15+ Low-Light House Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs
15+ Low-Light House Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs
If you’ve got pets and a less-than-sunny space, it might feel like living houseplants are off the table. But good news—there are plenty of beautiful, pet-safe plants that can thrive in low light and won’t harm your furry roommates. The following is a list of beginner-friendly, non-toxic options for any low light room.
What “Low Light” Actually Means
Let’s clear something up first: “low light” doesn’t mean zero light. A plant that’s continually left in total darkness will slowly die. If your space has enough natural light during the day to read a book without turning on a lamp, that’s low light.
- Low light: A north-facing window or several feet away from brighter windows. No direct sun.
- Medium light: Near an east-facing window or a filtered south-facing one.
- Bright light: Direct sun or strong filtered light for several hours a day.
If you’re working with a truly windowless, lightless room, consider leaving overhead LED lights on, adding a small grow light to the space, or even just leaving the door open to an adjacent room that does get daylight to give your plant some extra light.
Cat and Dog-Safe Low Light Plants – Quick Reference
Here’s a table for quick reference. Continue reading below for details on each plant and the care they need!
| 1 | Areca Palm | 7 | Chinese Money Plant | 13 | Ponytail Palm |
| 2 | Baby Rubber Plant | 8 | Hoya | 14 | Prayer Plant |
| 3 | Boston Fern | 9 | Jewel Orchid | 15 | Spider Plant |
| 4 | Bromeliad | 10 | Nerve Plant | 16 | Staghorn Fern |
| 5 | Burro’s Tail | 11 | Parlor Palm | ||
| 6 | Cast Iron Plant | 12 | Peperomia |
Plant Profiles: Notes & Care Tips
The following are all cat and dog-safe plants, but it’s still a good idea to use caution and keep them away from your pets if possible. Just because the plant wouldn’t hurt your pet doesn’t mean your pet won’t hurt the plant by digging in it, chewing on it, playing with it, etc.
And on top of that, even though they shouldn’t significantly hurt your pets, there’s always a chance your dog or cat has an unusual allergy, and if they eat a large amount of any plant or food it can make them ill. (Here are some tips for keeping cats out of plants.)
Here’s a quick breakdown of each plant, including how much light it likes, how often to water it, and why it’s a good fit for a home with pets.
1. Areca Palm
The Areca Palm is a feathery, pet-safe palm that gives your home a tropical look. It prefers low to medium indirect light and should be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry. It’s safe for both cats and dogs and adds a boost of humidity to the air. Be careful not to confuse this with the Sago Palm, which is highly toxic to pets.
2. Baby Rubber Plant
Compact and waxy-leaved, the Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) thrives in low to bright indirect light. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. It’s also known as American Rubber Plant. This Peperomia is non-toxic to pets, but don’t mix it up with the Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica), which is toxic to both cats and dogs.
3. Boston Fern
Boston Ferns enjoy indirect light to light shade and consistently moist soil. They love humidity and are completely safe for pets. Avoid confusing them with asparagus ferns, which are toxic.
4. Bromeliad
Bromeliads like Guzmania and Neoregelia are colorful, pet-safe plants that can grow in low to bright indirect light. They absorb water through a central “cup” and don’t like soggy soil. These are safe for pets and often overlooked, but they’re surprisingly easy to care for.
5. Burro’s Tail
Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum) is a succulent with trailing, bead-like foliage that thrives in indirect to medium light and should dry out completely between waterings. It’s non-toxic and safe around curious pets. Avoid other trailing succulents like String of Pearls, which are toxic.
6. Cast Iron Plant
Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior) are nearly indestructible and can survive low light, irregular watering, and general neglect. Let the soil dry out between waterings. They’re pet-safe and make a great starter plant.
7. Chinese Money Plant
With its round, coin-shaped leaves, the Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) does well in low to medium indirect light. Let the top inch of soil dry before watering. It’s quirky, compact, and safe for curious cats and dogs – but don’t confuse it with a jade plant, which is toxic to pets.
8. Hoya
Often called “wax plants,” Hoyas like Hoya carnosa or Hoya obovata do fine in low to medium indirect light. Allow the soil to dry almost completely before watering again. These are non-toxic to cats and dogs and have thick, vining leaves.
9. Jewel Orchid
The Jewel Orchid (Ludisia discolor) thrives in low light and high humidity. Water when the soil is just slightly moist. Its shimmery leaves and tiny flowers add a subtle elegance. Completely pet-safe and very manageable in size.
10. Nerve Plant
With brightly veined leaves, the Nerve Plant (Fittonia albivenis) loves humidity and does best in low to medium indirect light. Keep the soil evenly moist. It’s safe for both cats and dogs and small enough for shelves and desktops.
11. Parlor Palm
The Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is a classic for low light spaces and beginner plant lovers. It prefers low to medium light and should be watered when the top inch of soil is dry. It’s pet-safe and an excellent air purifier.
12. Peperomia
This includes species like Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia). They’re compact, tolerate low light, and have interesting textures and leaf patterns. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings.
13. Ponytail Palm
Despite the name, the Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is actually a succulent. It tolerates low light well and stores water in its bulbous base, so it should be watered sparingly. Safe for pets and a fun, architectural choice.
14. Prayer Plant
Prayer Plants (Maranta leuconeura) are known for their patterned leaves and the way they fold up at night. They like low to medium light and consistently moist (but not soggy) soil.
15. Spider Plant
Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are adaptable and thrive in low to bright indirect light. Water when the top inch is dry. They’re safe for pets and often produce small “spiderettes” that can be propagated easily. Just keep an eye on the plant’s health—our kitty loves to chew on the leaves if given the opportunity.
16. Staghorn Fern
Grown mounted or in baskets, Staghorn Ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum) prefer low light and need occasional misting or soaking. They’re unique in appearance and completely pet-safe. Their antler-like fronds make them a statement piece.
Happy Growing!
You don’t have to get fake plants and flowers just to keep your home safe for pets. All of the plants on this list are low light champs and non-toxic, so you can decorate freely, even if your cat loves to nibble on everything like ours or you have a dog that likes to nose around.
Check out the full list of easy-care cat-safe plants for even more ideas for rooms with windows!
Want more help picking the right houseplant for your windowless spaces? I’ve written a complete guide with 30 low light houseplants for a variety of situations, along with special low light options for:
