Most popular houseplants are toxic to pets. Every aroid, including Monstera, Philodendron, Pothos, Alocasia, ZZ plant and Peace Lily, contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which cause intense mouth and throat irritation when chewed. That covers a large share of what garden centres sell.
The plants below are non-toxic. This page is generated from the toxicity field on each plant's care sheet, so it cannot drift out of step with the individual plant pages.
What "non-toxic" does and does not mean
Non-toxic means the plant will not poison your pet. It does not mean a cat can eat an entire plant without consequence. Large amounts of any plant matter can cause vomiting or an intestinal blockage, and the plant itself rarely survives the experience.
It also does not cover the pot. Cocoa-shell mulch is toxic to dogs, some slow release fertiliser granules are appealing and harmful, and hydroponic nutrient solution should be kept well out of reach.
If your pet chews something toxic
Rinse their mouth with water and call a vet. Most calcium oxalate reactions are painful rather than dangerous, but the swelling can affect breathing in small animals, and lilies in particular are an emergency for cats. They are genuinely life-threatening, not merely irritating.
