Pet safety
Is Spider Plant safe for cats and dogs?
Spider Plant is not toxic to cats or dogs, according to the ASPCA.
Considered safe
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs on the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list (entry verified 2026-08-19).
Also sold as: Ribbon Plant, Anthericum, Spider Ivy. Retail labels vary, so check the botanical name (Chlorophytum comosum) if you are matching a plant you already own.
What the ASPCA lists for Spider Plant
The ASPCA records Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum, family Asparagaceae) as Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats. Read the ASPCA entry.
The ASPCA carries this same plant under six separate entries, all pointing at Chlorophytum comosum: Spider Plant, Spider Ivy, Ribbon Plant, Anthericum Comosum, Walking Anthericum and Chlorophytum bichetti. They agree, so the duplication is harmless here, but it is worth knowing that finding one entry does not mean you have found the only one. Note also that the entry gives verdicts for dogs and cats only and states none for horses.
Are spider plants hallucinogenic to cats? Why the sources split
These sources do not disagree about safety. Every one of them calls the spider plant non-toxic, and the ASPCA lists it Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats. What they split on is the claim, repeated all over the web, that spider plants are mildly hallucinogenic to cats. Two pages trace it to opium: one says studies have found the effect, the other states that the plant does contain a compound similar to opium. A third names tetrahydrocannabinol, the active compound in marijuana, which is a different claim rather than another way of saying the same one. A fourth leaves the folklore out completely. Two of these pages carry veterinary credentials and they land on opposite sides: the one written by a veterinarian says there is no research behind the claim, while a vet reviewed page repeats it as the likely reason cats chew the leaves. The point worth taking away is where the folklore is not. The ASPCA's own entry for this plant says nothing about a hallucinogenic effect, records no toxic principle, and lists no clinical signs. Gardening Know How sets the two side by side: it says studies have found the effect, then cites the ASPCA in the very next sentence for the non-toxic verdict. The citation is real, and the claim sitting next to it is not part of what was cited. That is the trap worth knowing about, because it is how a piece of folklore picks up the authority of a source that never said it. None of this changes what to do. The plant is safe to keep, and a cat that eats a lot of any plant can still get an upset stomach.
| Source | Verdict | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| ASPCA | Non-toxic | The entry for Chlorophytum comosum reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats". It records no toxic principle and lists no clinical signs, and contains no mention of a hallucinogenic effect. |
| Adopt a Pet | Non-toxic, claim unsupported | Written by Dr. Alycia Washington, DVM, MS, a small animal emergency veterinarian. States: "Some people believe that spider plants have a mild hallucinogenic effect on cats, but there is no research to back up this claim." |
| Catster | Non-toxic, repeats the claim | Labelled vet reviewed, in the page title and in the body. Says spider plants are "safe for cats and non-toxic", then explains why cats eat them: "It may be because spider plants are mildly hallucinogenic". States the mechanism flatly: "Spider plants do contain a compound that is similar to opium." The page never mentions the ASPCA. |
| Gardening Know How | Non-toxic, states the claim as fact | States: "Cats mainly like spider plants because they are mildly hallucinogenic. Yes, it's true." Also claims "studies have found that this plant does, indeed, cause a mild hallucinogenic effect to felines", then cites the ASPCA in the next sentence for the non-toxic verdict. Gives the mechanism as compounds that are "said to be related to opium". |
| Habitat Landscape | Non-toxic, names a different compound | The outlier on mechanism. States the plant contains "compounds called \"tetrahydrocannabinol\" (THC), the same active ingredient found in marijuana". Gardening Know How and Catster both trace the same folklore to opium instead, so the mechanisms on offer contradict one another. The ASPCA records no toxic principle for this plant at all. |
| Plant Addicts | Non-toxic | States "The entire plant is non-toxic, so it is cat friendly" and does not mention a hallucinogenic effect anywhere on the page. It cites the ASPCA entry in its sources list. |
Every source in this table was read on 2026-08-19. Text inside quotation marks is verbatim from that day's version of the page; the rest summarises what the page said.
Do not confuse Spider Plant with Lucky Bamboo
Both plants are sold under the retail name Ribbon Plant, and the ASPCA itself lists that name against both of them. One is a safe spider plant and the other is a Dracaena that is toxic to cats and dogs, so the shared label is a genuine hazard rather than a technicality. The ASPCA lists Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, toxic principle Saponins, with clinical signs: Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats). Read the ASPCA entry for Lucky Bamboo. If you are unsure which one you have, treat it as the toxic plant until you can confirm, and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 if your pet has eaten any of it.
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 Spider Plant, 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.