• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sublime Succulents
  • Welcome to Sublime Succulents
  • Care Guides
    • Watering
      • How to Water Succulents and Cacti: The Ultimate Guide
      • Is My Succulent Over or Under Watered: Knowing the Difference
      • How Long Can Succulents Go Without Water?
    • Light
      • Light and Sun for Succulents and Cacti: The Ultimate Guide
      • Grow Lights for Succulents – Best Indoor & Outdoor Use Guide
      • How to Grow Colorful Succulents
    • Soil
      • Soil for Succulents and Cacti: Ultimate Guide
      • Succulent Soil vs Gritty Mix: Which is Better?
      • 7 Best Succulent and Cactus Soils
      • Should I put gravel in the bottom of a pot?
    • Propagation
      • Succulent Propagation: The Ultimate Guide
      • How Often to Water Propagated Succulents to Encourage Growth
      • Water Propagation for Succulents – How to Avoid Root Rot Guide
    • Fertilizer
      • How and When to Fertilize Succulents
      • Best Liquid Fertilizer in 2022 (Our Reviews & Comparisons)
      • How Often Should I Give My Plant Nutrients?
    • Pots and Planters
      • How to Care for Succulents in Pots without Drainage Holes
      • Best Pots For Succulents in 2022 (Our Reviews & Comparisons)
      • Should Succulents Be Planted in the Ground or in Pots?
    • Beginners: Start Here
      • 7 Best Places to Buy Succulents Online 2022
      • Succulent Starter Pack
      • How to Identify Root Rot and Treat It
  • Shop Succulents
    • Accessories
    • Pots and Planters
    • Soil and Fertilizer
    • Books
    • Plants
    • Grow Lights
  • Succulent Types
    • Easy Beginner Succulents
    • Indoor Succulents
    • Succulents by Color
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Care
  • Beginners
  • Reviews
  • Sorting
  • Types
  • Beginner Buys
search icon
Homepage link
  • Care
  • Beginners
  • Reviews
  • Sorting
  • Types
  • Beginner Buys
×

10 Non-Toxic, Pet-Safe Succulents

Modified: Jul 7, 2022 by Patrick Green · This post may contain affiliate links ·

White cat and succulents in pot on the table.

I have two great loves: my plants and my pets (there's a lot of crossover between those two groups, too).

Are succulents poisonous to cats and other animals?

A fair number of succulents are toxic to cats and dogs, though, so I make an effort to keep those out of the house. There are plenty of awesome-looking fat plants to fill in the gaps!

Mountain crest garden's free mistery succulent with each order banner

Here are a few of my favorites.

Collage of non toxic pet safe succulents.
Jump to:
  • Zebra Haworthia
  • Blue Echeveria
  • Ponytail Palm
  • Burro's Tail
  • Sempervivum "Ruby Heart"
  • Holiday Cacti
  • Haworthia retusa
  • Opuntia Species
  • Dragon Fruit
  • Sempervivum "Pacific Blue Ice"

Zebra Haworthia

Zebra Haworthia in a pot.

Buy it from:

MCG
Etsy
Amazon

One of my all-time favorite succulents, this Haworthia is incredibly versatile. Aside from being the most photogenic of plants, it's very low-maintenance.

It's particularly great because it doesn't mind low-light environments.

A common mistake is to put this succulent in a terrarium - admittedly they do look good together. Try to avoid the habit, though.

Terrariums prevent drainage and increase humidity; that's a recipe for succulent disaster.

>> Get Your Zebra Here! <<

Blue Echeveria

Blue Echeveria close-up.

Buy it from:

MCG
Etsy
Amazon

Blue Echeveria is a common name that is used for several different species, including E. elegans and E. imbricata.

It's no matter, though, as all of them are safe for pets and people alike!

Echeveria is simple in their elegance and great as solo pieces. They tend to fill out whatever pot they're in, so they can make multiple-container plants look crowded quickly.

>> Get Your Echeveria Here! <<

Ponytail Palm

Ponytail Palm growing in a pot.

Buy it from:

Etsy
Amazon

I love to throw in this pretty little plant because it always throws people off. Remember that a succulent is any plant that stores water! Plump palms like this one definitely fit that definition.

