Are Indoor Herbs Safe for Cats and Dogs? Full Plant List
Are indoor herbs safe for cats and dogs? Check which herbs and houseplants are toxic or pet-safe, with India, USA and Canada tips, a simple table, and FAQs.
HERBS & INDOOR PLANTS
Quick answer: Are indoor herbs safe for cats and dogs? Some are. Basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, dill and coriander (dhania) are listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA. Mint, oregano, chives, garlic, parsley and lemongrass are listed as toxic. Several common houseplants, including aloe vera and pothos, are toxic too.
Most of us bring home a basil plant or a pothos without thinking twice. Then the cat takes one look and treats it like a salad bar.
The trouble is that online advice doesn't agree with itself. I found one site calling oregano safe and another calling it toxic to cats, and mint gets the same mixed treatment. So I went to the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant lists for dogs and cats and used those as the reference for everything below. The ASPCA is an American organization, but toxicity doesn't change at a border, so the lists apply in Delhi, Dallas or Toronto.
It's worth taking seriously. Plants are the eighth most reported pet toxin to the ASPCA's poison control center, around 6% of the poisonings it hears about each year.
One caution before the lists. The ASPCA points out that eating any plant material can cause vomiting and an upset stomach in dogs and cats, even when the plant is listed as non-toxic. So "safe" here means "not poisonous". It doesn't mean "let your pet graze".
Mint is the one that confuses people most. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to both dogs and cats, with vomiting and diarrhea after large amounts. One nibble probably won't send you to the vet, but a pot of pudina on a low shelf isn't a great plan with a curious cat around. Rosemary is the easy one. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to both. And cilantro, which Indian readers know as dhania or coriander, is non-toxic to dogs and cats too.
Which herbs are safe for cats and dogs?
Here's the quick-check table. Every rating comes from the ASPCA lists.
What about tulsi and curry leaf?
I'd rather be honest here than guess. The ASPCA lists regular basil (Ocimum basilicum) as non-toxic. I couldn't find holy basil (tulsi) or the curry leaf plant in its database at all.
"Not listed" doesn't mean "safe". It just means nobody has added it to that list. Tulsi is related to basil, but being related to a safe plant doesn't make a plant safe. Until you've asked your vet, keep both out of reach. If your pet chews either one and seems off, call the vet and say exactly what was eaten.
The India section: plants you probably already own
Quite a few classic Indian household plants sit on the toxic side of the ASPCA lists. Aloe vera is on both the dog and cat lists, and it lives on a lot of balconies and kitchen windowsills. The money plant in most Indian homes is pothos, which is toxic to both too. Lemongrass and pudina are also on the toxic list, and so is shatavari, which the ASPCA names as part of the asparagus fern group.
The ajwain plant is a trickier case. The fleshy, scented ajwain leaf plant, also sold as Indian borage, is listed as toxic to both. That's the leaf plant. I couldn't confirm anything about ajwain seeds, so don't assume they get a pass.
If you're in the USA or Canada, winter changes things. Plants move indoors for months, which puts them within reach of a bored cat for far longer. Better to sort your plant list now than in January.
Which houseplants are safe for pets?
The ASPCA lists all of these as non-toxic to both cats and dogs.
Watch the names on that baby rubber plant. It's a peperomia, which is fine, but the ASPCA lists the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) separately as toxic. Similar names, different verdicts. Check the botanical name before you buy.
Which houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs?
All of these are on the ASPCA's toxic lists for both cats and dogs.
The ZZ plant is an odd one. I couldn't find it on the ASPCA lists, but at least one plant nursery still treats it as poisonous. I'd keep it out of reach until you've checked with a vet.
Shopping for low light plants? Plenty of the usual beginner picks show up on the toxic list, so run every plant from our best low light indoor plants for beginners list through the tables above before you buy.
One more for cat homes. True lilies, such as tiger, daylily, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese show lilies, are highly toxic to cats and can cause severe kidney failure. If someone hands you a bouquet, look at what's in it before it goes on the table.
What to do if your pet eats a toxic plant
Don't wait for a dramatic reaction. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, heavy drooling, weakness or nausea.
Take any plant bits out of your pet's mouth.
Work out exactly what was eaten. A quick photo of the plant helps.
Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet straight away.
The ASPCA Poison Control line is (888) 426-4435, and a consultation fee may apply. The Pet Poison Helpline is 855-764-7661.
In India, ring your own vet or an emergency vet first and give them the plant name.
Don't try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Keeping pets and plants apart without giving up the plants
Start with the safe herbs. Basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, dill and coriander cover most kitchens, and if you need setup help, our guides on how to grow herbs indoors and how often to water indoor herbs will get you going.
Put the risky plants up high. Hanging planters and tall shelves work for plenty of cats, though a determined climber will test you. A pot of cat grass can also give a chewing cat something better to do. Barley grass is a common base for pet grass and is non-toxic for dogs and cats.
Skip essential oils near the plant shelf. Concentrated peppermint oil is especially dangerous for cats. And keep plant food and fertilizer out of reach too, since powdered flower food can be toxic if swallowed.
Still choosing plants? Our low-maintenance houseplants buyer's guide is a good place to start, and you can check each pick against the tables above. If you already own a few of these, the indoor plant care guide covers day-to-day care for five popular houseplants. For the bigger picture, see our essential guide to growing herbs and indoor plants, or browse all the herbs and indoor plants guides.
Frequently asked questions?
This guide is based on the ASPCA's plant lists and isn't a substitute for veterinary advice. When in doubt, ask your vet.
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database and the ASPCA dog and cat plant lists (aspca.org); Pet Poison Helpline.
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