7 Cat-Friendly Plants You and your Feline Friends Will Love
Hi, guys! It’s Damien from TZS Durham. Some of you might’ve come to the shop and not only met me, but my cats Chips and Pretzel. I’m here today to share some of my favorite cat-friendly plants with you that’ll not only keep your cat from having tummy troubles, but make your indoor jungle that much more of a safe haven. Let’s jump in:)
Nerve Plant (Fittonia Albivenis)
-Not only is this plant cat-friendly, but just like this baby picture of Chips it starts out small and will continue to grow and make its place in your home in no time. Native to the rainforests of Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, northern Brazil, and Ecuador, these plants love high humidity and temperatures. Try your hand at one if you’re a new plant parent and want to add some color to your home.
-Water only when soil is dry.
-Set in a place where there’s low to medium sunlight.
Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia Obtusifolia)
-The shiny, thick, and green leaves on these peperomia will stand out in any plant collection. Just like the nerve plant, this plant loves high temperatures and humidity. Like our feline friends, they are fairly independent, adapting easily to different climates.
-Non-variegated versions of this plant can stand low light conditions.
-Let soil dry out between waterings.
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior)
-Do you forget to water your plants? In the market for something easy to care for and can tolerate your not so green thumb? Are you tired of only being able to keep smaller plants in your space? Well, this might be the plant for you:) The cast iron plant can get up to 3 feet tall with leaves that can get up to 2 feet large! Like the two plants already covered, this bad boy loves to have its soil completely dry between waterings. To best enjoy this plant indoors, pot them in pots with drainage holes and let them live in dim corners of your home.
-Keep out of direct sunlight.
-Water inconsistently (let the top few inches of soil dry out first).
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
-What do you get when you mix a hanging planter, a ceiling hook, and two cats that can’t seem to leave anything alone? A match made in heaven. :) Truthfully, I’d be lying if I said spider plants weren’t some of my favorites. The way they look, shoot off new babies, even the brittle touch. It’s amazing. Stop by your local plant shop to grab one, and don’t forget the planter and ceiling hook. You’ll thank me later.
-Prefers low-light areas (meaning it can’t take too much direct sunlight).
-Water them only when you notice the top couple inches of soil are dry).
Burro’s Tail (Sedum Morganianum)
Why did this trailing succulent make the cut, you ask? Well, have you seen your cat's tail lately? Kinda like this one plant you can’t manage to kill, it trails just like a cat's tail after an afternoon of leisurely racking your nerves. Since these tiny leaves can be knocked off easily, try putting your burro’s tail in a place where it won’t be bothered and can grow peacefully.
-Never - and I repeat, never - place in direct sunlight. Though burro’s tail can adapt to many conditions, they grow best when living with indirect sunlight.
-Allow the soil to dry out completely in between waterings.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata Bostoniensis)
You know how your cat’s like things a certain way? A new cat mom wants her newborns under your bed in the back corner while she’s nursing them. The can of paté has to be opened and set in a bowl at room temperature. Well, Boston Ferns can be just as picky. You might see them hanging in a grocery store display, or sitting outside a neighbor’s porch during spring and summer, but these bad boys love warm, humid conditions - probably because they hail from swamps and rainforests. Placing them in an office or bedroom might be your best bet at keeping your feline friend out of its way.
-Direct sun is not the way to go. Try a low light area or somewhere where the sun will gracefully beam on your best plant friend.
-Consistent watering is key, but don’t let the soil become soaked through and through. Leaves starting to turn yellow? Try scaling back on how much water you're using.
Zebra Calathea (Calathea Zebrina)
With eye-catching foliage striped with dark and bright green (some even having notes of pink and white) the zebra calathea makes for a perfect conversation piece in any plant collection. While they start off small, zebra calathea can reach an average of 3 feet tall if given the right growing conditions.
-Though these are some pretty adaptable plants, indirect light is best. Filtered if at all possible.
-Keep the soil moist, not soggy. Don’t be afraid to stick your finger down in the soil a couple inches to test this out. Dry finger? Give your friend some water. Wet soil stuck to your finger when you pull it out? You’ve got nothing to water for the time being.