can't eat the pineapple, as it's
ornamental. The fruit, which is held on a stem in the centre of the plant is
surrounded by attractive, swordlike leaves, making it a striking house plant to
have in your home. It does best in a warm, bright spot as it's native to South
America.



MORE LIKE THIS

GROW HOUSE PLANTS

H x S: 90cm x 90cm

 * Buy Pineapple plant from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






CAST IRON PLANT (ASPIDISTRA ELATIOR)


Aspidistra elatior 'Variegata'

The cast iron plant is an easy care plant that’s perfect for beginners. Keep it
out of direct sun and it won't need much watering. This attractive plant, with
big oval leaves, can cope with some shade and will brighten a dull spot indoors.



H x S: 60cm x 60cm

 * Buy Aspidistra elatior from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






BOSTON FERN


Boston Fern, Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

Boston fern is in Nasa's list of top 10 air-purifying plants, so this is a great
house plant to add to your home. It’s native to tropical areas of South America,
so needs a warm spot out of direct sun. Keep the compost moist and mist
regularly to keep humidity levels high.



H x S: 90cm x 90cm

 * Buy Boston Fern from Van Meuwen
 * Buy Boston Fern from Patch Plants
 * Buy Boston Fern 'Green Lady' from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






CALATHEA ORBIFOLIA


Calathea orbifolia

Calathea orbifolia is known as the prayer plant, because its leaves fold up at
night, like someone putting their hands together in prayer. It has beautiful
round leaves with silvery green stripes. Place it somewhere with bright,
indirect light and keep the soil moist. Mist regularly.



H x S: 75cm x 40cm

 * Buy Calathea Orbifolia from Van Meuwen
 * Buy Calathea orbifolia from Thompson & Morgan



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






STRING OF HEARTS


String of Hearts (Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii)

Place string of hearts on a shelf or in a hanging basket where its long stems
can trail over the side. Named for its heart shaped leaves, it’s a great choice
for a bright spot out of direct sun.



H x S: 1.5m x 10cm

 * Buy String of Hearts from Thompson & Morgan



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






CHINESE MONEY PLANT


Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides). Getty Images.

Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) is a low-maintenance house plant that
will do well in a place that gets bright light. It’s also known as pancake plant
due to its round leaves that can reach 15cm across. Water when the soil dries
out.



H x S: 30cm x 30cm

 * Buy Chinese money plant from Thompson & Morgan



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






CHRISTMAS CACTUS (SCHLUMBERGERA)


Christmas Cactus, Schlumbergera

This attractive cactus is known as the Christmas cactus because it flowers over
the festive season. In its native habitat it grows in shady, humid forests, so
it will thrive if its compost is kept moist, but not soggy. The flowers are
usually red, white or pink, but can also be purple or yellow. Stand on a saucer
of wet gravel to increase humidity around your plant.



Flowers: November to January
H x S: 45cm x 45cm

 * Buy Christmas cactus from RHS Plants
 * Buy Christmas cactus (white flowered) from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






SPIDER PLANT


Chlorophytum comosum, Curly spider plant. Getty Images.

Spider plants are popular for being low-maintenance and they're perfect for
beginners. If you’re looking for something a bit different, why not try the
variety 'Bonnie', which has been bred for it's extra curly leaves? It will cope
with a bit of neglect and it is easy to make new plants from.



H x S: 40cm x 60cm

 * Buy Chlorophytum comosum 'Bonnie' plant from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






KENTIA PALM


Kentia palm, Howea forsteriana

Kentia palm was a popular plant in Victorian times and is still a classic today,
perfect for adding height to the corner of a room. It needs bright, indirect
light and will thrive as long as it isn’t placed in direct sunlight or in a
draughty spot. Keep the compost moist but don’t overwater and mist every so
often.



H x S: 3m x 2m

 * Buy kentia palm from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






MAIDENHAIR FERN


Maidenhair fern

Perfect for a steamy bathroom, the maidenhair fern has graceful leaves on
delicate arching stems. If you don’t have a humid spot, mist it regularly. Keep
its compost moist and place in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.



H x S: 50cm x 40cm

 * Buy maidenhair fern from Patch Plants



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






PACHIRA AQUATICA


Pachira aquatica, Money tree. Getty Images.

