20 Popular Houseplants That Are Toxic to Cats (2024)

Gardening

Houseplants

Types of Houseplants

• 01 of 20

  Lilies

  

  Lilies (Lilium or Hemerocallis spp.), which are in the "true lily" or Lilium family, and "daylilies," which are in the Hemerocallis family, are dangerous for cats. The entire plant—stems, leaves, flowers, pollen, and the water in the vase—is toxic to cats and known to cause kidney failure within three days. It's best to avoid plants with the word "lily" in their name; most are a deadly combination in a home with cats.
  

  • Toxic Properties: Unknown what the toxin is in the plant
  • Safe Alternative: Orchids

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• 02 of 20

  Peace Lily

  

  Despite their name, peace lilies(Spathiphyllum) are not true lilies, but they are one of the most common flowering houseplants. Their dark leaves, white flowers, and low maintenance requirements make them popular. Peace lilies contain calcium oxalates which are toxic to cats. They are only dangerous when ingested and are safe to touch.

  • Toxic Properties: Insoluble calcium oxalates
  • Safe Alternative: Cast iron plants

• 03 of 20

  Aloe Vera

  

  Aloe vera (Aloebarbadensis miller) plants are a staple in many homes thanks to how easy they are to care for. Aloe vera is characterized by thick, succulent-like leaves with jagged edges that grow upwards from a rosette-like base. It is toxic to cats if ingested.

  • Toxic Properties: Saponins, anthraquinone
  • Safe Alternative: Haworthia

• 04 of 20

  Cutleaf Philodendron

  

  Monstera deliciosa is one of the most trendy tropical houseplants featured extensively on social media and in home decor thanks to its stunning tropical foliage. Also referred to as "Swiss cheese plants" or "split-leaf philodendrons," monsteras are relatively low maintenance, making them an attractive addition to any home. Unfortunately, Monstera deliciosa contains insoluble calcium oxalates making them highly toxic to cats.

  • Toxic Properties: Insoluble calcium oxalates
  • Safe Alternative: Prayer plant

  Continue to 5 of 20 below

• 05 of 20

  Pothos

  

  Due to its low maintenance, pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is an attractive houseplant for amateur and experienced plant owners. The beautiful drape and ease of care make it a lovely addition to your home, particularly when trying tospruce up your home decor on a budget. Though pothos is entirely safe to touch, it is toxic to cats.

  • Toxic Properties: Insoluble calcium oxalates
  • Safe Alternative: Spider plant

• 06 of 20

  Jade Plants

  

  Jade plants(Crassula), also known as "money plants" or "dollar plants," are succulents that are easy to grow and thought to bring good luck and fortune to their owners. They are characterized by dark green fleshy leaves and thick, wood-like stems. There are several different varieties of jade plants, all belonging to the family Crassula. Unfortunately, jade plants are highly toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

  • Toxic Properties: Unknown cause of toxicity but all parts of the plant can cause reactions in cats
  • Safe Alternative: Peperomia

• 07 of 20

  Snake Plant

  

  Snake plant(Dracaena trifasciata) is well-known as one of the best plants for low-light conditions and improving air quality—making it an extremely common houseplant. While snake plants are non-toxic for humans, they are toxic for cats and dogs if ingested.

  • Toxic Properties: Saponins
  • Safe Alternative: Rattlesnake plant

• 08 of 20

  Sago Palm

  

  Sago palms(Cycas revoluta) add a touch of the tropics to your home and can do wonders for indoor air quality. Their unique structure makes them a great talking point and a lovely accent piece. However, these plants have an ancient defense mechanism: they are highly toxic to our furry friends. If you have cats at home, avoid them at all costs.

  • Toxic Properties: Cycasin
  • Safe Alternative: Areca palm

  Continue to 9 of 20 below

• 09 of 20

  English Ivy

  

  English ivy(Hedera helix) has small, pointed leaves and makes for a delicate display. Thanks to its gorgeous drapery, it is popular as a houseplant grown in hanging planters. This same feature can make it appear like an attractive snack to curious felines, which can be extremely dangerous when ingested.

  • Toxic Properties: Triterpenoid saponins
  • Safe Alternative: Swedish ivy

• 10 of 20

  Dieffenbachia

  

  See Also

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  Dieffenbachia, (Dieffenbachia amoena) is a popular houseplant thanks to its stunning tropical foliage and low-maintenance needs. When grown in the right conditions, these plants vary from 3 feet high to over 10 feet tall. Unfortunately, dieffenbachia is highly toxic to cats when ingested.

