Whether you’re a regular green thumb, or new to bringing plant life into your living space, making sure any natural additions are safe for your cat and their habitat is always Priority No. 1. But how do you know which plants are safe to have around? We’re here to help. These 10 gorgeous houseplants are cat-approved.

Spider Plants

Don’t let the name fool you — these billowing beauties aren’t in the least bit scary, and are big-but-not-too-big – just enough to give your cat a cute place to hide behind (and are totally safe for them, too).

Echeveria Succulents

If you’re a new plant owner, these succulents are a safe place to start – they hardly need water, and are an absolute joy to behold. Plus, they are low fuss and have little if any soil, so any spillage is safe if your cat decides to paw at it.

Boston Fern

If you’re looking for an indoor plant to spruce up your bathroom, look no further, as these ferns love humidity. Keep the soil consistently moist to keep you and your kitten happy. Bonus: they look amazing in hanging plants, and will give your cat a natural ball of yarn to play with.

Bamboo Palm

Ready to give the Lion in Your Living Room their proper habitat? The Bamboo palm will do the trick, and can turn your common space into an uncommon urban jungle, while giving your cat some leafy shade to sleep under.

Swedish Ivy

Another low-fuss addition to any living room is this droopy green dream, which only needs water once a week – and the medium-sized round leaves are totally safe for your cat to play around with without worrying about any sharp edges.

Mint

This treasure makes for a great infuser in a bottle of water – and cats usually love the smell of it. Make sure they don’t go crazy eating it to avoid a tummy ache, though more likely they’ll just sniff around peppermint leaves.

Lemongrass

Like other cat-appropriate grasses, lemongrass is a fragrant treat for you and your pet – and is easy to grow both indoors and outd.

Licorice Root

The benefits of this anti-inflammatory gem are vast, as it can sooth dental hygiene or digestive issues, without the sugar rush of a Twizzler’s box. Your cat might like it more than you do.

Sweet Basil

This is one of the few herbs that is safe for kitties, and doubles up for your dinner if you’re into Italian cooking.

Catnip

Fun fact, not all cats are overly intoxicated by their namesake plant (and substance of choice). The 50% of cats who do, however, still go into a craze for the ‘nip. A word to the wise: make sure to keep your catnip plant a safe distance grasp of your feline friend’s paws.

Still not sure? It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Check with your vet if you’re not clear on whether or not a houseplant is safe to have around your cat. And if you’d love to have a (safe) plant but just know your cat can’t resist taking a bite? Check out our primer on how to keep your cat from eating your houseplants.