Bestseller No. 1
Pet-Friendly Succulent Pack | Set of 2/4/6/8/10/24/36/48 Best Succulent Plants | Pet Safe Non Toxic Succulent Collection (2)
Pet-Friendly Succulent Pack | Set of 2/4/6/8/10/24/36/48 Best Succulent Plants | Pet Safe Non Toxic Succulent Collection (2)
  • Enjoy your gardening with our Pet-friendly Succulent Pack. In this pack, you'll receive varieties of succulent that are easy...
  • Available in a set of 2/4/6/8/10/24/36/48 best succulent plants for Pet-friendly pack.
  • Each pack contains a random variety of succulents with a size of 2-inches - fully rooted in a plastic pot with soil.
Check Price on Amazon
Bestseller No. 2
PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Pet Fence for Dogs & Cats, Waterproof & Rechargeable, Above Ground Electric Fence Covers Up to ¾ Acre for Pets 5 lb+ from Parent Company of Invisible Fence Brand,Black
PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Pet Fence for Dogs & Cats, Waterproof & Rechargeable, Above Ground Electric Fence Covers Up to ¾ Acre for Pets 5 lb+ from Parent Company of Invisible Fence Brand,Black
  • WATERPROOF COLLAR: The waterproof collar comfortably fits dogs 5 pounds and up and adjusts to fit neck sizes 6-28 inches;...
  • LONG BATTERY LIFE: The collar battery lasts up to 3 weeks before the low battery indicator alerts you to recharge. Battery...
  • PERSONALIZE YOUR DOG'S COLLAR SETTINGS: Teach your pets to stay in the secure play area with a sound-only training mode plus...
Check Price on Amazon

Semantics aside, it's a fun option to add to your collection. It's leafier than many succulents and gives off that bonsai vibe (without all that tough bonsai training and pruning).

See also
DON'T Make a Succulent Terrarium. Here's Why.

>> Get Your Ponytail Here! <<

Burro's Tail

Burro's Tail growin in a pot.

Buy it from:

MCG
Etsy
Amazon

This lovely trailing plant is one you should have regardless of its toxicity (of which there is none). It excels in partial-shade situations, looks like a waterfall in a nice hanging basket, and fits well into any arrangement.

It can be tricky to get them started; many new growers go through a few Burro's Tails before they finally get it to survive.

The reward is well worth it, though, and you'll find that a happy Burro's Tail grows so fast you can barely keep up with it.

>> Get Your Burro's Tail Here! <<

Sempervivum "Ruby Heart"

Sempevirum ruby heart close-up.

Buy it from:

MCG
Etsy
Amazon

Most Sempervivum is non-toxic, and that's a good thing because apparently they look quite edible to cats.

The best part about Semps like this one is that they propagate frequently without any help from you! It's literally a gift that keeps on giving!

>> Get Your Ruby Heart Here! <<

Holiday Cacti

Beatiful blooming christmas cactus succulent in a pot.,

Buy it from:

Etsy
Amazon

Holiday cactus is an umbrella term for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cacti of the Schlumbergera genus.

They all look mostly the same, the only difference being the shape of their leaf lobes and the time of year they bloom.

These are pretty neat cacti, too! They don't mind being in less-than-stellar soil conditions, being moist for extended periods, or low-light situations. They're kind of indestructible.

>> Get Your Holiday Cacti Here! <<

Haworthia retusa

Haworthia retusa variety close-up.

Buy it from:

MCG
Etsy
Amazon

I never miss a chance to tout Haworthia retusa. It's so alien-looking. And squishy.

See also
Succulent Source Online Succulent Store Review

Most Haworthia is non-toxic, and this one is no exception. It does need a lot of light, so be prepared with a south-facing window or a grow light.

>> Get Your Hawthoria Here! <<

Opuntia Species

Opuntia subulata 'Eve's Needle' close-up.

Buy it from:

MCG
Etsy
Amazon

Opuntia is a whole genus, but the members are pretty difficult to distinguish from one another without looking at the flowers.

This is a group of cacti that are actually edible - not just non-toxic. This is where we get prickly pears from, and they make a good cactus steak too!