  • Toxic Properties: Insoluble calcium oxalates, proteolytic enzyme
  • Safe Alternative: Staghorn fern

• 11 of 20

  Kalanchoe

  

  Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) can cause intestinal issues in cats and affect their heart rate. This native plant to southern Africa, Madagascar, and Australiais also called mother-of-millions and is a succulent closely related to jade plants (also toxic to cats). The toxic active ingredient is bufadienolides, which are similar to digitalis compounds.They can cause disorganized cardiac electrical activity and an elevated heart rate that can lead to cardiac arrest.

  • Toxic Properties:Bufodienolides
  • Safe Alternative: Sedum

• 12 of 20

  Lily of the Valley

  

  Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is not a true lily plant but is still toxic. They contain cardenolides, which are cardiotoxic. All plant parts are toxic and can lead to vomiting, irregular heartbeats, weak pulse, and more. This abnormal heart rhythm can be life-threatening.
  

  • Toxic Properties:Cardenolides
  • Safe Alternative: Spiderwort

  Continue to 13 of 20 below

• 13 of 20

  Hyacinth

  

  Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) flowers are bulbs in the asparagus family, and they are toxic. Close relatives include water hyacinths and tulips. These beautiful plants contain alkaloids that can be dangerous if ingested by cats. The bulbs and plants may cause vomiting, bloody diarrhea, depression, and tremors.

  • Toxic Properties:Possibly narcissus-like alkaloids like lycorine and calcium oxalate raphides
  • Safe Alternative: Common lilac

• 14 of 20

  Oleander

  

  Commonly called Jericho rose or rose laurel, Nerium oleander is native to southern Asia and the Mediterranean. All parts ofthis beautiful plant are toxic to cats. Oleander has cardiac glycosides that can cause gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia, or death.
  

  • Toxic properties: Cardiac glycosides
  • Safe Alternative: St. John's wort

• 15 of 20

  Yew

  

  Yew (Taxus) bark, needles, and fruit are toxic to humans, dogs, and cats. Yew contains a toxic component known as taxine. It can cause trembling, coordination problems, difficulty breathing, severe gastrointestinal problems, cardiac failure, or death. A small bite of this plant can spell disaster for a cat. Horses have collapsed 15 minutes after ingestion.
  

  • Toxic properties: Taxine
  • Safe Alternative: Common juniper
    

• 16 of 20

  Tulip

  

  Tulips(Tulipa spp.) are in the lily family and are toxic to cats. The entire plant is toxic with alkaloid and glycoside compounds; however, the bulb has the highest concentration of toxins. Reactions include vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and drooling. Severe toxicity can lead to convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.

  • Toxic properties:Tulipalin A and B
  • Safe Alternative: Roses

  Continue to 17 of 20 below

• 17 of 20

  Daffodils

  

  Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)are popular harbingers of spring, but the flowers, leaves, and bulbs are toxic to cats. Daffodils contain toxic compounds that are fatal if ingested in large quantities. The bulbs are the most toxic part. In small amounts, daffodils can cause gastrointestinal upset, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling.

  • Toxic properties: Lycorine, other phenanthridine alkaloids, and calcium oxalate crystals
  • Safe Alternative: Nasturtium

• 18 of 20

  Bird of Paradise

  

  There are two distinctly different bird of paradise plants, Strelitzia Regniae and Caesalpinia gilliesii. Both are toxic to cats. The latter, Caesalpinia gilliesii, is more toxic and can cause more problems, such as intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty swallowing. The Strelitzia variety may cause mild nausea and drowsiness.

  • Toxic properties: Possibly hydrocyanic acid
  • Safe Alternative: Bromeliads

• 19 of 20

  Chrysanthemum

  

  Late-season blooming mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) are the darling flower of fall but are toxic to cats. They contain several substances that, when ingested by felines, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or skin irritation. Pyrethrin naturally occurs in mums and is commonly used in pesticides, dog flea and tick medication, shampoos, and collars; however, it is toxic when used on cats.

  • Toxic properties:Sesquiterpene, lactones, pyrethrins, and other potential irritants
  • Safe Alternative: Marigold
    

• 20 of 20

  Poinsettia

  

  Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a perennial shrub native to Mexico that is mildly toxic to cats and not nearly as lethal as once thought. The milky sap from the plant can cause mouth and stomach irritation, vomiting, drooling, and skin irritation.

  • Toxic properties: Diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents
  • Safe Alternative: Polka dot plant