Cats and Plants - What plants are safe for cats?
As a cat parent it can be frustrating to try to keep your cats from practicing plant genocide and potentially hurting themselves in the process. There is a long list of plants that are surprisingly toxic to kitty - including catnip! Yes, my mind was blown too.
But today lets focus on the safe plants to get you started with your mini jungle. Here is a short list of some of my favorites:
Spider plants - it’s said that these can have an aphrodisiac effect similar to catnip. This plant is super low maintenance and easy to propagate.
Ponytail palm - If I could recommend a plant for anyone with a knack for killing plants this would be it! This is one durable plant and can handle anything from low light to high light, a heavy handed waterer or someone that likes to make their plants work for their water. Undoubtedly your cat will be attracted to the hanging tendrils and want to play with them. They may even try to eat it due to it’s grassy appearance but don’t sweat it - your cat will be fine and ponytail palms can handle the abuse.
Maranta (aka prayer plant) - This plant is here to answer your prayers with your troublesome cat.
Norfolk Island pine - A great alternative to poinsettias which are poisonous to cats.
Tilandsia (air plants) - Aka cat play toys. What a cool plant! Unlike your typical plant these guys get their water from the air. Hence the name air plants. Although they are good at this you will still need to water them occasionally. Either run them under the faucet until they turn a darker green or soak them in a bowl of water for 15-20 minutes and lightly shake dry.
Orchids (Phalaenopsis) - Blooms that last for months and a won’t make your cat sick? Yes please! Phalaenopsis are not your typical fussy orchid. These guys are quite low maintenance. Be careful not to over water these and keep them out of direct sun light. Water when the roots are a light green/silvery color and be sure to thoroughly wet the moss/bark and drain all excess water from the pot.
Peperomia - This is one bangin group of plants to add to your collection. There is Watermelon Peperomia (my personal favorite and pictured here), String of turtles and Peperomia obtusifolia to name a few. All of these share the same easy care but they all add their own bit of flair.
Aluminum plant - Another houseplant enthusiast staple. It has an aluminum sheen to the stripes in it’s leaves and typically grows best in medium to higher light levels. It can grow in low light but will tend to get leggy. These can be a bit dramatic when they dry out and will wilt and look pitiful but don’t worry - as soon as you water them they will perk right up again.
Calatheas - how fitting that a finicky plant is safe for your finicky pet. These guys love humidity and typically don’t like to dry down. Be sure to keep them moist at all times.
Stapelia (aka carrion flower) - Yup, you read that right. Carrion flower and it is exactly what it sounds like. A flower that smells like, well, death. Sure to be a great conversation starter at your next get together these plants are very low maintenance. Water whenever you remember or if you see the plant starting to droop a little. Medium to high light and don’t worry - the small blooms don’t smell that bad. In fact, kitty probably thinks they smell wonderful!
Banana (musa) - Not your typical indoor plant but this is a great safe alternative for anyone who wants to get some big plants. These will require a lot of light and direct sun if possible but will reward you with some pretty show stopping jungle-esque foliage. You will need to allocate a big chunk of space for these as they grow.
Succulents - Most succulents are safe if your fur baby decides to take some nibbles. Pictured here is a burros tail (another aptly name plant). Provide lots of light with these guys and only water when the soil is completely dry. Beware of Aloe, Jade and Pencil Cactus - these are not safe for kitty.
Venus fly trap - It’s a safe plant for cats to eat plus possible protein in the form of flies! Yum. Venus fly traps can be tricky to keep as indoor houseplants but with the right environment they will thrive. They need lots of light and lots of water - it is technically a bog plant so it should never be left to dry out. They will also struggle if the humidity is too low and may need to be domed to create a more favorable environment.
Haworthia - This plant just looks like something that cats would like to clean their teeth on. Also called zebra plant or cushion aloe but unlike aloe, this guy is safe for kitty. Keep in bright light (but not direct sun) and water when soil completely dries out.