11 Detoxifying Plants that are Safe for Cats and Dogs

After reading the great list of 30 Plants That Can Detox The Air In Your Home over at Sound Body Life, we started wondering which of these plants are safe for cats and dogs.  While I’d love the air in my home to be more healthy and of higher quality, I definitely wouldn’t want to inadvertently poison a furry friend.  To that end, our crack team of researchers has cross-referenced the list of 30 plants highlighted in the Sound Body Life article with the data that’s offered by the ASPCA.

Our analysis has found that 19 of the 30 plants are indeed poisonous/toxic to cats and dogs.  Yikes!  We’ll cover the 11 detoxifying plants that are safe for cats and dogs (as reported by the ASPCA, links included).  Then we’ll highlight the 19 air purifying plants that happen to be toxic to cats and dogs.

Air purifying plants that are safe for cats and dogs

Let’s investigate some pet friendly air purifying plants.

1. Areca Palm

Benefits:

• Helps to remove toluene and xylene from the air and can help to increase overall air purification.
• Great for those who may have asthma or require effective air purification.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/areca-palm

2. Money Plant

Benefits:

• Helps to reduce the toxins benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene from the air. It can also help to increase overall air quality and purification.
• Great for asthmatics, those with lung conditions, and people who are exposed to high city smog living conditions.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/money-tree

3. Spider Plant

Benefits:

• Promotes high air purification. It’s suitable for helping to decrease exposure to formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.
• Great for placing in homes that have been freshly painted. Also suitable for apartments or homes that are exposed to big city chemical air pollutants.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/spider-plant

4. Purple waffle plant

Benefits:

• Helps to remove formaldehyde from the air. It can help to increase overall air purification and is suitable for increasing the quality of the air within any home.
• Great for city homes that are exposed to smog and car fumes. It may also help those who live near industrial factories.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/purple-waffle-plant

5. Bamboo Palm

Benefits:

• Helps to remove formaldehyde and is suitable for acting as a natural humidifier for most indoor areas. It can also help to remove xylene and toluene.
• Great for those who live in high air pollution areas and areas where car fume exposure exists. Suitable for placing in homes or shops which may be exposed to gasoline.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/bamboo-palm

6. Variegated Wax Plant

Benefits:

• Helps to improve overall air quality by removing benzene and formaldehyde from the air. This plant can also increase overall air purification.
• Can help people who suffer from lung conditions such as emphysema or asthma. It’s also beneficial for those who are exposed to car fumes, petrol, paint fumes, industrial or city smog, or heavy cleaning products.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/variegated-wax-plant

7. Lilyturf

Benefits:

• Helps to remove ammonia, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde from the air. This plant is capable of increasing oxygen levels and can help to improve air quality.
• Great for people who are exposed to cleaning products, paint fumes, city or factory smog, or vehicle fumes. This plant can help clean the air for those with common lung conditions including emphysema and asthma.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/turf-lily

8. Boston Fern

Benefits:

• Helps to remove formaldehyde from the air and is said to act as a natural type of air humidifier. This plant can also remove xylene and toluene. It is said to be one of the best houseplants for air purification.
• Great for those living or working in areas where exposure to gasoline exists. They’re ideal for homes exposed to city smog and are suitable for those who may have asthma or breathing conditions.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/boston-fern

9. Dwarf Date Palm

Benefits:

• Helps to reduce common toxins xylene, toluene, and formaldehyde from the air. This plant can also help to promote increase oxygen levels and is able to improve air quality in highly exposed areas.
• Great for placing in homes that may be exposed to paint fumes, factory smog, car fumes, or heavy cleaning solvents. It can help improve air quality for asthmatics and those with different lung conditions.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/dwarf-date-palm

10. Moth Orchids

Benefits:

• Ideal for helping to increase purification of the air within homes. They are suitable for removing xylene and toluene and can increase air quality.
• Great for homes that are exposed to factory or city smog, smoke, or fumes. They are also suitable for homes that are freshly painted or where paint fumes exist.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/phalaenopsis-orchid

11. Barberton Daisy

Benefits:

• A great plant for removing benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from your home. It is ideal for increasing the overall oxygen levels within the home and can help purify the air.
• Best for homes and people who are exposed to fuel fumes, car fumes, factory or large city smog, and smoke. It can also help those who are exposed to heavy cleaning solvents.

