How To Keep Houseplants and Pets Together

Tips for keeping both houseplants and pets together under your roof…and staying sane!

Keeping houseplants and pets in your home can be a challenge! You want to make sure that both your pets and your houseplants stay safe and keep your leaves intact as well. Believe it or not, you can keep plants and pets under one roof and achieve harmony (and sanity) in your home.

Why is it important?

If you want to keep houseplants and pets under one roof, your top priority should be the safety of your pets. Many houseplants are in fact toxic to cats, dogs and other animals so it’s important to do your research before you bring a new plant home. If your plant can be toxic, you will need to make it inaccessible to your plants. Speak with your veterinarian if you have any questions. The ASPCA website is a great source of information on houseplants and toxicity. I’ve also compiled a list of Top 10 Pet Friendly Houseplants.

A Reminder: even if your houseplant is considered non-toxic, it may still make your pet sick. Consuming plants can cause vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes or allergies so it’s always best to keep plants out of reach from nibbling pets. Again, Check with your veterinarian if you suspect your pets have consumed your plants.

Ultimately, you know your own pet better than anyone will know what will work best based on your home. These are some tips that you might find helpful to keep houseplants and pets under one roof…and stay safe and sane!

1. Shelf Crowding

As cat owners know, having a high floating shelf may keep plants safe from your cat (or your cat safe from your plants!). Or…they will simply leap up on top of that shelf and nibble away! The best way to prevent this from happening is by overcrowding your shelves with decor, picture frames or even more houseplants! Removing a landing zone will help deter your cats from making the leap. You also want to make sure that any shelving is stable and secure, and it’s a good idea to monitor your pets and plants together in the beginning.

2. Hanging Plants

A great way to keep a plant out of reach from your pet is to have hanging plants around your home. Macrome hangers are really coming back into style and there are so many aesthetically pleasing hanging planters that will really give your home that jungle feel you’re looking for.

*Disclaimer: be careful of fallen leaves or blooms.

4. Terrariums or Greenhouses

Keep plants out of reach from your pets by adding the protective barrier of a terrarium or a greenhouse. Greenhouses and Terrariums have been a very trendy way to keep your houseplants and pets together in your home. The Do-it-Yourself IKEA Greenhouse Cabinet is an exploding trend in the plant community at the moment. It also keeps humidity high for your plants too which is a huge bonus! You will, however, have to make sure that it’s sturdy enough that your pet won’t knock it over!

5. Having “Off Limits” Rooms

Keeping plants sequestered in a room that can be safely closed off is another way to keep houseplants and pets under one roof safely. Having an office that is either completely off limits or under strict supervision only is a great way to fill a room with plants as you please…that your pets won’t be able to get into. Make sure that everyone in your household and your guests know that these rooms are off limits and doors must be secured.

6. Keep Your Pets Occupied

One of the best ways to keep your pets satisfied and content is by enriching their lives with play time and exercise. Keeping your cat or dog from boredom will lessen their desire to go looking for entertainment by snooping around your houseplants. For cats, you want to engage their prey drive with play and give them a solid physical workout daily. For dogs, long walks, playing fetch, and obedience training is will exercise both their body and their mind. Be sure to check with your veterinarian before starting any drastic workout regimes with your pet.

7. Preventing Science Experiments in the Soil

Maybe your pet has zero interest in nibbling the plants, but instead loves the soil! Soil can be a perfect place for pets to relieve themselves. This is a common issue for cats, who find that the soil imitates the texture of their own litter box…if not softer! Avoid having “overwatered” plants or any mixology experiments that can do harm to your houseplants and quite frankly, your noses too! Try covering the soil with large rocks to make the soil a less appealing place to push around with their tiny paws (stay away from gravel, as it really imitates the litter box texture).

Dogs may also be tempted to lift their leg near your houseplants as they also simulate their outdoor bathroom routine. In this case, a little patience and training will go a long way. You may need to remove any floor plants in your home altogether to remove temptation.

7. Get Creative!

I’ve seen many plant collectors get creative when it comes to keeping houseplants and pets safely apart from one another. Some of my favourites I’ve encountered along the way include:

• Bitter Apple Sprays (be sure to test on sensitive leaves first!)
• Other deterrents such as lemon peels in the soil
• Decorative Bird Cases or Cloches
• Decoy cat grass or cat gardens

8. Be Patient

Houseplants are just as appealing and exciting to your pet as they are to you. Understanding your pet’s breed and behaviour in the wild will help you understand how to keep houseplants and pets harmoniously in your home. You cannot leave a plant on the table and expect your cat to leave it alone. It’s their home too! You have to get creative to keep all co-habitants in your space happy and healthy!

Additional Resources:

• Jackson Galaxy: Cat Training and Enrichment
• ASPCA
• Leaf and Paw: A blog about pets and plants
• Bloom and Grow Radio Podcast episode