Decorating a first home often includes bringing in a few houseplants to make the space feel more comfortable and lived-in. While plants offer aesthetic and wellness benefits, pet owners need to be selective about what they bring indoors. Many beginner-friendly plants can be toxic to dogs and cats. Here are common plants that may be more dangerous than they seem, along with pet-safe houseplants you can add to your home with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The short answer: no. The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum<\/em>) is classified as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, that doesn’t mean your dog should eat one. \u201cNon-toxic\u201d means it is not poisonous, not that it is harmless to consume. Spider plant leaves are fibrous like many other plants, and if a pet chews and swallows a large amount, it may cause stomach irritation, vomiting, or loose stools for a short time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ASPCA’s senior director of toxicology, Dr. Tina Wismer<\/a>, notes that mild stomach upset from plant material is fairly common and usually resolves on its own. For a small dog, the bigger concern is the long, strappy leaves themselves, which can occasionally be a choking hazard if a determined chewer gets carried away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have heard that spider plants contain a catnip-like compound that gives cats a mild \u201chigh\u201d by acting on opioid receptors. It is a popular claim, but it is not supported by evidence. Dr. Wismer<\/a> confirms there is no scientific proof that spider plants contain opioids or any hallucinogenic compounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So why do cats seem so obsessed with them? Cats are naturally drawn to long, narrow leaves that sway because their movement resembles prey. It is the same reason they pounce on things like shoelaces or strings. If your cat keeps bothering your plant, hanging it up or trimming the runners can usually fix the issue without worrying about it being poisoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDo Spider Plants Really Get Cats \u201cHigh\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n