Discover a variety of cat-friendly plants! From spider plants to orchids, find the purrfect addition to your home.

Cats and houseplants can be a tricky combination. While we love adding greenery to our homes, many common houseplants are toxic to our feline friends. But don’t worry – I got you!

There are plenty of beautiful and safe options for cat owners. Here’s a list of some popular cat-friendly plants, along with their care requirements, to help you create a beautiful, harmonious space for both you and your cat.

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A collage of four indoor plants: vibrant purple violets in an ornate pot, a Pilea with round leaves, a long-leaf spider plant, and bright pink orchids with multiple blossoms. Each plant is displayed in a cozy indoor setting.

My Top Cat-Friendly Plant Picks

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

This easy-to-care-for plant boasts long, slender leaves and produces “spiderettes,” or baby spider plants, that dangle from the mother plant. To learn more about spider plant care, read this article that I wrote.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix
  • Temperature: 65-80°F
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity
  • Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, allowing the top inch to dry out between waterings.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize monthly during the growing season (spring and summer).
A large spider plant in a decorative stand is in the foreground, with a colorful garden in the background. The garden features rocks, pink flowers, and green foliage, surrounded by a wooden path and a stone-edged area. It's one of the easiest cat-friendly plants to grow

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

True to its name, this plant is incredibly tough and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, making it perfect for beginner plant parents.

  • Light: Low to medium light; tolerates low light well
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix
  • Temperature: 60-75°F
  • Humidity: Tolerates average humidity
  • Watering: Water when the soil is dry to the touch.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize every 2-3 months during the growing season.
A potted cast iron plant with long, dark green leaves in a black, ribbed plastic pot. The leaves are upright and slightly arching, creating a lush, full appearance. One of the many cat-friendly plants to grow
Photo by Amazon

American Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)

This charming plant has thick, glossy leaves that come in various colors, including green, variegated, and burgundy.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix
  • Temperature: 65-80°F
  • Humidity: Moderate to high humidity
  • Watering: Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize monthly during the growing season.
A small potted plant with glossy, round green leaves, displayed against a plain white background. The plant is in a simple terracotta pot.
Photo by Amazon

Easy Cat-Friendly Plant: Peperomia

This diverse genus offers a wide range of leaf shapes, colors, and textures, with something to suit every taste.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix
  • Temperature: 65-80°F
  • Humidity: Moderate to high humidity
  • Watering: Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize monthly during the growing season.

Isn’t this plant cool? To learn how to grow watermelon peperomia, check out this article.

Close-up of a watermelon peperomia plant with heart-shaped leaves featuring green and silver stripes, resembling the rind of a watermelon. The background includes parts of a woven basket and soil.

Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

Known for their striking foliage and the way their leaves fold up at night like praying hands.

  • Light: Medium to bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix with added peat moss
  • Temperature: 65-85°F
  • Humidity: High humidity
  • Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season.
A potted prayer plant with vibrant green leaves, featuring red veins and patterned with dark green markings, sits on a light surface against a plain background.
Photo by Wayfair

Haworthia

These succulents come in a variety of fascinating shapes and textures, adding a touch of the exotic to your home.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining cactus and succulent mix
  • Temperature: 65-80°F
  • Humidity: Low humidity
  • Watering: Water thoroughly when the soil is completely dry.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize once or twice during the growing season with a diluted cactus fertilizer.
A vibrant green hawarthia plant with white speckles, planted in a brown pot. It has pointed leaves arranged in a rosette pattern. In the background, there are additional potted succulents.
Photo by Amazon

Cat-Friendly Plants: Calathea

These stunning plants are prized for their vibrant, patterned leaves that often resemble works of art.

  • Light: Medium to bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix with added peat moss
  • Temperature: 65-85°F
  • Humidity: High humidity
  • Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer
Woman (Stacy Ling) smiling and holding a leafy plant with patterned leaves in a warmly decorated room. She is wearing a maroon top and gray vest, standing on a detailed rug. There's a white bench, mirror, and artwork in the background.

Cat-Friendly Plants: Hoya (Wax Plant)

These vining plants produce clusters of fragrant, waxy flowers that are truly captivating.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix
  • Temperature: 60-80°F
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity
  • Watering: Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize monthly during the growing season.

To learn more about how to grow hoya plants, read this article that I wrote.

A green plant with variegated leaves in a decorative white ceramic bowl is placed on a book with a floral cover on a wooden surface. Soft natural light illuminates the scene.

