Are Prayer Plants Toxic to Cats? Here's the Good News
No, prayer plants are not toxic to cats. The ASPCA lists Maranta, the true prayer plant, as non-toxic to cats and dogs, with no calcium oxalate or saponins. That makes it one of the few dramatic, colorful houseplants you can keep without worrying about a curious cat. Here is why, plus the in-stock colors worth starting with.
No, prayer plants are not toxic to cats. The ASPCA lists the prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. That makes it one of the few genuinely dramatic-looking houseplants you can keep without worrying about a curious cat.
That's a bigger deal than it sounds. A lot of the plants people fall in love with first (pothos, snake plants, peace lilies) are toxic to cats, so if you've got a cat and a plant habit, you end up cross-checking a toxicity chart every single time you want to buy something. The prayer plant is one of the answers to that problem: colorful, beginner-friendly, and safe.
I recommend these constantly to cat owners for exactly that reason. Let me walk through why they're safe, what actually counts as a "prayer plant" (this trips people up), and a couple of honest cautions even with a non-toxic plant.
Genuinely cat-safe
Non-toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA. No calcium oxalate to burn the mouth, no saponins to upset the gut. A nibble is not a poisoning, and the color rivals plenty of toxic plants.
Pretty, but toxic
Pothos, snake plant, and peace lily are all on the ASPCA toxic list for cats. They're easy to grow, which is why people buy them first, but they aren't safe to chew. The prayer plant gives you the color without that tradeoff.
Are prayer plants safe for cats?
Yes. Maranta leuconeura, the plant most people mean when they say "prayer plant," is non-toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA. A cat that nibbles a leaf isn't going to be poisoned the way it would by a true lily or a pothos. There's no calcium oxalate to burn the mouth, no saponins to upset the gut, none of the compounds that land plants on the toxic list.
One honest caveat, because "non-toxic" gets oversold online: non-toxic is not the same as "eat as much as you want." Any plant material, even safe material, can cause mild stomach upset or vomiting if a cat eats a lot of it, simply because cats aren't built to digest big quantities of greenery. That's true of grass too. It's a far cry from poisoning, and it's why I tell people non-toxic means "safe to keep around your cat," not "safe to let your cat treat as a snack."
Wait, which plant is a "prayer plant"?
This is where it gets confusing, so it's worth a minute. "Prayer plant" is a common name that gets stretched across the whole Marantaceae family, the group that includes Maranta, Calathea (now Goeppertia), Stromanthe, and Ctenanthe. They all do the same charming thing: their leaves rise up at night and lower during the day, like hands folding in prayer. That nightly movement is where the name comes from.
The good news for cat owners is that the common Marantaceae houseplants in the trade are broadly listed non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. Two honest flags: the ASPCA lists plants by the names in its own database, and this family has been reshuffled botanically (Calathea reclassified to Goeppertia, for instance), so confirm each species you're buying by its botanical name rather than assuming the whole family is covered. And "prayer plant" in casual use gets applied loosely, so when in doubt, check the label's botanical name, not just the common one. For most "prayer plant" searches, the headline answer (Maranta is non-toxic) is the one you're after, and it holds.
Why I keep recommending prayer plants to cat owners
Beyond the safety, prayer plants earn their spot in cat homes on a few fronts:
- They're genuinely beautiful. The Red Prayer Plant has deep green leaves with bright red veins running through them like a leaf-shaped circuit board. The Lemon Lime has that same pattern in vivid yellow-green. These aren't consolation-prize "safe but boring" plants.
- They're forgiving for a Marantaceae plant. Marantas are on the easier end of the prayer-plant family. They still want humidity and consistent moisture, but they're more tolerant than a finicky calathea, which makes a Maranta a good first pet-safe plant.
- They stay low and trailing. Marantas spread and trail rather than shoot up, so they work on a shelf or in a hanging spot, which also happens to be smart placement if you'd rather your cat not graze on them.
That last point is worth sitting with. Even a non-toxic plant is more pleasant to own if the cat isn't constantly mowing it down. A trailing prayer plant up on a shelf stays prettier, and your cat finds something else to do.
What if my cat eats a prayer plant anyway?
Realistically, not much happens. Because the plant is non-toxic, a nibble isn't a poisoning event. If your cat eats a larger amount, you might see mild, short-lived stomach upset: maybe a bit of vomiting, maybe some drool, then back to normal. That's the cat's body objecting to a pile of plant matter, not to a toxin.
When I'd still make a call: if the vomiting repeats, if your cat won't eat or drink, if they seem genuinely unwell, or if you're just not sure, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply). "Non-toxic" lowers the stakes a lot, but you know your cat better than any blog does. And don't try to make your cat vomit at home unless a vet specifically tells you to.
The easy part: with a prayer plant you get to stop doing the toxicity math. It's a plant that might get chewed, not a safety risk to your cat, which is a much nicer problem to manage.
Pet-safe prayer plants worth starting with
If you want a colorful, cat-safe plant and you've decided a prayer plant fits, here's where I'd start. Everything here is non-toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA, and everything here is a plant we actually stock.
The Red Prayer Plant is the classic: deep green leaves, bright red veins, and the nightly leaf movement that makes the whole family fun to live with. It's the one I point most cat owners toward first because it's forgiving and the color is unbeatable for a non-toxic plant.
The Lemon Lime Prayer Plant is the same easygoing Maranta with electric yellow-green veining instead of red. If you want something that brightens a darker corner, this is the pick.
And if you want a colorful non-toxic showpiece from the same broad family, the Calathea 'Medallion' is a rose-painted stunner and non-toxic per the ASPCA. It asks for a little more humidity, but it's a real centerpiece.
The short version
Prayer plants are one of the easiest yeses in the pet-safety conversation. Maranta is non-toxic to cats and dogs, the colors are genuinely good, and the plant is forgiving enough to be a real first pick rather than a compromise. If you've spent any time worrying about which of your plants could hurt your cat, the prayer plant is the kind of answer that lets you stop worrying and just enjoy the plant.
The classic
Maranta 'Red Prayer Plant'
From $15.99 · Pet-safe
The bright one
Maranta 'Lemon Lime' Prayer Plant
From $14.99 · Pet-safe
A cat-safe collection you can shop without worry
Every plant in our pet-safe collection is cross-checked against the ASPCA list, so you can browse the whole thing without a toxicity chart open in another tab.
Shop pet-safe plantsQuick questions, honest answers
Are prayer plants toxic to cats?
No. The ASPCA lists Maranta, the true prayer plant, as non-toxic to cats and dogs. There's no calcium oxalate or saponins, so a nibble isn't a poisoning. A cat that eats a large amount might get a mild, short-lived upset stomach, but that's it.
Are all "prayer plants" safe for cats?
The common Marantaceae houseplants (Maranta, Calathea/Goeppertia, Stromanthe) are broadly listed non-toxic by the ASPCA. Because the family has been reclassified and the ASPCA lists by its own names, confirm the specific species by botanical name before you buy.
Which prayer plant is best for a beginner with cats?
The Red Prayer Plant (Maranta) is forgiving, colorful, and non-toxic, which makes it a strong first pet-safe plant. The Lemon Lime is just as easy if you want brighter foliage.
