Adorning your home with plants is a favorite decorating strategy among many Zillennials. Anyone with a green thumb knows the joy and peace they can bring into your home. However, if you also love feline companions, it can be hard to decorate your house without putting your four-legged friends in danger. Cats tend to have a rather goatlike quality in them. They love munching on just about everything. Safety and edibility of objects is not their priority. However, as their owner, you do have to keep them safe. To maintain an indoor garden with cats roaming about, you’ll need the best cat-proof house plants. Luckily, they aren’t difficult to find, and there are plenty of options out there. Between leafy greens and colorful flowers, there is a diverse selection to choose from.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

This one may be a low-hanging fruit, but if you love plants and want to keep your cats safe, this is arguably always going to be your top choice. Not only do cats love to nibble on this plant and enjoy its mildly intoxicating effects, but catnip can also be an aesthetically pleasing addition to your home. If you decide to grow your cat their very own stash, catnip does extremely well in indoor environments. Just ensure your plants have access to enough sunlight and keep their soil moist but not too soggy. One easy trick to encourage healthy catnip is to place it in a pot with proper drainage. It’s also important to make sure the leaves stay trimmed, as these plants can reach 3 feet in height, but your cat will probably help you with that.

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

If catnip isn’t quite as large as you’d like, another great leafy green addition to your home is a cast iron plant. These plants are nearly indestructible, so if you aren’t an expert and you want something low maintenance, they’re a great option. Cast iron plants don’t need a ton of sun either, as they only require indirect light. Plus, they don’t need much water. It’s crucial to ensure that their soil dries out a bit before watering again. They are moderately rotund as they can reach 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

A third option to spruce up your home is a spider plant. These plants have wonderful, long, stripey leaves that will be sure to add some flair to your houseplant collection. To keep them happy and healthy, they will need bright, indirect sunlight. Similar to cast iron plants, it’s best to let their soil dry slightly between waterings. While not quite as hardy or large as a cast iron plant, they are still rather formidable and can grow up to 10 inches tall and wide.

Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

If you want your home to possess a more tropical vibe, the Acrea palm plant may be right for you. They are far larger than any other selection from this list of cat-proof house plants and can grow up to 7 feet indoors. Despite their domineering stature, they are still relatively low maintenance. This graceful plant prefers bright, filtered light and a rather moderate watering schedule. You will want to allow the first few inches of soil to dry out between regular waterings. Not only is it safe for cats, but it will transform your home into an indoor oasis.  

Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)

If you aren’t looking for something so massive, perhaps opt for a friendship plant. This plant stays on the smaller side as it maxes out around 1 foot tall. It requires bright, indirect light like most other house plants. The friendship plant is well suited for shelves or hanging baskets owing to its manageable figure. Its unique leaves will be sure to enhance any room and provide a pop of texture. However, it will be important to keep an eye on its soil when it comes to its watering schedule. Ensure that the soil stays moist all the time, just not too soggy.

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

Even though many popular cat-proof house plants feature large green leaves and lack vibrancy, sometimes a pop of color is in order. Thankfully, there are still plenty of flowering options. The Gerbera daisy is a lovely flower that can come in a variety of warm colors. They’ll yearn for plenty of light and can handle the sun directly from time to time. Additionally, it’s best to keep their soil moist consistently. Once they mature, they can reach up to 18 inches tall.

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis)

The moth orchid is another fantastic flower to add to your home. Personally, I’ve always been a sucker for orchids even if their care requirements tend to be a bit finicky. Their beauty, however, makes them well worth the effort. They can grow anywhere from 1 to 3 feet tall and thrive in bright, indirect light. When it comes to watering, that’s where things can get a little tricky. It is vital not to overwater orchids. They usually only need added moisture about once a week, and the key is to keep their roots moist without letting them get waterlogged.

Freesia (Freesia refracta)

Freesia not only provides bright colors but also a welcoming aroma. They are moderately sized as they only grow to a maximum of 18 inches tall. These flowers thrive in bright light and slightly cooler temperatures than some of the other selections on this list. During its blooming phase, you’ll need to ensure their soil maintains plenty of moisture.

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

Snapdragons are another common, yet beautiful addition to any indoor garden. They can get a bit tall, anywhere from 1 to 3 feet. However, they come in a variety of colors, which makes it easy to customize your desired look and match it with any existing plants in your home. They love a lot of sun but will, of course, require some shade intermittently. It will be necessary to keep their soil evenly moist.

Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)

A dense blazing star offers the best of both worlds as it features bright purple flowers complemented by some nice green foliage at the bottom of the plant. It can get fairly tall, between 2 to 4 feet. But, overall, they aren’t particularly high maintenance. If you are of the forgetful type, they are an ideal choice because they tolerate dry conditions well and only require a moderate watering schedule. They also thrive in full sunlight and warm temperatures.

Go Get Some Cat Proof House Plants!

While this list provides a ton of quality options to bring some life into your home with cat-proof house plants, it is far from comprehensive. There are a variety of other choices out there, but I couldn’t possibly mention them all. Just be sure to do your research to make sure anything your cats can get into won’t hurt them. It is important to be mindful that even if a website lists a plant as non-toxic, that doesn’t always mean it’s an entirely safe choice. Quite a few non-toxic plants can still cause upset stomachs or other mild symptoms in cats when consumed. So, always double check to keep your beasties as happy and healthy as your plants.

Let us know in the comments what cat-proof house plants you love!