Pet-Safe Houseplants Canada — Safe for Cats & Dogs
Which common houseplants are non-toxic to cats and dogs, which popular plants are toxic and why, and what to do if a pet eats one — a plain-language reference based on the ASPCA toxic-plant database.
Quick answer: Pet-safe houseplants include spider plant, Boston fern, calathea, prayer plant, pilea, African violet, Christmas cactus, hoya, orchid, parlour palm and peperomia — all non-toxic to cats and dogs. Toxic ones to keep out of reach include pothos, philodendron, monstera, peace lily, snake plant, ZZ plant, dracaena, fiddle leaf fig, rubber plant, aloe and English ivy. Most houseplant toxicity causes mild mouth irritation and stomach upset rather than serious harm — but always call a vet if a pet eats a plant. True lilies are the one genuine emergency for cats.
Important: This page is a general reference, not veterinary advice. Toxicity classifications follow the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant database. If your pet has eaten any plant, contact your veterinarian, a local emergency animal hospital, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661 (a fee-for-service line). When in doubt, call — severity depends on the plant, the amount, and the size of the animal.
Many of the most popular houseplants are mildly toxic to cats and dogs — which does not mean you can't keep them, only that you should place them out of a curious pet's reach. This page splits the common Canadian houseplants into two clear lists: the genuinely pet-safe ones you can put anywhere, and the toxic ones to hang high or shelve out of reach. Each plant links to its full care guide.
✅ Pet-Safe Houseplants (Non-Toxic)
These houseplants are listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs by the ASPCA. A pet that chews them will not be poisoned — though, as with any plant, eating a large amount of fibrous leaf material can still cause mild, temporary stomach upset.
| Plant | Why people love it |
|---|---|
| Spider plant | The best all-round pet-safe plant — tough, easy, endlessly propagates. |
| Boston fern | Soft lush texture; loves bathroom humidity. |
| Calathea | Bold patterned foliage that moves with the day. |
| Prayer plant (Maranta) | Red-veined leaves that fold up at night. |
| Pilea (Chinese money plant) | Round coin-like leaves; easy to propagate and share. |
| African violet | Compact year-round flowering tabletop plant. |
| Christmas cactus | Seasonal winter blooms; lives for decades. |
| Hoya (wax plant) | Waxy trailing foliage and fragrant flower clusters. |
| Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) | Months-long blooms; safe and elegant. |
| Air plant (Tillandsia) | No soil at all — easy to keep entirely out of reach. |
| Parlour palm (Chamaedorea) | A non-toxic statement floor plant; thrives in low light. |
| Peperomia (radiator plant) | Compact tabletop semi-succulent in dozens of leaf forms. |
One more pet-safe plant worth seeking out for a bigger statement: the areca palm (Dypsis lutescens), a non-toxic floor palm that needs much brighter light than the parlour palm above.
⚠️ Toxic Houseplants (Keep Out of Reach)
These popular houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs. In most cases the reaction is mouth irritation and stomach upset rather than serious harm — but they should be placed where a pet cannot chew them. You don't have to give them up; a high shelf or hanging planter solves it. The severity column below sorts the genuinely mild plants from the ones worth a more careful placement.
| Plant | Toxic compound | Severity | Signs if chewed — cats & dogs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Calcium oxalates | Mild | Mouth/throat irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs |
| Philodendron | Calcium oxalates | Mild | Mouth/throat irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs |
| Monstera | Calcium oxalates | Mild | Mouth/throat irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs |
| Peace lily | Calcium oxalates | Mild | Mouth/throat irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs. Not a true lily — far less dangerous than Lilium |
| Anthurium | Calcium oxalates | Mild | Mouth/throat irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs |
| Chinese evergreen | Calcium oxalates | Mild | Mouth/throat irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs |
| Satin pothos (Scindapsus) | Calcium oxalates | Mild | Mouth/throat irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs |
| ZZ plant | Calcium oxalates | Mild | Mouth/throat irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs |
| Fiddle leaf fig | Calcium oxalates (Ficus sap) | Mild | Mouth/skin irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs; sap can also irritate skin |
| Rubber plant | Ficus sap | Mild | Mouth/skin irritation, drooling, vomiting — same in cats and dogs; sap can also irritate skin |
| Bird of paradise | Toxic seeds/fruit | Mild | Mild nausea, vomiting, drowsiness — same in cats and dogs |
| Snake plant | Saponins | Moderate | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea — same in cats and dogs |
| Dracaena | Saponins | Moderate | Vomiting (occasionally with blood), drooling, lack of appetite. Cat-specific: dilated pupils can also occur |
| Aloe vera | Saponins, anthraquinones | Moderate | Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea — same in cats and dogs; the inner gel is far less toxic than the outer-leaf latex |
| Jade plant | Unknown compound | Moderate | Vomiting, lethargy, incoordination — same in cats and dogs; slow heart rate is occasionally reported |
| English ivy | Triterpenoid saponins | Moderate | Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, abdominal pain — same in cats and dogs; the foliage is more toxic than the berries |
| String of pearls | Unknown compound | Moderate | Vomiting, drooling, lethargy — same in cats and dogs; the sap can also irritate skin on contact |
| Croton | Sap toxins | Moderate | Mouth/stomach irritation, vomiting — same in cats and dogs; the milky sap also irritates skin |
Cats vs. dogs: for every houseplant on this list the ASPCA describes essentially the same clinical signs in cats and dogs — the toxic compounds act the same way in both. The one documented difference is dracaena, where cats can additionally show dilated pupils. The bigger practical difference is behavioural: cats climb and are far more likely to reach a plant on a shelf, so cat households need to think vertically, not just about floor placement.
