Pet-Safe Houseplants: A Complete Guide for NZ Pet Owners
Keep your furry friends safe with these non-toxic houseplants. Plus, which common plants to avoid.
Moss & Myrtle Team
28 February 2026
2 min read
# Pet-Safe Houseplants: A Complete Guide for NZ Pet Owners
As a pet owner, plant safety is a real concern. Here's your guide to creating a beautiful indoor garden that's safe for cats and dogs.
## Safe Plants for Pets
### Top Pet-Safe Picks
- **Spider Plant** – Safe and produces fun hanging babies for cats to bat at
- **Boston Fern** – Completely non-toxic and loves humidity
- **Calathea** – Beautiful patterns and pet-friendly
- **Peperomia** – Compact, diverse, and safe for all pets
- **Prayer Plant** – Fascinating leaf movements, non-toxic
- **Parlour Palm** – Classic palm look without the worry
- **African Violet** – Flowering and safe
- **Polka Dot Plant** – Colourful and harmless
- **Christmas Cactus** – Safe and produces gorgeous blooms
- **Haworthia** – Succulent option that won't harm pets
## Toxic Plants to Avoid
These popular houseplants are toxic to pets:
- **Lilies** – Extremely toxic to cats (even the pollen)
- **Pothos** – Causes oral irritation and vomiting
- **Dieffenbachia** – Contains calcium oxalate crystals
- **Sago Palm** – All parts are highly toxic
- **Snake Plant** – Mildly toxic, causes nausea
- **Philodendron** – Can cause swelling and pain
- **Aloe Vera** – Toxic if ingested by pets
- **Monstera** – Contains calcium oxalate crystals
- **ZZ Plant** – All parts are toxic
## Safety Strategies
Even with toxic plants, you can still enjoy them:
1. **Hang them high** – Out of pet reach
2. **Use closed terrariums** for smaller toxic plants
3. **Create barriers** with shelving
4. **Train your pets** – discourage plant chewing
5. **Know the signs** of plant poisoning
## Emergency Information
If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic plant:
- Contact your vet immediately
- Call the NZ Poison Centre: 0800 764 766
- Note which plant and how much was consumed
- Bring a sample of the plant to the vet
Stay safe, and happy planting!