Pet-Proofing Your Houseplants (and Your Sanity)
You love your pets. You love your plants. Unfortunately, your dog thinks pothos is salad and your cat views every leafy surface as a jungle gym. Welcome to the delicate art of keeping both your leafy and furry dependents alive and thriving.
Don’t worry—we’ve got tips to help you pet-proof your plants and preserve your peace of mind (and your ficus).
🐾 Step 1: Know What’s Toxic
Before we dive into décor hacks, let’s talk safety. Some common houseplants are seriously harmful to pets if ingested—like, “expensive emergency vet visit” harmful.
⚠️ Toxic to Cats & Dogs:
- Lilies
- Pothos
- Snake plant
- ZZ plant
- Aloe vera
- Philodendron
- Sago palm (super toxic—do not pass go)
What to do:
→ Check the ASPCA’s Plant Toxicity List before bringing anything green into the house.
→ When in doubt, elevate or eliminate.
🌿 Step 2: Choose Pet-Safe Plants
Want greenery without the panic? Try these instead:
- Spider Plant – Air-purifying, pet-friendly, and weirdly fun to bat at (your cat will confirm).
- Calathea – Beautiful and safe for all paws.
- Areca Palm – Gives tropical vibes with zero toxicity.
- Bamboo Palm – Lush and totally pet-safe.
- Prayer Plant – Won’t harm your pet, though they may judge it for being dramatic at night.
🛋️ Step 3: Placement is Everything
Let’s be honest—if your cat wants to reach a plant, it will. But strategic placement can at least slow them down.
- Hang them high: Use macrame hangers, wall shelves, or ceiling hooks to suspend plants out of paw range.
- Use plant stands: Mid-century modern stands look chic and add vertical height.
- Create a “plant zone”: Dedicate one pet-free room or windowsill for your jungle. If your pet respects closed doors, that is.
✋ Step 4: Use a Little... Discouragement
We love positive vibes. We also love plants that haven’t been chewed.
- Citrus spray: Pets hate it, plants don’t mind it. Light mist = deterrent.
- Aluminum foil or double-sided tape: Temporarily place it around pots—pets hate the texture.
- River rocks: A layer on the soil stops digging and looks fancy.
🧠 Step 5: Tire Them Out (The Pets, Not the Plants)
A bored pet is a plant's worst enemy. Give your furry friends other ways to burn energy and satisfy curiosity:
- Cat grass: A safe, chewable alternative. It’s like salad, but intentional.
- Enrichment toys: Keep dogs too busy solving puzzles to redecorate your monstera.
- Window perches or cat trees: Distract them with better vertical real estate.
🧘♀️ Step 6: Accept a Bit of Chaos
Look, you're doing great. If you’ve got fur on the floor and dirt in your drink coaster, that’s just life with paws and plants. It’s not perfect—it’s beautifully chaotic. (We happen to sell mugs that understand you, by the way.)
So pet-proof, plan wisely, and give yourself grace. Your home is full of life. That’s the goal.
Even if the pothos is missing a few leaves.
Got a plant-nibbling furball at home?
Share your funniest plant vs. pet moments with us—tag @whiskersprig and show off the leafy chaos!
Need a pet-proof plant mug or a hoodie that hides the dirt?
Shop the cozy chaos →