How much is dangerous? There is no published toxic dose for these houseplants — severity scales with the amount eaten and the size of the animal, so the same nibble that barely bothers a large dog can upset a small cat. The good news is built-in: the calcium oxalate "mild" plants cause an immediate burning sting, so most pets spit them out after one bite and never eat enough to be seriously harmed. The "moderate" saponin and sap plants have no such instant deterrent, so a determined chewer can eat more — which is why those are the ones to place with extra care. Any amount eaten warrants a call to your vet; a single chewed leaf is rarely an emergency, but you cannot judge dose by eye.
Understanding Severity — Not All "Toxic" Is Equal
Mild — most common houseplants
Calcium oxalate aroids (pothos, philodendron, monstera, peace lily, ZZ, Chinese evergreen, anthurium) cause immediate mouth and throat irritation, drooling and vomiting. Unpleasant and distressing, but rarely serious — the burning sensation usually stops the pet from eating much. Still call your vet.
Moderate — saponin & sap plants
Snake plant, dracaena, aloe, English ivy, jade plant and croton can cause more persistent vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if a pet eats a significant amount. Veterinary attention is warranted, especially for small animals or large quantities eaten.
Emergency — true lilies & cats
Not a houseplant in the usual sense, but critical to know: true lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) cause acute kidney failure in cats from even a tiny exposure — pollen, a petal, or vase water. This is a genuine emergency requiring immediate veterinary care. Keep cut-lily bouquets out of any home with a cat entirely.
If Your Pet Eats a Houseplant
- Identify the plant and estimate the amount eaten. Take a photo of the plant and any chewed material — it helps the vet assess risk quickly.
- Remove any plant material still in the pet's mouth and offer water to rinse.
- Call a professional right away — your vet, a local emergency animal hospital, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661. Describe the plant, the amount, and your pet's size and symptoms.
- Do not induce vomiting unless told to. For some plants and some toxins, vomiting causes more harm. Wait for professional instruction.
- Watch for symptoms: drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, difficulty swallowing or breathing. Escalate to emergency care if symptoms are severe or worsening.
The reassuring reality: most houseplant ingestions in Canadian homes cause mild, self-limiting irritation and resolve on their own. The point of this page is prevention by placement, not fear — keep the toxic plants up high and you can grow whatever you like.
Living With Toxic Plants & Pets
- Hang trailing plants high. Pothos, philodendron and string of pearls are trailing plants — a hanging planter or tall shelf suits their habit and keeps them out of reach.
- Use a dedicated plant room with the door closed for floor specimens like fiddle leaf fig and bird of paradise.
- Offer cat grass as a decoy. Many cats chew plants out of instinct; a pot of cat grass gives them a safe target and reduces interest in your other plants.
- Top-dress soil with stones. Discourages both digging dogs and litter-box-confused cats, and keeps fungus gnats down.
- When in doubt, choose pet-safe. If your pet is a determined plant-chewer, building the collection from the non-toxic list above removes the worry entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does "non-toxic" mean my pet can eat the plant?
No — "non-toxic" means the plant contains no poisonous compounds, not that it is food. A pet that eats a large amount of any plant's fibrous leaves can still get a mild, temporary stomach upset or vomit simply from the indigestible material. Non-toxic plants are safe to keep within reach; they are not a snack.
Why does my cat keep chewing my houseplants?
Cats chew plants for several reasons — instinct, boredom, fibre, or to trigger vomiting when their stomach is unsettled. The behaviour itself is normal. Redirect it by offering a pot of cat grass (oat, wheat or barley grass) as a safe chewing target, keeping toxic plants out of reach, and giving an indoor cat more enrichment and play. Punishment doesn't work; substitution does.
Are succulents safe for cats and dogs?
It depends on the succulent. Aloe vera and jade plant are toxic; string of pearls is toxic. Many other succulents (echeveria, haworthia, most sedums) are considered non-toxic. Because "succulent" covers hundreds of unrelated species, always check the specific plant against the ASPCA database rather than assuming all succulents are alike.
Is the peace lily as dangerous as a true lily for cats?
No — and this is a common and important confusion. The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is not a true lily; it is an aroid containing calcium oxalate crystals, causing mild mouth irritation. True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) cause acute kidney failure in cats and are a life-threatening emergency. A peace lily is a manageable toxic houseplant; a true lily must never be in a cat household.
What are the safest plants for a home with both a cat and a dog?
Spider plant, calathea, prayer plant, Boston fern, pilea, peperomia and parlour palm are non-toxic to both cats and dogs, so they suit a multi-pet home with no placement worries. Spider plant is the standout — completely non-toxic, very easy, and widely available across Canada. Build the collection from the pet-safe list above and you can place plants anywhere in the home.