Is Haworthia (Zebra) safe for cats and dogs?

What the ASPCA lists for Haworthia (Zebra)

The ASPCA records Haworthia (Zebra) (Haworthiopsis, family Liliaceae) as Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses. Read the ASPCA entry.

No toxic principle and no clinical signs are recorded, and all three species the ASPCA tracks are cleared. The stiff pointed leaf tips are the only realistic complaint, and they are a scratch risk rather than a poisoning one.

Names have moved around this plant more than most. Botanists split the genus and reassigned the zebra haworthia to Haworthiopsis, so a current plant label may read Haworthiopsis fasciata or Haworthiopsis attenuata while the ASPCA entry still reads Haworthia fasciata. The database also carries a genus entry, Haworthia, filed as Haworthia species and cleared for dogs and cats, and a third entry, Little Zebra Plant, filed as Haworthia subfasciata. All three are non-toxic, so the renaming does not affect the answer. One name to keep separate: Saffron Spike Zebra is also sold as a zebra plant, and it is not a succulent at all but Aphelandra squarrosa. It is listed non-toxic too, so this particular mix-up is harmless.

What this verdict does and does not mean

Being non-toxic does not mean a plant is chew-proof: even pet-safe houseplants can upset a cat's or dog's stomach if they eat a large amount, simply because it is plant matter. Most toxic houseplants cause irritant-level symptoms, such as drooling, mouth soreness, or a mild upset stomach, rather than a medical emergency. A small number of plants are a genuine emergency, most notably true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) for cats, which can cause fatal kidney failure from even a small amount of pollen or a nibbled leaf. If you are ever in doubt, or your pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.

More on pet safety

Read the full care guide for Haworthia (Zebra), browse the pet safety checker for other plants, or identify a plant from a photo first if you are not sure what you have. Verdicts here follow the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.