Are Snake Plants Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

A tall snake plant with stiff upright green and yellow leaves in a pot — The snake plant looks tough — and the ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs. (Photo: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Are snake plants toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. The snake plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Skip it if you have pets.

I know it stings. The snake plant is everywhere right now. It is cheap, trendy, and easy to grow.

But the ASPCA lists the snake plant as toxic to both cats and dogs. Its plant name is Sansevieria. Some shops now sell it as Dracaena.

What makes it toxic?

The snake plant makes a natural soap. The fancy word is saponins.

The plant uses it to fight off bugs and germs. But that same soap upsets a pet’s stomach. When your cat or dog chews a leaf, it gets sick.

Here is the good news. This is not in the deadly tier. It is not a lily. Most pets get an upset belly, not an emergency.

Symptoms to watch for

If your pet chews a snake plant, you may see:

Drooling
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Low energy or hiding
Loss of appetite

In cats, you might also see wide pupils or a wobbly walk. Most cases are mild and pass in a day. Still, call your vet if it gets worse.

Not sure what to do? Read the full steps for when your pet ate a toxic plant.

“But my cat ignores it.” Should I keep it?

Real talk: that is your call. The risk is low, and many pets never touch it.

But here is my take. Cats and dogs are moody. A bored pet on a rainy day may chew a plant it walked past for months. Why risk it when safe plants look just as good?

If you do keep one, put it in a room your pet never enters. A closed office works. Out of sight is the safest plan.

Safe plants that give the same look

Love the tall, bold, modern look? You can get it without the risk.

Try these pet-safe picks instead:

Parlor palm — tall, leafy, and very easy. A great snake plant stand-in.
Spider plant — striped leaves and tough as nails. See my spider plant care guide.
Calathea — bold, upright, patterned leaves. See the calathea guide.
Boston fern — full and green in a pot. See the fern guide.

All four are on the ASPCA safe list. Many are also air-purifying and pet-safe.

The bottom line

Are snake plants toxic? Yes, to cats and dogs. The risk is mild, not deadly. But with so many safe look-alikes, I leave this one at the shop.

Think your pet took a bite? Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, or call your vet. A small fee may apply.

Sources

Written by Mo Ruman, a self-taught plant parent who cross-checks every plant against the ASPCA database. Not a vet — when in doubt, call your vet. More about Kijan