If there’s one thing I love in my home and office, it’s a good, air-cleaning house plant. Just looking at a growing green plant makes me happy (indoors and outside). House plants can improve your mood, ease dry skin due to dry air, and can even help to reduce headaches by improving the quality of the air around you.
If you have pets, however, you need to be cautious about the types of plants you have in your home, especially if your cat or dog can get to them! If you have a dog on the ground and a plant on a high shelf, you won’t have too much to worry about. But if you have a cat that can jump to the plant location or plants that reside at floor level you need to take the plant's toxicity into consideration. Here I’ve listed a few of the most common house plants and whether or not they are toxic to your pet companion.
House plants that can be toxic to animals
Lily
Lilies are a lovely blooming house plant and certain varieties can be found in most grocery store flower bouquets. It’s best to remember that different varieties of lilies are toxic to different animal species; the Peace Lily or Mauna Loa is harmful to both cats and dogs. The variety named Easter Lily can be fatal to cats, as can the Stargazer lily. Easter lilies are large white flowers with six petals and bright yellow stamens.
Devil’s Ivy or Pothos / Elephant Ear or Caladium
It really bums me out that the Pothos is toxic to pets (both cats and dogs) because they are the easiest plant to grow! The reason it’s called Devil’s Ivy is that it can survive with hardly any care at all, in barely any light. I had one years ago that was lucky if it was watered once a month but dammed if it didn’t keep growing. It looked like crap, but it still grew. The other bummer is that cats love to eat this stuff. If you keep it anyplace a cat can get to it, they will start eating it which can lead to irritation of the tongue and mouth, and even difficulty swallowing or breathing. And it is just as toxic for dogs.
The same can be said for the Elephant ear or Caladium plant. The Elephant ear is just as toxic for cats and dogs and causes similar symptoms.
Jade or Crassula Ovata
This plant is not as prevalent as it used to be but can still be found in many gardens both outside and inside. It can also be called a Dwarf Rubber Plant, and a Friendship Tree. The Jade plant is not only toxic to cats and dogs but horses as well. Clinical signs of Jade plant poisoning are vomiting, depression, and incoordination. It is not known at this time what exactly causes the poisoning, but all parts of the plant are suspect including the leaves, stems, and roots.
Houseplants friendly to animals
Bamboo Palm
This no-fuss palm tree is perfect for anyone who loves a tropical look. It only requires low to bright indirect light; it removes formaldehyde from the air and is non-toxic and pet friendly.
Red Prayer plant or Erythroneura
This is my replacement for the Pothos as they look similar. The Red Prayer plant is easy to grow, requiring relatively low maintenance. As with most house plants it removes toxins from the air and is pet-friendly, not toxic to either cats or dogs.
Spider plant or Chlorophytum comosum
Known as one of the best house plants for air purification, it’s also really beautiful! The Spider plant grows both indoors and outside and does best in medium light areas. They are extremely easy to propagate and are safe for cats and dogs.
It’s easy to have both the pets you love and the plants you like coexisting in the same space. You just need to be careful about the plants your pet companion can reach and possibly eat. If by chance your animal friend ingests something toxic, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or your local veterinarian for assistance immediately.
Comments