Are Succulents Poisonous to Cats or other Pets?
No! Most of Them Aren't!

WHAT’S THIS POST ABOUT?

Succulents are one of the best plants you can choose to place indoors. However, you may have to think about protecting your pet from potentially toxic ones. To make the best decision, you need to know which succulents are safe and which aren’t.

As far as succulents are considered, most of them are not harmful to pets such as dogs and cats. It would help if you avoid placing some plants indoors, like Aloe Vera and Euphorbia, that can harm pets. Toxic succulents that contain harmful chemicals can cause pets to have rashes and allergies.

Succulents And Pets

At times, succulents and pets can live together comfortably, and, at other times, they can struggle to coexist. Houseplants are usually succulents, and your pets are safe around most of them. However, some plants can be harmful to your pet’s health.

Pets are safe around most succulents, but not all succulents are safe for pets; so you should avoid placing toxic ones indoors. Exposure to poisonous plants can cause breathing issues, heart issues, and vomiting in pets. These are the most common symptoms that affect the animal’s health.

PRO-TIP

You can allow pets to roam around an area with succulents but ensure that the succulents are out of the pet's reach. You don't want them to ingest the plant and suffer as a consequence.

What Succulents Are Not Harmful To Pets?

For your ease, we’ve compiled the best succulents that are not harmful to pets in any way. They are listed below

1. Christmas Cactus
2. Hens and Chickens
3. Burro’s Tail
4. Ponytail Palm
5. Haworthia

These are some of the safest succulents for pets. They don’t trigger any irritation or allergies in the pet. You can let your pets play around them without any hesitation. If you haven’t grabbed a succulent yet, it’s probably the perfect time to pick one of these for your house!

1. Christmas Cactus

• Scientific name: Schlumbergera bridgesii
• Other names: Thanksgiving cactus, Holiday cactus and Crab cactus
• Native to: Brazil
• Family: Cactaceae
• Genus: Schlumbergera
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0
• Hardiness: USDA Zone 10 to 12

Christmas Cactus is one of the most gorgeous blooming succulents out there. However, never take the beauty for granted. You need to ensure the plant gets all it needs so that it can thrive. This cactus requires a higher frequency of watering to prosper.

When you treat the succulent right, the flowers grow reddish-pink. This is a clear sign that they are receiving enough fertilizer and soil. It is perfect for placing by your windowsill so that it can receive the proper amount of sunlight.

The Christmas Cactus requires decent levels of indirect bright light. Like other succulents, it doesn’t do well when exposed to harsh, aggressive sunlight as it may get sunburned.

You can get the Christmas Cactus from this link

2. Hens and Chicks Plant

• Scientific name: Sempervivum tectorum
• Named by: Linnaeus
• Native to: Mexico and Northern South America
• Family: Crassulaceae
• Genus: Sempervivum
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: 5.6 to 6.0
• Hardiness: USDA Zone 5 to 10

The Hens and Chicks plant is one of the most appealing succulents. While they require little attention, they still manage to make any space look ten times more brilliant! Unlike other succulents, hen and chicks is very tolerant and can survive in relatively harsher climates.

You can buy this lovely plant from this link

3. Burro’s Tail Plant

• Botanical name: Sedum morganianum
• Named by: Eric Walther
• Other names: Burro’s tail, donkey’s tail, horse’s tail, monkey’s tail and lamb’s tail.
• Native to: Mexico and North America
• Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrop)
• Genus: Sedum
• Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: Ideally 6.0
• Hardiness: USDA Zones 9 to 11

Burro’s Tail, also known as Donkeys Tail, is one of those succulents that can easily grow everywhere. They require an excessive amount of sunlight and water to grow faster. These succulents are perfect as basket-hanging decoration pieces. When they receive sufficient amount of sun and water, they produce pinkish flowers.

Ponytail Palm

• Scientific name: Beaucarnea recurvata
• Other Names: Elephant’s Foot
• Native to: Eastern Mexico and Veracruz
• Family: Asparagaceae
• Genus: Beaucarnea
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
• Hardiness: USDA Zone 9 to 11

Ponytail palm is also one of those succulents that is not harmful to pets, including cats and dogs. They are among those plants that don’t need daily watering. All you can do to take care of them is water them in winters and place them near the open windows—these plants like cooler weather conditions.

