Finding the perfect plant for your home and your furry friend is not always a simple task. Many plants contain or release chemical compounds that are extremely toxic to cats, causing illness or even death. Most cats will leave your houseplants alone, but if theres even the slightest chance that theyll take a nibble of a leaf or two when you arent looking, its important to ensure you only have non-toxic houseplants in your home.
At Gardeners Dream, our horticulturalists have identified 10 varieties that are totally safe for cats and other pets for you to choose from. These are all part of our range of houseplants at Gardeners Dream.
The areca palm, also known as the butterfly palm, golden cane palm, or yellow palm, is a popular houseplant known for its graceful, arching fronds. If you have cats in your home, you may wonder if this palm variety is safe to have around your furry friends.
Overview of the Areca Palm
The areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) is a species of flowering plant native to Madagascar. It belongs to the palm family Arecaceae. This palm grows up to 20 feet tall indoors and up to 30 feet tall outdoors. It has long, yellowish-green fronds emerging from multiple slender trunks. The fronds arch and curve downward, giving the areca palm a distinctly tropical appearance.
Areca palms are relatively easy to care for. They thrive in bright, indirect light and moderately warm temperatures between 65-75°F. These palms prefer slightly moist soil and should be watered whenever the top inch becomes dry. Humidity is also important, so misting the leaves or using a humidifier can help.
Is the Areca Palm Toxic to Cats?
The good news is that the areca palm is considered non-toxic for cats and other pets according to the ASPCA Cats may nibble on the long fronds of this plant without adverse effects
Both the ASPCA and Pet Care Advisors confirm that the areca palm does not contain any known toxins or irritants that are dangerous to cats. All parts of the plant, including the fronds, stems, and roots, are safe.
Benefits of the Areca Palm for Cat Owners
The areca palm’s non-toxicity makes it an excellent choice for cat owners looking to add greenery to their homes, Here are some of the benefits of choosing this palm variety
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Safe for cats No risk of poisoning if cats chew on fronds
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Pet-friendly: Also non-toxic for dogs and horses.
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Air purification: Removes toxins like xylene, toluene, and formaldehyde from indoor air.
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Easy care: Thrives in moderate light and humidity with occasional watering.
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Adds style: Graceful, arching fronds create a tropical look.
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Various sizes: Grow slowly, so easy to manage size with pruning.
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Affordable: Relatively inexpensive compared to other palm varieties.
Identifying Areca Palm Varieties
There are a few different varieties of areca palm to choose from:
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Dypsis lutescens (true areca palm): Has yellow leaf stems and arched fronds. Most common.
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Dypsis cabadae (yellow butterfly palm): More yellow-green color and divided fronds.
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Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (golden butterfly palm): More solid trunk, golden fronds.
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Dypsis decaryi (triangle palm): Three-sided trunks and stiff fronds.
All of these areca palm varieties are non-toxic and safe for cats. When buying, check the scientific name to confirm it is a true areca palm.
Tips for Keeping Cats Safe Around Palms
While the areca palm itself is cat-safe, there are still some precautions to take:
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Supervise cats around all plants to prevent excessive chewing.
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Keep palms out of reach of kittens who may try to climb.
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Ensure fertilizers and pesticides used are pet-safe.
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Watch for signs of allergy like sneezing or skin irritation.
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Remove dried fronds promptly before cats can play with them.
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Offer alternative scratching posts and toys to divert interest.
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Keep an eye out for chewing or digging around the roots.
Watch Out for Toxic Palm Varieties
While areca palms are non-toxic for cats, other palm species can be dangerous. Palm plants to avoid include:
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Sago palm: Highly toxic, causes liver failure.
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Cardboard palm: Toxic, causes vomiting, liver damage.
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Kentia palm: May cause mild stomach upset.
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Grass palm: Contains irritating saponins.
Always research a palm’s toxicity before bringing one home. Dwarf date palms and parlor palms are also considered cat-safe varieties.
With their graceful tropical fronds and cat-friendly nature, areca palms make excellent additions to any home with feline companions. As long as basic precautions are taken, these easy-care palms allow cat owners to safely enjoy beautiful indoor greenery. Just be sure to keep potentially toxic varieties like sago palms out of paws’ reach!
