The ASPCA's Spider Plant entry lists the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) as non-toxic to dogs and cats, with no toxic principle or clinical signs named. The ASPCA's plant list still warns that any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset. If your pet ate some and seems unwell, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

For growing it, see the spider plant care guide, or spider plant vs. air plant if you are choosing between the two.

What happens if a cat or dog eats a spider plant

The ASPCA's Spider Plant entry lists the plant as non-toxic to dogs and cats. It names no toxic principles and no clinical signs.

Non-toxic is not the same as harmless to eat. The ASPCA's plant list warns that "the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats."

What to do if your pet ate some

Call your veterinarian, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. The ASPCA notes, "A consultation fee may apply."

Have the plant's name ready, including the botanical name, Chlorophytum comosum. As the next section shows, one of the spider plant's common names also belongs to a toxic plant, so the botanical name avoids a mix-up. Then follow the instructions you are given.

Spider plant, ribbon plant, spider ivy: check the name

The ASPCA's Spider Plant entry lists Ribbon Plant, Anthericum and Spider Ivy as additional common names, and NC State Extension adds Walking Anthericum. A second ASPCA entry, Ribbon Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum), also lists it as non-toxic to dogs and cats.

The ASPCA's plain Ribbon Plant entry is a different plant: Dracaena spp., listed as toxic to dogs and cats, with saponins as the toxic principle. If you look a plant up by a common name, check that the entry's scientific name is Chlorophytum comosum.

Why do cats chew spider plants?

It is a common question, but none of the primary sources reviewed for this page explains why some cats single out spider plants. The ASPCA says only, in general terms, that "pets often explore new plants in their environment by sniffing, chewing, licking and eating them" (ASPCA).

You may also read that spider plants have a hallucinogenic or opium-like effect on cats. The ASPCA's Spider Plant entry lists no toxic principle and no clinical signs, and no primary source reviewed for this page supports that claim.

Keeping a spider plant in a home with pets

  • Hang it high. NC State says the spider plant "does particularly well in hanging baskets" where the leaves and stems "can cascade down the side" (NC State). Hang it high enough that the trailing stems and plantlets stay out of reach, not just the pot.
  • Pick up trimmings and fallen plantlets. They are still plant material a pet can eat.
  • Don't count on deterrents. No placement or spray guarantees a pet will leave a plant alone. If your pet keeps chewing it and vomits, talk to your veterinarian.

Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic

With the same caveat about stomach upset, these houseplants have ASPCA entries listing them as non-toxic to dogs and cats:

For longer lists, see plants safe for cats, plants safe for dogs and the pet-safe plant directory.

Frequently asked

Are spider plants toxic to dogs?
The ASPCA's Spider Plant entry lists Chlorophytum comosum as non-toxic to dogs and cats and names no toxic principle. The ASPCA also notes that eating any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset in dogs and cats.
Are spider plants safe for cats?
The ASPCA lists the spider plant as non-toxic to cats, which is a classification, not a guarantee. Because any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset, per the ASPCA, keep it out of reach of a cat that chews plants.
Why does my cat eat my spider plant?
None of the primary sources reviewed for this page explains why cats go for spider plants in particular. The ASPCA notes in general that pets often explore new plants by sniffing, chewing, licking and eating them.
Do spider plants make cats high?
The ASPCA's Spider Plant entry lists no toxic principle and no clinical signs, and no primary source reviewed for this page supports the claim that spider plants have a hallucinogenic effect on cats.
My cat threw up after eating a spider plant. What should I do?
The ASPCA notes that eating any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435; the ASPCA notes that a consultation fee may apply. Give the botanical name, Chlorophytum comosum.
Is a ribbon plant the same as a spider plant?
Sometimes. The ASPCA's Spider Plant entry lists Ribbon Plant as another name for Chlorophytum comosum, but the ASPCA's plain Ribbon Plant entry is Dracaena spp., which it lists as toxic to dogs and cats. Check the scientific name.

Sources: ASPCA: Spider Plant, ASPCA: Ribbon Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum), ASPCA: Ribbon Plant (Dracaena), ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, ASPCA: Do You Know Which Flowers and Plants Are Toxic to Pets?, ASPCA: Phalaenopsis Orchid, ASPCA: Parlor Palm, ASPCA: Boston Fern, ASPCA: Calathea, ASPCA: African Violet, NC State Extension: Chlorophytum comosum