Having plants in your home is not an uncommon sight these days. They bring color, have been known to improve indoor air quality and caring for them can be therapeutic. What most people don’t know is that some plants can be harmful and toxic to your pets. Especially, with cats who are notoriously mischievous and love to chew on things. Luckily, there are plants that can still liven up a room and keep your pets safe!

Gloxinia is a beautiful flowering plant that is safe for pet consumption. These tend to be gifts around holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Mothers Day. If you receive one of these gorgeous Brazilian natives you won’t need to worry about it harming your cat or dog. Another, safe flowering plant is an African Violet. These are one of the most popular flowering houseplants. They are a bright purple color with dark green leaves. 

If you are looking for a larger plant with big leaves then the Banana plant is perfect. This plant is a nice, bright centerpiece for any house and is safe for all pets. Bright light, regular watering and nutrients will keep this plant healthy and happy. An Areca Palm is another larger plant that is non-toxic for all pets. This Palm resembles the tropics with its long skinny shoots and bountiful leaves. Areca Palm loves bright light and watering regularly. 

Safe plants for pets:

• Baby Tears  

• Spider Plant 
• Venus Fly Trap 
• Boston Fern
• Polka Dot Plant 
• Peperomia 
• Orchid 
• Ponytail Palm

Now it’s important to discuss plants that can be harmful and toxic to your pets. Pets by nature love to eat and fill their bellies, so it comes as no surprise that they would try and eat any plant they see laying around inside. Because of this it is important that as a pet owner you know which plants can harm them. 

First, let’s discuss a plant that we use after a long day at the beach or even drink the juice of, this plant is Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera can cause vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and many other symptoms if consumed by a dog. For these reasons it is crucial you keep your pets away from them. Another harmful houseplant is the Sago Palm. These palms are popular in warmer climates and have been known to be alluring to dogs. The side effects to eating a Sago Palm can be liver failure and in serious cases, death. 

A popular indoor flower is the Amaryllis, but what most people are unaware of is its effect on your pets. This flower is toxic to cats and dogs, some symptoms include vomiting, depression, abdominal pain and hypersalivation. A super common indoor house plant is a golden pothos. They are super easy to grow but unfortunately can harm your pets. Symptoms of golden pothos can include skin irritation, oral irritation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

Having plants inside your home is a great way to bring color, spruce things up and can be therapeutic to take care of. With that said, plant owners also need to take their pets into account. Certain plants can be harmful or toxic to animals but luckily there are plenty of safe ones that will still brighten your house up!