Aloe You Vera Much! 10 Popular House Plants That Can Be Toxic to Your Cat

By no means are houseplants a new thing, however they have gained new growth. Just looking at the hashtags on social media will open a whole world of house plant enthusiasts: #plantlover, #plantoftheday, #houseplantsclub, #planthoarder, #houseofplantlovers, #houseplantsofinstagram, #houseplantsmakemehappy, #plantlovers, #indoorplant, and #houseplantclub. In addition to bringing plants back, pet owners have made their feline (and canine) companions more of a family member, becoming more involved in their everyday care. So, for those who dream of a house jungle for their cat, this is a list of 10 of the most popular house plants, and some examples of each, that can be toxic to your cat if ingested. For a more intricate list of toxic plants visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Toxic Plants for Cats.

1. Aloe

• Common Name: Aloe
  • Scientific Name: Aloe vera
  • Family: Liliaceae

2. Snake Plant

• Common Name: Snake Plant/Golden Bird’s Nest/Mother-in-Law’s Tongue/Good Luck Plant
  • Scientific Name: Sansevieria trifasciata
  • Family: Agavaceae

3. Lily

• Common Name: Asiatic Lily/Asian Lily
  • Scientific Name: Lilium asiatica
  • Family: Liliaceae
• Common Name: Easter Lilies
  • Scientific Name: Lilium longiflorum
  • Family: Liliaceae
• Common Name: Tiger Lilies
  • Scientific Name: Lilium tigrinum
  • Family: Liliaceae
• Common Name: Stargazer Lilies
  • Scientific Name: Lilium orientalis
  • Family: Liliaceae

4. Mauna Loa Peace Lily

• Common Name: Peace Lily
  • Scientific Name: Spathiphyllum
  • Family: Araceae

5. Ceriman

• Common Name: Cutleaf Philodendron/Hurricane Plant/Swiss Cheese Plant/Mexican Breadfruit
  • Scientific Name: Monstera deliciosa
  • Family: Araceae

6. Pothos

• Common Name: Devils Ivy/Golden Pothos/Pothos/Taro Vine/Ivy Arum
  • Scientific Name: Epipremnum aureum
  • Family: Araceae

7. Jade Plants

• Common Name: Silver Dollar/Silver Jade Plant/Chinese Jade
  • Scientific Name: Crassula arborescens
  • Family: Crassulaceae
• Common Name: Baby Jade/Dwarf Rubber Plant/Jade Tree/Chinese Rubber Plant/Japanese Rubber Plant
  • Scientific Name: Crassula argentea
  • Family: Crassulaceae

8. Sago Palm

• Common Name: Cardboard Palm/Coontie Palm
  • Scientific Name: Zamia pumila
  • Family: Cycadaceae

9. Ivy

• Common Name: English Ivy/Branching Ivy/Glacier Ivy/Needlepoint Ivy/Sweetheart Ivy/California Ivy
  • Scientific Name: Hedera helix
  • Family: Araliaceae

10. Dieffenbachia

• Common Name: Charming Dieffenbachia/Giant Dumb Cane/Tropic Snow/Dumbcane/Exotica/Spotted Dumb Cane/Exotica Perfection
  • Scientific Name: Dieffenbachia
  • Family: Araceae 

Whether deciding on plants for your own house, buying a bouquet to freshen up the space, or gifting flowers to a friend with a pet, keep in mind that some flowers may cause problems when ingested or even just a small amount sniffed or chewed. Be sure to check those potential plants on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Toxic Plants for Cats before livening up the space with a snake plant. If it is suspected that your pet has been in contact with a potentially harmful plant, contact your local veterinarian or the Pet Poison Hotline as soon as possible.

Artwork by Jonathan Clark

About the Author: Sydney McCauley, PhD, PAS, Dpl ACAS-Nutrition works at BSM Partners as a Manager of Nutrition Services in the Nutrition Services Group. She can generally be found outside of work spending time with her horse and working on their bison farm. 

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