Pet-Safe Houseplants and Cleaners (2026): The ASPCA List, Lilies for Cats, and What's Actually Risky

For cat owners, the one rule that matters most is simple: no lilies or daylilies in the house, not even in a bouquet. For everyone else, check each plant by name against the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plants list before you bring it home, keep the few that can kill (sago palm, lilies for cats) out entirely, and choose from its non-toxic entries: spider plant, Boston fern, calathea, parlor palm. This page sets out what the ASPCA and FDA say about common houseplants, essential oils and household cleaners, with four pet-safe plants sold by Amazon.com.

How we chose: we did not grow or test these plants; we checked each one against its ASPCA listing on September 28, 2026, and kept only plants sold by Amazon.com that were in stock.

Common houseplants, by ASPCA listing

Two things the ASPCA says about its own list matter as much as the entries. It is "not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather a compilation of the most frequently encountered plants," so a plant missing from it is unknown, not safe. And "the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats"; the non-toxic label means symptoms are "not expected to be life-threatening." Check by the plant's name, the ASPCA says, because individual plants may look different from its photos.

Lilies and cats: the one to keep out of the house

The FDA's page Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats is blunt. Lilies in the "true lily" and "daylily" families "are very dangerous for cats. The entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase." Eating a small piece of leaf or petal, "licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking the water from the vase can cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days."

The timeline, per the FDA:

• 0 to 12 hours: decreased activity, drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite.
• 12 to 24 hours: signs of kidney damage, including more urination and dehydration.
• 24 to 72 hours: kidney failure, leading to death if the cat is not treated.

"Early veterinary treatment greatly improves the cat's prognosis," the FDA says, but if treatment is delayed by 18 hours or more, "the cat will generally have irreversible kidney failure." Its advice: don't bring these plants into a home with a cat, and don't plant them where your cat or the neighbors' cats roam. Dogs that eat lilies may get minor stomach upset, the FDA adds, "but they don't develop kidney failure."

If your cat has chewed a lily, groomed pollen off its fur or drunk vase water, the FDA says to "immediately call your veterinarian or a pet poison control center," and to bring the plant or a photo so the vet can identify it. Our pet first aid kit guide lists both poison control numbers.

Plants called "lily" that are not true lilies

The FDA separates these out. Calla lilies and peace lilies contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth, tongue and throat when chewed, causing pawing at the face, drooling and vomiting; the signs "usually go away on their own." Lily-of-the-valley is different and more serious: the FDA says it "contains toxins that cause the heart to beat abnormally," and that it and the gloriosa (flame) lily "are very dangerous to cats and dogs." The Peruvian lily causes only mild stomach upset in large amounts.

Sago palm and the other plants the ASPCA flags

Sago palm is the plant to keep away from dogs as well as cats. The ASPCA lists it (with coontie palm, cardboard palm and other cycads) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with signs including vomiting, black stool, jaundice, bruising, "liver damage, liver failure, death."

Pothos, peace lily, calla lily and split-leaf philodendron share the ASPCA's calcium oxalate entry: "oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing."

Snake plant and dracaena contain saponins; the ASPCA lists vomiting and, for dracaena in cats, dilated pupils. Jade plant is listed with vomiting, depression and incoordination. Aloe is toxic to dogs and cats per the ASPCA, which notes that "the gel is considered edible."

Money tree (Pachira aquatica) is an odd case: the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic but still names nausea, vomiting and loose stool as clinical signs.

Cat grass is not in the ASPCA list entries we could load, so we did not add a cat grass kit here. If you grow it, ask your vet whether it suits your cat.

Four pet-safe plants sold by Amazon.com

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

Many plant listings call themselves "pet safe" or "pet friendly." We only included plants whose species is on the ASPCA's non-toxic list, and we checked the species name, not the marketing. Even a non-toxic plant can cause vomiting if a cat eats a lot of it, so put plants where your pet cannot treat them as a salad bar.