Pilea Peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant)

This unique plant has round, coin-shaped leaves that bring a touch of whimsy to any space. To learn more about how to care for pilea plant, read this post.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix
  • Temperature: 60-75°F (15-24°C)
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity
  • Watering: Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize monthly during the growing season.
pilea peperomioideas plant

African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)

These charming plants produce clusters of velvety flowers in a variety of colors. Who can resist a cat-friendly plant with pretty blooms? For more information about african violet care, read this article I shared.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: African violet potting mix
  • Temperature: 65-75°F (18-24°C)
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity
  • Watering: Water when the soil surface is dry to the touch, avoiding getting water on the leaves.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize every 2-4 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
A decorative pot holds vibrant purple and pink African violets with lush green leaves. The pot features intricate patterns and sits on a wooden surface, adding a touch of elegance to the floral arrangement.

Orchid (Phalaenopsis)

These elegant plants are known for their exquisite flowers that bloom for weeks on end. Orchids are so fun to grow and one of the prettiest cat-friendly plants out there. If you are new to them, I wrote a post that provides orchid care for beginners.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Orchid bark mix
  • Temperature: 65-80°F (18-27°C)
  • Humidity: High humidity
  • Watering: Water when the potting mix is almost dry, allowing excess water to drain completely.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize every 2-4 weeks with a balanced orchid fertilizer.
A sunlit room with a variety of potted plants on wooden shelves. The focal point is a blooming pink orchid with vibrant flowers cascading downwards. Other plants with lush green leaves surround it, adding a rich contrast.

Bromeliad

These tropical plants come in a wide array of colors and shapes, with many producing striking flower bracts.

  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil: Well-draining potting mix
  • Temperature: 65-80°F (18-27°C)
  • Humidity: Moderate to high humidity
  • Watering: Water when the soil surface is dry to the touch, and fill the central cup of the plant with water.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
A bromeliad plant with long green leaves and a tall, vibrant red flower spike, set in a black pot against a plain white background.
Photo by Etsy

Training Your Cat to Stay Away from Your Plants

Even with non-toxic plants, it’s still a good idea to discourage your cat from nibbling on them. Here are a few tips:

  • Provide Alternatives: Offer your cat plenty of cat-friendly toys and scratching posts to keep them entertained. Consider growing cat grass for them to nibble on.
  • Make Plants Less Appealing: Spray plants with a diluted citrus solution (cats dislike the smell of citrus), or place citrus peels in the pots. You can also use a commercial cat deterrent spray.
  • Positive Reinforcement: Reward your cat with treats and praise when they stay away from your plants.
  • Strategic Placement: Place plants in hanging baskets or on high shelves out of your cat’s reach. You can also use barriers like chicken wire or decorative fencing to protect your plants.
A black cat with bright eyes lies on a bed with a beige and green blanket. The room in the background is softly blurred, with a hint of plants and furniture.

Final Thoughts About Cat-Friendly Plants

It’s been amazing to welcome a feline friend back into our lives after so many years! But with that furry joy came a new challenge: ensuring our home was safe for our sweet kitty. I was surprised to learn just how many of my beloved houseplants were potentially toxic.

We’ve been diligently working with our cat to teach him to leave the plants alone, and it’s been quite the journey. We started him off with a single, non-toxic spider plant, and he hasn’t shown any interest in it at all! This success has encouraged us to slowly introduce other plants from my collection, one by one, carefully observing his behavior and ensuring his safety.

This experience highlighted the importance of doing your research before you grow to keep family pets safe. Knowing which plants are toxic can prevent potential harm and give you that peace of mind.

pilea peperomioides close up on table

For more information about plants that are safe for cats, please see the ASPCA’s list here.

To drill down on houseplant care basics and growing an indoor garden that thrives, please read my articles:

Thank you for visiting the blog today!

Enjoy your day! xo

Stacy Ling bricksnblooms logo
Collage of six cat-friendly plants: purple violets, pilea peperomioides, pink orchids, spider plant, watermelon peperomia, and calathea. Text in the center reads "Best Cat-Friendly Plants For Your Indoor Garden.
The bricks \'n Blooms guide to a beautiful and easy-care flower garden book by stacy ling
The Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy Care Flower Garden
  • Have you never met a plant you couldn’t kill?
  • Have you dug around in the dirt with nothing to show for it except a sunburn and a sore back?
  • Do you currently enjoy growing flowers, but are looking for more tips and ideas to level up your gardening game?

Then the Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide is for YOU

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