People who (still) live without plant-eating roommates are not necessarily concerned about whether their houseplants are poisonous (to anyone). With a little thought, it quickly becomes clear that poisonous plants are of course also sold. So that your furry friend can feel safe in your own four walls, we show you non-toxic indoor plants for cats here.
Table of Contents
Non-toxic to tasty for cats, “nice green” for humans
Since it is known that cats once “harvested” grass in the wild just like dogs, foxes and bears to cleanse their stomachs (to build nests, play, because of hunger or for other reasons that have not yet been researched), there must be plants that are harmless to cats; Since you can also look around among the houseplants that are not so popular (often for no reason from the customer’s point of view), your apartment does not have to remain without greenery.
The primeval cats (wild cat Felis silvestris) roamed almost everywhere in the world (in Europe, Africa, West and Central Asia to India) and ate (played with, scavenged) grass plants everywhere. That’s why some of the most enticing plants for cats are among the grasses (including some that cats “find really hot”), but non-toxic houseplants with proper, large leaves are also included in the list.
Non-toxic plants for cats from A to Z
Date palm, phoenix, phoenix palm Harmless
to cats, but as pure indoor plants usually has a rather short palm life.
Spinning Fruit, Streptocarpus
Non-toxic gesneriaceae not recommended for consumption in large quantities (like any houseplant, they are not a food substitute).
Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum More
of a cat plant for the bathroom because of the high humidity required.
Fuchsias, Fuchsia
A non-toxic evening primrose plant for cats and a chic hanging plant with violet flowers.
Money tree, Crassula ovata
The money tree can be nibbled on, but that could damage its appearance.
Antler Fern, Platycerium
Needs high humidity, making it a non-toxic houseplant for the bathroom.
Bellflower, Campanula
Some species are traded as indoor plants, but only grow well in cool rooms.
Gloxinia, Sinningia speciosa hybrids
The Gesneria family are considered to be compatible with cats.
Green lily, Chlorophytum comosum
The green lily comes from the agave family and is so non-toxic in its original state that it could be used as cat grass. In apartments that are exposed to air pollution, however, it collects pollutants from the room air to a greater extent than most other indoor plants. These indoor toxins are not good for the cat, which is why (other) cat grass should be offered in addition to spider plants in potentially polluted apartments. In addition, the seeds should be collected after/during flowering, they are not safe for cats.
Japanese catnip, Schizonepeta tenuifolia
Considered the strongest cat herb because, unlike catnip and valerian, it attracts cats with a whole cocktail of different scents: actinidin, dihydronepetalactone, iridomyrmecin, matatabilactone, neonepetalactone, and nepetalactone.
Camellia, Camellia japonica
Closely related to the tea plant and almost certainly non-toxic to cats, as there are no warnings of camellia toxicity (to cats or humans) in the relevant literature.
Catnip, Nepeta cataria
The “cat classic” makes most cats quite happy with its active ingredients nepetalactone and actinidin.
Kentia palm, Howea forsteriana
Used as interior decoration for over 100 years because it tolerates any neglect and even bad light.
Coconut palm, Cocos nucifera
The tropical palm is not easy to keep as a houseplant, and cats should actually be very careful when eating the sharp-edged leaves.
Kussmäulchen, Nematanthus (synonym Hypocyrta)
According to www.vetpharm.uzh.ch non-poisonous Gesneria plant.
Losbaum, Clerodendrum tomsoniae
Pretty climbing plant for espaliers, which is considered non-toxic for cats and needs a bright location. Slipperflower, Calceolaria hybrid varieties of the annuals are sold as houseplants and are fairly easy to care for.
Throat Vine , Columnea
Non-toxic Gesneria plant, several species of which are sold as hanging basket plants.
Saum fern, Pteridaceae
Needs high humidity, non-toxic indoor plants for the bathroom or kitchen.
Chamomile, Aeschynanthus
Gesneria and traffic light plant that needs high humidity and must be protected from the blazing sun.
Schiefteller, Achimenes
Gesneria, some hybrid varieties of which are also available as indoor plants.
Shield fern, Polystichum falcatum
Because of the high humidity required, it is more of a cat plant for the bathroom or kitchen.
Flowering mallow, Abutilon Genus
of plants from the family of mostly non-poisonous mallow plants, from which numerous varieties are sold as ornamental plants.
Cobbler’s palm, Aspidistra
The cobbler’s palm is not a palm tree, but an asparagus plant that is harmless to cats.
Sword Fern, Nephrolepis exaltata
Needs high humidity, so cat plant for the bathroom.
Seychelles grass, Pogonatherum paniceum,
room bamboo The Seychelles grass is not bamboo, but a non-toxic sweet grass that is considered to be compatible with cats.
Spleenwort, Asplenium
Needs high humidity, non-toxic indoor plants for the bathroom.
Tapir Flower, Fringe Bag, Crossandra infundibuliformis Shrubby
shrub with glossy non-poisonous leaves that requires no special care.
African violets, Saintpaulia ionantha
The hybrids of the Gesneria family are non-toxic (and not closely related to violets).
Indoor hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
The Chinese rose mallow belongs to the mallow family and is sold in many varieties as a non-toxic ornamental plant.
Indoor fir, Araucaria
The conifer is not only non-poisonous, but the winged seeds of some species are even eaten.
Cyprus grass, Cyperus involucratus
Untreated species of Cyprus grass (not Cyprus grass, has nothing to do with Cyprus) are often offered as cat grass in pet shops. However, some varieties have extremely sharp (barbed) edges that cats should stay away from, so pay attention to the blades when shopping.