You can purchase the ponytail palm plant from this link

Haworthia

• Scientific name: Haworthiopsis attenuata
• Named by: Dr. Masahiko Hayashi
• Other Name: Zebra Haworthia
• Native to: Eastern Cape Province and South Africa.
• Family: Asphodelaceae
• Genus: Haworthiopsis
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
• Hardiness: USDA Zone 11

Haworthia is also known as Zebra Haworthia. It is a small plant similar to a cactus in appearance (however, it is not a cactus). These plants are known as Zebra Haworthia or Zebra Cactus because they have white tubercles on their leaves that resemble a zebra pattern. They are low maintenance and can be a joy to grow at home.

Head over to this link and get your zebra cactus if you don’t have it already.

What Succulents Are Harmful To Pets?

After succulents that are not harmful to pets, we’ve also collected some most important succulents that can cause serious illness in your pets. These are listed below:

1. Aloe Vera
2. Jade
3. Panda Plant
4. Kalanchoe
5. Euphorbia

It is essential to know that the plants mentioned above can harm your pets in many ways. Try not to keep these plants in your homes with pets. Make sure to read the research study on poisonous plants by ASPCA before you bring any of these succulent into your houses.

1. The Aloe Vera Plant

• Scientific name: Aloe vera
• Botanical name: Aloe barbadensis miller
• Native to: North Africa and Southern Europe
• Named by: Carl Linnaeus
• Family: Asphodelaceae
• Genus: Aloe
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: 7.0 to 8.5

Aloe vera is one of the most harmful succulents that can cause severe illness in pets. Most of you will be surprised to know this as aloe vera has tons of skin and health care benefits for humans. But it’s true; they can trigger issues like lethargy and rashes in animals when ingested.

2. The Jade Plant

• Botanical name: Crassula ovata
• Named by: George Druce
• Other Names: Lucky Plant, Money Plant and Money Tree
• Native to: South Africa and Mozambique
• Family: Crassulaceae
• Genus: Crassula
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5
• Hardiness: USDA Zones 10 to 11

The Jade plant is the second most harmful succulent after Aloe Vera for pets. The Jade plant is easy to raise in homes which is why it is found in most houses. If any of your pets ingest the plant, they can display symptoms ranging from incoordination to vomiting. Keep your pets away from the succulent to avoid such a situation.

3. The Panda Plant

• Scientific Name: Kalanchoe Tomentosa
• Native to: Madagascar
• Other Name: Pussy Ears and Cat Ears plant
• Family: Crassulaceae
• Genus: Kalanchoe
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5
• Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a

The Panda plant is one of those low-maintenance plants that are perfect for growing indoors. It is fascinating how they prosper without requiring a lot of attention and care. They contain incredibly harmful calcium crystals that cause severe illness among pets and can potentially damage their tissues.

4. The Kalanchoe Plant

• Scientific Genus name: Kalanchoe
• Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrop)
• Plant Type: Perennials
• Plant Type: 6.5 to 7.5
• Hardiness: USDA Zones 9 to 11

The Kalanchoe plant is appealing and can easily be used as decor. They are beautiful enough to attract animals towards them. However, since the plant contains chemicals such as glycosides that can result in illness for the animals, please don’t keep it indoors.

5. The Euphorbia Plant

• Scientific name: Euphorbia milii
• Named by: Carl Linnaeus
• Other Name: Christ Thorn
• Native to: Madagascar
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Genus: Euphorbia
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Ideal Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.0
• Hardiness: USDA Zones 9 to 12

Euphorbia is a special type of succulent that grows from tiny plants to huge sprawling trees. Some species of Euphorbia, such as poinsettia, are harmful to pets. Consider keeping your dogs and cats away from these plants.

Keep Reading To Keep Your Pets Safe!

There are a wide variety of succulents. Most of the succulents are not harmful to pets like cats and dogs. However, some of the succulents can be harmful to pets’ health. You should consult a veterinarian if your dog ingests a toxic plant.

Learn more about different types of succulents to know the best ones for your pets!

Posted in: Toxic Succulents Safe Succulents Pet-Friendly Succulents