Reference: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/barberton-daisy

19 Air Purifying House Plants that are Poisonous and Toxic to Cats and Dogs

As we mentioned at the start of this article 19 of the 30 great detoxifying plants that were listed over on Sound Body Life were found to be poisonous and toxic to cats and dogs.  Here are those plants:

1. Aloe Vera

• Toxic Principles: Saponins
• Clinical Signs: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors, change in urine color.
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/aloe

2. Rubber Plant

• Toxic Principles: Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin)
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/indian-rubber-plant

3. Golden Pothos

• Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates
• Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, intense burning, and irritation of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/golden-pothos

4. Red-edged Dracaena

• Toxic Principles: Unknown
• Clinical Signs: In cats: dilated pupils, abdominal pain, increased heart rate, and drooling. In both cats and dogs: vomiting, depression, inappetence, drooling, incoordination, and weakness.
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/red-marginated-dracaena

5. English Ivy

• Toxic Principles: Triterpenoid saponins
• Clinical Signs: This can result in vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea.
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/17-poisonous-plants

6. Mother in-law’s tongue

• Toxic Principles: Saponins
• Clinical Signs: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
• http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/mother-laws-tongue

7. Peace Lily

• Toxic Principles: Calcium oxalate crystals
• Clinical Signs: Can cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips, and tongue in pets who ingest.
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/17-poisonous-plants

8. Sansevieria

• Notes: Sansevieria is a genus of about 70 species of flowering plants, native to Africa, Madagascar, and southern Asia. Common names include mother-in-law’s tongue, devil’s tongue, jinn’s tongue, bowstring hemp, snake plant, and snake tongue.
• Check out #6

9. Spathiphyllum

• Note: Scientific name for Peace Lily
• Check out #7

10. Asparagus Fern

• Toxic Principles: Sapogenins
• Clinical Signs: Allergic dermatitis with repeated dermal exposure. Berry ingestion could result in gastric upset (vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.)
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/asparagus-fern

11. Dragon Tree

• Toxic Principles: Unknown
• Clinical Signs: Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats).
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/madagascar-dragon-tree

12. Devil’s Ivy

• Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates
• Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, intense burning, and irritation of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/devils-ivy

13. Purple Heart Plant

• Clinical Signs: Causes allergic dermatitis in pets.
• https://parkinsonvet.com.au/household-dangers/

14. Flamingo Lily

• Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates
• Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, intense burning, and irritation of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/flamingo-flower

15. Elephant Ear Philodendron

• Toxic Principles: Calcium oxalate crystals
• Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, intense burning, and irritation of the mouth, lips, tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing.
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/elephant-ears

16. Weeping Fig

• Toxic Principles: Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin)
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/weeping-fig

17. Florists’ Chrysanthemum

• Toxic Principles: Sesquiterpene, lactones, pyrethrins, and other potential irritants
• Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper salivation, incoordination, dermatitis
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/chrysanthemum

18. Dumb Canes

• Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates, proteolytic enzyme
• Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, intense burning, and irritation of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/giant-dumb-cane

19. Sacred Water Lily

• Not 100% sure on this one BUT check out #7 and #14.

Conclusion

Having plowed through the information contained in this article you’re now armed with 11 great detoxifying plants that are safe for your dogs and cats, plus you’ve got 19 you need to avoid.  Happy shopping!  If you have further questions about the toxicity of plants, please be sure to get in touch with your veterinarian and you can always do your own research on any plants that we didn’t cover here over on the ASPCA site.