Emily Chan
A Panicked Visit To The Vet Is No Fun, So Here Are 7 Houseplants Safe For Your Cat
Do you have a roommate who likes to chew on leaves? We’re talking about cats here, not a human. Keeping plants alive and well can be a struggle when your cat is keen on causing mischief and investigating them.
And then, you have to worry about whether or not your houseplant may be dangerous for your pet to be around. A panicked visit to the vet is no fun for anyone. To keep your cat safe, choose the right plants for your home. Here are some feline-friendly options to pick from.
Spider Plant
If you want some greenery that can easily adapt to your living space, spider plants are the way to go. They require indirect sunlight and well-drained, moist soil.
They look fantastic sitting in a hanging planter, which is an excellent method for keeping it out of the way of nosy cats. Spider plants are also fast-growing. So if your cat does decide to take a bite out of one, it’ll grow back new leaves pretty quickly.
Ponytail Palm
The ponytail palm looks like a mini tree. It gets its name from the plant’s long, draping leaves that resemble the hairstyle. Ponytail palms need lots of indirect sunlight and minimal water and fertilization.
American Rubber Plant
This plant is perfect if you live in a small space since it doesn’t grow too big. Luckily, it doesn’t need much water, so forgetful plant owners don’t need to fret!
Make sure you buy the right version of the rubber plant. The American rubber plant is safe for pets, but the rubber tree is toxic to them.
Prayer Plant
The blend of pink, green, and white of the prayer plant’s leaves are attention-grabbing to any human, so it’s bound to draw your cat’s eye as well. Luckily, they’re non-toxic and safe for your curious cat to poke around.
Keep the prayer plant in a warm, humid environment and lightly spritz it with water every few days to keep its bold pink accents strong.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass isn’t a particularly attractive plant. It doesn’t have uniquely patterned leaves or anything like that. But it’s popular with cats and is even beneficial to their diets, containing plenty of nutrients and fiber. So surely, it’s a much better alternative to them munching on your beloved houseplants.
Christmas Cactus
This plant consists of beautiful pink blooms that thrive in shadier areas. It’s a succulent, so it’s pretty demanding when it comes to watering.
Christmas cacti do not possess the poky spines that are traditionally found with regular cacti, so they won’t cause any injury to your cats.
Herbs
If you like to cook, you can grow yourself a cat-friendly herb garden. Basil, sage, mint, cilantro, thyme, and rosemary won’t harm your cats if ingested.
But beware, because you can’t just plant any herbs. Oregano and marjoram are poisonous to cats, so make sure to stay away from them.
