9 Cat-Safe Houseplants
by Nomi Berger
While houseplants may make our homes feel fresher, pet parents are advised to choose plants that are safe for their cats. Since many plants can be toxic if chewed or swallowed, even “safe” plants should be placed out of a cat’s reach.
According to veterinary experts and plant experts, the following plants are considered both air purifying and safe.
Areca Palm: also known as golden butterfly palm, cane palm, golden feather palm and yellow palm, it’s pet-friendly and helps clear formaldehyde, toluene and xylene from the air. Place one in the part of a room where your cat’s bed is located to provide her with a “nature-inspired” sleeping spot.
Bamboo Palm: also known as the parlor palm, the bamboo palm is a hardy, low-maintenance air purifying plant with a high shade tolerance. While its waxy green leaves may be a tempting treat for your cat, it’s harmless and can safely and happily share a sunny window seat with her.
Boston Fern: a lush, low-maintenance plant, it thrives on frequent misting and low or indirect light, making it an ideal addition to your bathroom or to a shady porch where your cat can safely enjoy some of the outdoors. Although most ferns are safe for cats, they must be true ferns. Asparagus ferns, for example, aren’t actually ferns, and they’re toxic.
Gerbera Daisies: bright and cheerful, they’re not only air purifying plants, they’re safe for cats and produce beautiful, long-lasting flowers. The lifespan of a gerbera daisy plant that’s kept indoors is approximately three years.
Prayer Plant: this plant gets its name from the way its green-and-yellow variegated leaves fold together like hands at night, similar to the way your cat curls up at bedtime. Since they’re non-toxic and prefer minimal sunlight, they’re superb for purifying the air in your cat’s favorite basement hideaway.
Money Tree: also known as the money plant and reputed to bring good luck, it’s non-toxic to cats, excellent for both purifying the air and adding a touch of class to your home decor. Because it prefers bright, indirect sunlight, place the plant close to a window or next to your cat’s favorite couch.
Orchids: purr-fectly safe for our feline friends, orchids also help to purify the air in your home. The only drawback to these elegant, high-maintence plants is that most people find it challenging to get them to bloom for a second time.
Spider Plant: another air purifying plant that’s safe for cats, it’s easy to maintain, is an excellent “beginner’s” plant and actually thrives on neglect. Preferring bright-to-moderate indirect light and sprouting clusters of small white flowers, its best place is inside a hanging basket or on a shelf close to where your cat naps for maximum effect.
Select Succulents: succulents can help improve your air quality and most are safe for cats, including Echeveria and Haworthia, whereas aloe plants are toxic. What makes succulents so appealing is that they’re generally easy to keep alive. Create a small succulent garden and place it on your cat’s favorite windowsill.
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