Essential oils and cats

Essential oils are the household item the poison lines most often single out for cats. Pet Poison Helpline's essential oils and cats page says they "are rapidly absorbed both orally and across the skin," and that "cats lack an essential enzyme in their liver" to clear them. It names oils known to poison cats, including wintergreen, sweet birch, citrus (d-limonene), pine, ylang ylang, peppermint, cinnamon, pennyroyal, clove, eucalyptus and tea tree. Signs can include drooling, vomiting, tremors, wobbliness, breathing trouble and liver failure. Its bottom line: "concentrated essential oils should never be directly applied to cats."

On diffusers, the two sources differ in emphasis. The ASPCA's essential oils piece says using a diffuser "for a short time period in a secured area," one your pet cannot access, "is not likely to be an issue," but to skip it for a pet with breathing problems and to avoid diffusers entirely in a home with birds. Pet Poison Helpline warns that active (ultrasonic or nebulizing) diffusers release microdroplets that can collect on a cat's fur and be licked off, and that passive diffusers can still irritate a cat's airways. The ASPCA adds that concentrated tea tree oil "may cause issues for your pets with only seven or eight drops."

If you have a cat, the safe version is: no oils on the cat, no diffuser in a room the cat uses, bottles closed and put away.

Cleaning products: follow the label and let it dry

The ASPCA is more reassuring about cleaners than most owners expect. Its poisonous household products guide says "most cleaning products are safe to use around dogs and cats as long as they are used per labeled directions,". The details, from that guide and its cleaning agents article:

• Bleach. Undiluted bleach can injure the mouth and esophagus. Properly diluted bleach, rinsed thoroughly and aired out, is fine for pet toys and kennels.
• Enzyme cleaners. "Most enzyme-based cleaners tend to cause mild stomach upset," so let them dry before your pet goes back in. Our enzyme cleaner guide covers which ones to use on urine.
• Carpet cleaners. Most can be used in pet households; let the carpet dry first.
• Vinegar. Acidic and irritating if swallowed concentrated; not generally a problem once diluted, rinsed and dry.
• Dryer sheets. Most contain cationic detergents that can cause severe chemical burns and ulcers in the mouth and stomach, and sheets can cause a blockage.
• Laundry detergent and pods. Can cause stomach upset and mouth irritation, "in some cases, serious and life-threatening symptoms."

The ASPCA's general rule: store cleaners "up and out of paws' reach," keep pets out of the room while you clean, put away mops and buckets, and dispose of used solution. If your pet walks through a wet floor or licks the solution, it says mild skin irritation or stomach upset may follow.

Key point: if you suspect your pet has eaten a toxic plant or product, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 right away; the ASPCA says a consultation fee may apply. This page is general information, not veterinary advice (more on that).

Setting up for a new cat? Our new kitten checklist covers the rest of kitten-proofing, and cat trees and scratching posts give a climber something better to do than dig in the planters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which lilies are poisonous to cats?

True lilies (Lilium, such as Easter, tiger and stargazer lilies) and daylilies (Hemerocallis). The FDA says every part, including pollen and vase water, can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. Calla and peace lilies are not true lilies but still irritate the mouth.

Is a spider plant safe for cats?

Yes, by the ASPCA's listing: spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is non-toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA notes that any plant material can cause vomiting if eaten.

Is a sago palm dangerous to dogs?

Yes. The ASPCA lists sago palm as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with signs that include liver failure and death.

Can I use an essential oil diffuser with a cat?

The ASPCA says a short session in a room your pet cannot access is not likely to be an issue, but Pet Poison Helpline warns that diffused oil can land on a cat's fur and irritate its airways. Never apply concentrated oils to a cat.

Are household cleaners safe around pets?

Most are, the ASPCA says, when used according to the label. Keep pets out until surfaces dry, dilute and rinse bleach, and keep dryer sheets and detergent pods out of reach.

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PetProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We did not grow or test these plants; toxicity listings are the ASPCA's and the FDA's, and plant details are from the listings.