Yes. The ASPCA lists the snake plant as toxic to both dogs and cats. Its entry for Sansevieria trifasciata names saponins as the toxic principle and lists nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea as the signs. If your pet has chewed or swallowed part of a snake plant, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service, such as the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, rather than waiting to see what happens.
That does not mean you have to give up snake plants, but it does mean placing them with care. Here is what the listing says, what to do after a nibble, and which trailing and compact plants are listed as safer.
What the ASPCA Lists for Snake Plants
- Plant: snake plant, listed as Sansevieria trifasciata. Common names include mother-in-law's tongue and golden bird's nest.
- Toxic to: dogs and cats. The ASPCA entry does not list horses.
- Toxic principle: saponins.
- Clinical signs listed: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Is it Sansevieria or Dracaena?
Both names refer to the same plant. Botanists moved Sansevieria into the genus Dracaena, and the Missouri Botanical Garden now files the snake plant as Dracaena trifasciata, though its description still uses the older name. Nurseries and plant tags use both. When you check a plant against a pet-safety list, search under both names.
Does this apply to every snake plant variety?
Many popular varieties are cultivars of the same species. The Missouri Botanical Garden's Plant Finder lists cultivars such as 'Dwarf Laurentii', 'Black Coral', and 'Gold Flame' under Dracaena trifasciata. Some other snake plants, such as the cylindrical and whale fin types, are separate species, and we did not find a separate ASPCA entry for them. Treat all snake plants with the same caution unless a veterinary source says otherwise.
What to Do if Your Pet Chewed a Snake Plant
- Move your pet away from the plant and put any remaining plant pieces out of reach.
- Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number is (888) 426-4435.
- Have details ready: the plant's name, roughly how much was eaten, when it happened, and your pet's size and species.
- Follow the professional's advice instead of trying home treatments.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet shows signs of illness, get help right away.
Keeping Snake Plants and Pets in the Same Home
- Choose placement, not hope. Put the plant in a room your pet cannot enter, or on a stand or shelf they cannot reach.
- Pick up fallen or broken leaves. Damaged leaves are easy to chew and swallow.
- Watch for new habits. A pet that never touched plants before may start chewing when bored or after a change in routine.
- Remember that "non-toxic" does not mean "edible." The ASPCA notes that eating any plant material can cause vomiting and stomach upset in dogs and cats.
Our pet-safe and toxic houseplant guide explains how to check any plant against a veterinary source.
Plants the ASPCA Lists as Non-Toxic
If you want something your pet cannot easily harm, here are options we have checked against ASPCA entries. Confirm the exact botanical name of the plant you buy, because common names overlap and cultivars may not have their own listing.
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum): listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats. You can browse our spider plants.
- Peperomia: the ASPCA lists several peperomia species as non-toxic to dogs and cats, including blunt leaf (P. obtusifolia), emerald ripple (P. caperata), and watermelon (P. argyreia). You can browse our peperomias.
- Hindu rope hoya (Hoya carnosa 'Krinkle Kurl'): listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats.
- Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus humilis): listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
If you like trailing plants, our guide to the best hanging plants for indoors notes what we could verify about each one.
If You Keep Your Snake Plant
Snake plants are tolerant of a range of light and are easy to care for. Our snake plant care guide covers light, watering, and soil. If you decide a snake plant is right for your home, place it where your pets cannot reach it and enjoy it from a distance. You can see what is available in our Sansevieria collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are snake plants more toxic to cats or dogs?
The ASPCA lists the snake plant as toxic to both, with the same clinical signs: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What are the symptoms if a pet eats a snake plant?
The ASPCA lists nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service if you think your pet has eaten any part of the plant.
Is the snake plant the same as a Dracaena?
Yes. Dracaena trifasciata is the name the Missouri Botanical Garden now uses for what was long sold as Sansevieria trifasciata.
Which houseplants are safe for cats and dogs?
No plant is risk-free, since eating any plant material can upset a pet's stomach. The ASPCA lists spider plants, several peperomias, and Hoya carnosa 'Krinkle Kurl' as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Confirm the exact botanical name before you buy.
Sources: ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant entries for snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), spider plant, blunt leaf peperomia, emerald ripple peperomia, watermelon peperomia, wax plant, and lipstick plant; and Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Dracaena trifasciata.