Is Staghorn Fern safe for cats and dogs?

Also sold as: Common Staghorn Fern. Retail labels vary, so check the botanical name (Platycerium) if you are matching a plant you already own.

What the ASPCA lists for Staghorn Fern

The ASPCA records Staghorn Fern (Platycerium, family Polypodiaceae) as Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses. Read the ASPCA entry.

The ASPCA entry is filed as Common Staghorn Fern, Platycerium bifurcatum. A second Platycerium species, Platycerium alcicorne, has its own entry and is also recorded as non-toxic, so the genus comes out the same way on both entries they carry.

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 Staghorn Fern, 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.