Money tree stores water in its trunk so be wary of overwatering. The plant is
said to bring good fortune, hence the name, and it’s not too tricky to look
after – water once the top couple of inches of compost has dried out and mist
every few days. It needs a bright spot out of direct sun.



H x S: 1.2m x 50cm

 * Buy Pachira aquatica from Suttons
 * Buy Pachira aquatica from Van Meuwen



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






MUSA ACUMINATA ‘DWARF CAVENDISH'


Young banana tree, Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish'. Getty Images.

Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish' is has large leaves, which add an exotic feel
to indoor displays. This compact variety shouldn’t reach any higher than 2-3m.
Give this plant plenty of light and keep the compost moist.



H x S: 3m x 1.2m

 * Buy Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish' from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






MOTH ORCHIDS


Moth orchid flowers

Enjoy the exotic blooms of moth orchids, which flower intermittently throughout
the year, up to three times if they are happy. To keep your orchids content and
healthy, put them in a humid room such as a bathroom or kitchen. Moth orchids
are popular because they are easy to grow. Choose a room where the temperature
won't drop below 15ºC.



Flowers: up to three times throughout the year
H x S: 70cm x 40cm

 * Buy orchids from Crocus
 * Buy orchids from Thompson & Morgan



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






DELOSPERMA ECHINATUM


Delosperma echinatum, Prickle plant. Getty Images.

This hairy succulent is also known as the prickle plant, because of the white
hairs along its leaves. It's easy to look after – simply place it in a sunny
spot and don't water it too often, only when the compost has completely dried
out. It's rare to see flowers indoors, but if it does the flowers are small and
yellow.



H x S: 20cm x 20cm

 * Buy Delosperma echinatum from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






CALATHEA SANDERIANA


Calathea sanderiana. Getty Images.

Calathea sanderiana, also known as the pin stripe plant, for its large, striking
leaves, which have a purple underside. This plant likes a warm room, in a spot
that gets bright, indirect light. Mist every few days and water regularly,
around once a week or once the top two inches of compost has dried out.



H x S: 60cm x 60cm

 * Buy Calathea sanderiana from Thompson & Morgan



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






WATERMELON PEPOROMIA (PEPEROMIA ARGYREIA)


Watermelon peperomia, Peperomia argyreia

This attractive foliage plant is ideal for brightening up a table or shelf in a
warm room. Make sure it has bright, indirect light rather than strong sunlight
and mist every few days, especially during the summer. It is named for its leaf
markings, which resemble the pattern of a watermelon's rind.



H x S: 30cm x 30cm

 * Buy Watermelon peporomia from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






ZEBRA PLANT (HAWORTHIA FASCIATA)


Haworthia fasciata, Zebra plant. Getty Images.

This succulent looks a bit like Aloe vera, which is toxic to cats, but this
attractive striped plant is not toxic and safe for pets. It's often sold as
'Alba'. Make sure that you are buying this particular plant and not something
that looks similar. Don't overwater and keep in a bright spot, out of direct
sunlight.



H x S: 20cm x 20cm

 * Buy Haworthia fasciata from Hortology



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






GRAPE IVY (CISSUS DISCOLOR)


Cissus discolor, Grape Ivy. Getty Images.

Bring colour to your house with this climbing vine, which has stems that can
grow up to 2m long. The dark green leaves are variegated, with silver markings
and purple undersides. It can be grown as a climber in a pot or placed on a
shelf where its trailing stems can hang down. It likes bright, indirect light
and regular misting.



H x S: 2m x 50cm

 * Buy Cissus discolor from Thompson & Morgan



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






PARLOUR PALM


Parlour Palm. Getty Images.

If you want an easy cat-friendly house plant, try the parlour palm. It will add
height and impact to any room, with its exotic leaves. The parlour palm can
tolerate some neglect, but to keep your plant looking at its best water around
once a week in the summer, once the top inch of compost is dry.



H x S: 1m x 80cm

 * Buy Parlour palm from Crocus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






GOLDEN POLYPODY


Phlebodium aureum, Golden polypody

This tender fern makes a good house plant with its evergreen, blue-green leaves
that look good year round. A humid, steamy bathroom is the ideal place for
Golden polypody, but if that's not possible, mist regularly and keep the compost
moist. Avoid overwatering though.



H x S: 1m x 50cm

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 * Buy Phlebodium aureum 'Blue Star' from Crocus
 * Buy Phlebodium aureum from Patch Plants



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