Among these plants are some that are not offered as houseplants at “Flower Fix” around the corner, but in the “Indoor-gardening” area there is currently so much being tried out that these plants have also been listed.
Indoor plants, non-toxic for cats, delicious for gourmets
Since the intolerances (including death from certain toxins as the maximum intolerance) are not too far apart in all mammals, plants that are non-toxic for cats are generally also digestible for humans. Therefore, among the “cat plants” there are some that you can use to make tea, and among the herbs and useful plants that we usually plant in the home there are some that could also make a career as a cat plant:
Valerian, Valeriana officinalis
Attracts cats with actinidin and perhaps its valepotriates too, said to thrive on windowsills, and makes people relaxing tea.
Curry herb, Helichrysum italicum
Also known as immortelle or helichrysum, people use it dried and as a spice plant.
Field thyme, Thymus pulegioides
Non- toxic aromatic and medicinal plant with essential oil (which cats should not consume in large quantities).
Hahnenkamm, Celosia cristata, Silber-Brandschopf
The pretty houseplant not only “tastes” cats, but is cultivated in other parts of the world as a valuable enrichment of the menu.
Japanese Ray Pen, Actinidia polygama
Fast-growing vine that delights cats with matatabilactone and actinidin and has been used to promote health for people in Asia for centuries. Posture in the room should be possible.
Jasmine, Jasminum Genus
of plants from the olive tree family, which includes important aromatic and ornamental plants such as B. the real jasmine and the winter jasmine belong, toxicologically completely harmless, is drunk as jasmine tea.
Katzengamander, Teucrium marum
White-leaved, compact, thyme-like plant from Spain, which cats love to death and is said to have healing and seasoning talents for humans. Suitability for room maintenance disputed.
Sweet Grasses, Poaceae
The sweet grasses “genetically known” to cats also include all cereal shoots (barley, oats, millet, rye, wheat) for muesli, so potted sprouts make wonderful cat grass.
Moldavian lemon balm, Dracocephalum moldavicum
The plant, also known as “dragon’s head”, belongs to the same subfamily of mints as catnip and is therefore considered to be tolerable for cats; With its mild aroma, the one-year-old lemon balm also pleases people who are otherwise sensitive to essential oils.
Passion flower, Passiflora
Passiflora edulis, Passiflora quadrangularis and Passiflora ligularis produce delicious passion fruit / grenadillas, but unfortunately only after some effort in the living room.
White lemon balm, Nepeta cataria ssp. citriodora
Strictly botanically no lemon balm, but a subspecies of catnip and therefore a potential cat’s favorite shrub. Real local lemon balm, which used to be found in many cottage gardens, with a mild aroma (lemon with a hint of rose) and a big advantage: the aroma lasts very well even after drying, while real lemon balm often leaves a lot to be desired in this respect leaves.
White violet, Viola alba
Also known as Parma violet, also has light purple flowers. Was cultivated en masse under glass at the beginning of the 20th century; Cats would be happy to be rediscovered, as would perfumers and confectioners.
Not only the plants themselves are poisonous
There have already been warnings about fertilizer and soil in purchased plants, but insecticides that you spray your plants with can also be dangerous for cats. Therefore, only natural pesticides should be used in the cat household. Houseplants cannot be fertilized with only natural organic fertilizers because there is not much space in the pot for soil life. There are organic-mineral liquid fertilizers, which at least not only consist of mineral fertilizers that cats cannot digest, but you should still make sure that your cat does not drink the flower water from the saucer of the flower pot after fertilizing or soon after watering to empty.
Toxic and non-toxic houseplants
There is an official list of poisonous plants from the Poison Information Center North at www.giz-nord.de/cms/index.php/liste-giftiger-pflanzenarten.html, and the University of Zurich provides them at www.vetpharm.uzh.ch/perldocs /index_x.htm you have a fantastic database where you can find all sorts of toxic substances for all sorts of creatures. Due to the numerous selection options, it cannot be operated in seconds, but here you have a good chance of exploring the poisonous content of your rarest favorite plants.
Whatever source of information you use, please remember that botanical names are all that matter when it comes to plants – what you may know as iris is a cat lily, which is poisonous to cats, wood anemone is a poisonous anemone nemorosa, shale leaf is a poisonous begonia, The Bunchwort is listed under the German name Kaladie in the list of plants poisonous to cats.
Of course you can hang the plants up high or collect them in an extra room where you don’t want the cat to get in – but cats climb and jump and are very, very curious. Of course, the probability is very low that the cat will nibble on the most poisonous of all the most poisonous indoor plants on a random excursion into this room – but indoor cats have an apartment as territory and not 20 square kilometers of land to roam. Even if many house tigers seem to get along just fine with the spatially somewhat cramped but comfortable and safe home, it is then explored extensively, and almost every cat likes to nibble on plants when it gets bored.
Only cat owners who ban house plants that are poisonous to cats live really peacefully – which often enough means “de-greened apartment” because among the most popular house plants there are more plants that are poisonous to cats than plants that are not poisonous to cats.
However, there are some non-toxic alternatives, which you will learn about below. However, once you buy these plants commercially, it is recommended to buy from trusted gardeners who take care of their plants themselves and where you can be sure that there are no toxins hidden in the soil or fertilizer.
Conclusion
Traditional indoor plants and cats usually don’t get along very well. But today there are enough (unconventional) non-toxic houseplants that make the apartment green and sometimes even satisfy animal AND human residents.
