These common houseplants are toxic to dogs and cats.

If you’re a Millennial, you probably have two things in your home: pets and houseplants. While both bring joy to our lives, they don’t always bring joy to each other. As a matter of fact, there are some common indoor plants poisonous to cats and dogs. Review this list of poisonous houseplants before you start adding greenery to your pet-friendly place.

Think your dog or cat ingested something poisonous? Bring your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic as soon as possible. 

Poisonous Plants

Aloe
Although humans might appreciate aloe for its skin-soothing properties, aloe can be especially poisoning to cats and dogs. Chewing on this toxic houseplant can result in symptoms such as lethargy and gastrointestinal irritation.

Jade Plant
Don’t let this succulent’s beautiful appearance fool you. Pets who chew on this poisonous plant experience diarrhea and loss of balance.

Calcium Oxalate-Rich Plants
Popular houseplants including philodendron, snake plant and pothos all contain high levels of calcium oxalate, a chemical that burns unsuspecting pets’ mouths. The irritation symptoms may be so severe as to cause excessive drooling or severe vomiting.

Toxic Flowers

A floral bouquet is a lovely gift for a friend or yourself. Just avoid these flowers to keep your pet happy and healthy.

Lilies
Who knew that a house plant that represents peace could be so dangerous to cats? Ingesting even small amounts of this toxic plant or the flower’s pollen (!) can result in kidney failure.

Hyacinths and Tulips
Members of the same perennial family, hyacinth and tulip bulbs can cause vomiting and diarrhea, as well as excessive drooling.

Daffodil
These delightful yellow flower blooms have a surprisingly sinister side. When ingested, they trigger vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, convulsions and abnormal heart rhythm.

Pet-Friendly Houseplants

You might be feeling like your plants and pets could never peacefully coexist. However, some nontoxic houseplants are harmless to cats and dogs, including these different plants:

Money Tree
Not only does the money tree supposedly bring wealth, but it’s also non-toxic for pets. A win-win!

Ponytail Palm
A funky looking-looking ornamental palm can brighten up any space (and keep pets happy too!).

Prayer Plant
The beautiful tropical plant has eye-catching leaves and is pet friendly.

Hoya
Also known as the “wax plant,” the Hoya is basically immortal. If you’re lucky, it will bloom with beautiful pink flowers.

Bamboo Palm
This fast-growing palm can reach lofty heights of eight feet making a dramatic statement in any room! It’s also air purifying.

Read more: Foxtails: A Serious Threat to Outdoor Dogs & Cats

Wanting to add some green to your space? It’s wise to do a little research about the plants toxic to cats, dogs, and other pets, in order to make sure they’re safe for Spot or Fluffy. This app is a helpful plant identifier that will say whether a plant is toxic for pets.

If you have other questions regarding proper pet care, whether you’re wondering about the best practices for dog dental care, how to travel with a cat in a car, how to treat dog allergies, and more, Papaya’s resource center is here to help you.

If you have other questions or concerns, feel free to send us an email at phr@papayapet.com.