Cat-friendly Houseplants: 10 Non-toxic Plants for a Pet-Friendly Home
- by Growing Gaze
Houseplants can greatly enhance the beauty of your living room. But if you have a cat, choosing a houseplant can be a bit worrying because cats are attracted to eating greenery, and many houseplants are toxic.
I have two cats in my house, and I often find them eating the leaves of the plants. So, everyone who has a cat at home should choose cat-friendly houseplants.
Here is a quick list of cat-friendly houseplants that are best for beginners:
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The spider plant is popular for its ability to grow with low maintenance and its air purification power. It has been proven that a spider plant can remove 95% of toxins from your indoor air in around 24 hours.
If you’re looking for something different and aesthetic, why not try the variety ‘Bonnie’, which is popular for its extra curly leaves. It is non-toxic and can cope with a little bit of neglect, making it the best option for beginners who have cats at home.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The Boston fern can easily fit into any spot in your house. It has a great capability of producing oxygen and can increase the humidity of your living room.
In 1980, NASA conducted a study on indoor plants ‘Air-purifying ability to purify the air of space stations’. The Boston fern was one of the listed plants. Also, they can grow with low maintenance. You should give them a bit of water and indirect sunlight, and they are good to go.
As it is non-toxic, it is safe for your cats.
Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
The Bamboo Palm is a perfect option for your furry friends. On the other hand, its lush green foliage and air-purifying quality set it apart from others.
If you place a Bamboo Palm in your room it can add a touch of natural elegance to your space. Though it grows a little bit slowly, it can reach a height of 10 feet indoors.
Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
The Areca Palm stands out with its elegance and lush leaves. The biggest advantage for you will be that it is non-toxic and safe for your cats. It can create a calm and beautiful environment if you place it in your house. It can also increase the humidity level of your indoor environment.
Moreover, it has many health benefits, so it can be a good option for your furry companion.
Calathea (Calathea spp.)
When it comes to decorating a living room, Calatheas can be a perfect addition. Its light green leaves contrast beautifully with the colors of your living room. Calatheas are often called prayer plants because every evening they fold their leaves as though they are praying.
Also, it is not toxic and a cat-friendly houseplant. So, I would say if you want a plant that is both cat-friendly and has aesthetic appeal, Calatheas can be the one.
Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)
These are attractively colored with veins or spots and have oval-shaped, thick, smooth-edged, and fleshy leaves. You can easily identify a Peperomia plant by its iconic rat tail-like inflorescence. Indoors, it remains small and never surpasses two feet in height.
It also does not need regular watering or sufficient sunlight which makes it a great option for you.
Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)
Its leaves are oval, paired, and have striking bronze accents. A friendship plant needs 0.8 cups of water every 9 days when it doesn’t get direct sunlight (potted in a 5.0’’ pot).
Moreover, it has many health benefits and has a great oxygen-producing capability.
Haworthia (Haworthia spp.)
It is believed that Haworthia can keep your house safe from negativity. And do you know why it is so popular among people? It is capable of growing indoors in all areas of the world.
While its looks are similar to aloe, which is toxic to cats, these plants are completely safe.
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
The Polka Dot Plant is known for its colorful leaves. Also, it is easy to care for and can grow rapidly. Most people go for a Polka Dot Plant because of its compact size. Under ideal conditions, it grows to a height of around 30 to 90 cm and spreads out to around 30 to 60 cm in width.
Sometimes it can be difficult getting it to grow to perfect condition, but once established, you are good to go.
African Violet (Saintpaulia spp.)
You will be surprised to know that an African Violet can survive for around 20 to 50 years. This plant is popular because it blooms. Under ideal conditions, an African Violet plant can bloom continuously.
It can also purify the air of your indoor area and make a better environment for your indoor space.
These plants are safe for cats and can add beauty and greenery to your indoor spaces without posing a risk to your cats.
 *(Include an image of droopy leaves)* Some plants, such as calatheas, prefer moist soil at all times; otherwise, they develop that signature brown tissue damage on the leaves. The annoying thing here is that the damage cannot be reversed and can only be cut away, leaving you with a damaged plant. If the soil of your plant is bone dry, you'll notice that it's pulling away from the sides of the pot. This is because the soil has shrunk due to a lack of moisture, so make sure you are not letting this happen by watering a little more frequently. #### Signs Your Plant is Overwatered (darkgreen) Overwatering plants is a really common way that people kill their plants. Beginner plant enthusiasts often have a common misconception that houseplants need lots of water, but the reality is that these plants are native to hot climates where they may get periods of drought followed by large rain which rehydrates them. **Yellowing leaves** (red) can indicate an overwatering problem as well as an underwatering problem. If you are watering your plant too often and the soil is always wet, this can lead to root rot, which will begin to affect the leaves of your plant. **Limp and mushy leaves** (red) also indicate that you are overwatering your plant. This is particularly true with succulents such as Echeverias. Echeverias store water in their thick leaves and have difficulty storing excess water if you are watering your plant too often. This leads to mushy plants that eventually fall off.  *(Include an image of yellowing leaves)* Philodendron and Pothos plants tend to get mushy leaves that fall off if the soil is consistently soggy. My Philodendron Birkin recently developed some new brown leaves that fell off because I was overwatering it. Whereas crispy brown edges on leaves indicate an underwatering problem, if the whole leaves are turning brown, this tends to mean that the plant tissue is rotting due to too much water. You may also notice some water droplets on the ends of the leaves of some of your plants. This is the plant perspiring excess water through its leaves and can indicate that you are giving the plant too much water. Now, this tends to happen on plants that prefer drier soil, and I notice it quite often on my Philodendron Birkin and my Tradescantia Nanook. **Increased presence of fungus gnats** (red) can also be a sign that your plant is too moist. Fungus gnats like a moist top two inches of soil to breed and lay their eggs, so if your soil is wet, it creates a breeding ground for gnats. If you see lots of flea-like flies jumping around the top of your soil, I would just dial back on the watering and let the top two inches of the soil dry out before watering again. #### Watering Tips (darkgreen) It is important to allow the soil of your houseplant to dry out between waterings. This prevents the possibility of over-watering, which is one of the most common reasons people kill their plants. **Check the soil moisture** (red) before watering your plant by sticking your finger two inches into the soil. If it feels wet, leave it a few days and then check again. An even better way to check the soil moisture is to invest in a moisture meter. This device needs no batteries and tells you exactly how much moisture is in the soil, giving you control over watering your plants.  *(Include an image of a moisture meter)* When you identify that your plant needs water, make sure you give it a thorough soaking. Take your plant to a sink area and soak the soil four or five times until water drains out of the bottom each time. This ensures that all the soil in the pot gets moistened and there are no dry patches. **Bottom watering** (teal) is a method that has changed the health of my plants since I implemented it a couple of years ago. Place your plant in a container of water and let it absorb moisture from the bottom up. This method prevents water from getting on the leaves, which can cause leaf tissue damage. I hope this article was helpful. Now you know when to water your plants and when not to. Apply this knowledge to your plants and see the growth. Happy gardening! --- Incorporating these visual and formatting enhancements will make your article more attractive and engaging for your readers.](https://growinggaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pexels-artempodrez-7242495-scaled.jpg)