Of course, the spines can still hurt your pet, but you don't need to worry about poison.

>> Get Your Opuntia Here! <<

Dragon Fruit

Hylocereus dragon fruits growing outdoor.

Buy it from:

Etsy
Amazon

If you didn't know dragon fruit comes from a cactus... well, now you know!

It's often used as an ornamental vine, in addition to being fruit-bearing. As with any cactus, you need to be careful of the spines.

Bonus points for the dragon fruit: This cactus is a night bloomer. It has a huge, beautiful, white flower that opens only at night. Watch for it!

> Get Your Dragon Fruit Here! <<

Sempervivum "Pacific Blue Ice"

Sempervivum "Pacific Blue Ice" close-up.

Buy it from:

MCG
Etsy
Amazon

Another Sempervivum. It's not very different from the last one, but the colors are pretty awesome.

Semps are great because most are frost-hardy. You can leave them outdoors year-round if you live in a place with mild winters. They can withstand some light snows and come out no worse for the wear!

>> Get Your Blue Ice Here! <<

See also
10 Best Succulents and Cacti for Succulent Arrangements

Do you have any stories about pets munching succulents? What did you do about it? Are succulents poisonous to cats? Tell us in the comments below!

« Should I Water Before or After Repotting?
How to Care for Prickly Pear (Opuntia Cacti) »

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • WhatsApp

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kimmy Truong

    May 21, 2018 at 12:13 am

    I like to eat dragon fruit because my country planted a lot. But before I did not think it was succulent. Because every year are very fruitful and we are the country of export of this fruit. Unlike other succulent plants, it takes a long time to flower.

  2. Bri

    February 13, 2019 at 4:53 pm

    I'm so glad I found this page. I've really been wanting to start getting house plants but it's hard to find something that's not a succulent. And while I love them, I'm always worried about my cats eating them. I've gone through lots of spider plants because my cats love to dig them out when I'm at work.

    • Patrick Grubbs

      February 13, 2019 at 6:50 pm

      Try hanging pots!

  3. alexia

    August 10, 2019 at 7:33 pm

    love this article, recently got into searching for cat-safe plants for my north-facing bedroom and this has been super helpful. still have to do some more searching, because most succulents need lots of light, but I'm that much closer thanks to this. I already have a Zebra Haworthia and I'm looking forward to expanding 🙂

    • Patrick Grubbs

      August 14, 2019 at 10:28 am

      Glad it was some help! We've also got another article for cats specifically - https://www.sublimesucculents.com/11-succulents-safe-cats/

      There's some overlap but it should be useful.

  4. Cindy Colson

    May 10, 2020 at 9:37 am

    My cat likes to eat the spiders off my spider plant. Will that hurt him?

Primary Sidebar

Fun head-shaped succulent planter growing beautiful succulents.

Hi, I'm Patrick! Welcome to SublimeSucculents.com, your one-stop source for everything related to growing and enjoying succulents!

More about me →

Popular Guides

  • Female artist pianting terracotta pots.
    How to Paint a Terracotta Pot - Simple Step by Step Painting Guide
  • Three snake plants in pot near a window.
    49 Types of Snake Plant - Most Popular Sansevieria Varieties
  • Man holding tablet, online succulent buying concept.
    7 Best Places to Buy Succulents Online in 2023
  • Pots with drilled hole and a driller on a table.
    How to Drill Drainage Holes in Terracotta and Clay
  • Lizzard on the rock close-up.
    11 Succulents Safe for Reptiles
  • Indoor succulent plants in pots.
    21 Best Low Light Indoor Succulents - Dead-Easy to Grow Inside

Recent Posts

  • Kalanchoe Mother of Thousands growing in a pot.
    Kalanchoe Mother of Thousands Growing Guide (Mexican Hat Plant)
  • A tiny succulent with spikes growing in a pot.
    35 of Rarest Succulents in the World: Endangered, Expensive or Effortful 
  • A gardener holding a succulent hybrid in a pot.
    Succulent Nothogenera - Everything You Need to Know
  • Different varieties of succulents in pots indoor.
    Succulent Pots With Drainage That You Should Use

Pages

  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQs & About Me
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · Sublime Succulents LLC.

931 shares
  • 94