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
The Cast Iron Plant is popular with humans as well as cats and dogs due to its easy-growing nature. It is aptly named the cast iron plant as it is quite hardy and great for beginners. This non-toxic plant has large green leaves atop long, slender stems which gives it a feather-like appearance. When mature, it can reach heights of 3 feet tall, so keep it in a large pot in the corner of a room where it has space to grow freely.
The requirements for this cat-friendly plant are relatively simple. It prefers shade but can also handle a little indirect sunlight, and doesnt need regular watering either. The Aspidistra elatior plant is drought resistant, so you dont need to worry if you miss watering it for a week or more.
Airplane Plant/Curly Spider Plant (Chlorophytum bonnie)
The airplane plant is another of our air plants that looks wonderful in a hanging basket. The foliage of this plant is not toxic to cats and trails down in long, luscious curls. Like other plants in the Chlorophytum family, it enjoys indirect light and tolerates shade more than bright sunlight.
We recommend the aeroplane plant for bathrooms and kitchens, as these are rooms that traditionally have quite high moisture levels in the air. Without humidity, this curly plant may start to brown and crisp up at the edges of the leaves.
Plant care is relatively simple however, you can trim the foliage if necessary, after your pet takes a curious nibble or likes to paw at the dangling leaves, to keep it looking neat. With the right light and humidity, theres little that can go wrong here.
28 Low Light Indoor Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs || Non-Toxic Plants
FAQ
Is an Areca Palm toxic to cats?
Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens): • Non-toxic to dogs and cats, the areca palm is a popular choice for adding a touch of greenery to indoor spaces. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): • Considered safe for pets, Boston ferns add a lush and feathery appearance to your home.
Does Areca Palm purify air?
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NASA’s Clean Air Study:NASA’s study highlighted the Areca Palm’s ability to filter common indoor pollutants.
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Effective at removing toxins:The Areca Palm is good at removing toxins like toluene and xylene, notes Dorai Home.
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Humidity increase:Areca palms are also known for their ability to increase humidity, which can be beneficial in dry indoor environments.
Which palm tree is toxic to cats?
Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is an extremely toxic plant to cats. Toxicity occurs more often in dogs, but can be seen in cats. Although this plant is common in tropical and subtropical environments in the Southern United States, there have been increased reports of this toxicity in all parts of the country.
Are Areca Palm leaves poisonous?
Areca Palms are considered non-toxic to humans and pets, making them an excellent choice for households with curious children and animals. However, it is still recommended to keep plants out of reach, as chewing or ingesting any plant material can cause digestive upset or other mild symptoms in some individuals.
Are areca palms poisonous to cats?
In extreme cases, they may cause death. Areca palms, known by other names, including yellow, butterfly, golden feather, or golden cane palms, are famous garden and house plants that are safe to your cats as well as dogs and horses.
Are areca & butterfly palms safe for cats?
For people with pets, it should gladden your hearts because areca or butterfly palms are safe for cats as well as other pets like dogs and horses. Why not create that perfect tropical themed home with this plant without worrying that your cat may nibble their leaves. They will be ideal tabletop or floor plants.
Can cats eat areca palms?
Besides fertilizing them, you will have to re-pot them after every two to three years. Areca palms join many other palms like parlor, majesty, ponytail, bamboo, kentia, dwarf palms, and Livistona rotundifolia, which are safe for cats. However, note that Sago palms (not true palms and belong to the family Cycadaceae) are toxic to kitties.
Are cat palms safe for cats?
Overall, the Cat Palm is a safe choice for homes with cats! Moving on from Cat Palm, Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) is another type of palm plant that may be present in your home. While this variety isn’t considered toxic to cats, it’s still important to keep your feline safe and away from the leaves or fronds of any kind of palm plant.
Is areca palm a good plant?
It is known for its feathery fronds and slender trunk, making it an attractive addition to any home. The Areca Palm is a low maintenance plant that requires minimal attention but provides numerous benefits such as purifying the air and adding a tropical vibe to your interior space. Is Areca Palm Plant Toxic to Pets?
Are palm trees poisonous to cats?
No. It is not poisonous or toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. In fact, it is one of the cat-friendly palms. Do not be worried if you see your feline or canine friend nibbling it if you have it in your garden or as an indoor plant.