Before we list the top 10 cat-safe succulents, let understand the reasons why cats chew or like to eat plants.
Some of the reasons why cats chew plants:
- It is their instinct
- Due to boredom
- Due to curiosity
- To overcome a nutritional deficiency in its diet
- To simulate vomiting to eliminate hairballs accumulated in the stomach
We all love our pets and plants, but of course, pets will be our first choice. So, why not go for plants which are non-toxic to pets.
List of the top 10 cat-safe succulents.
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Donkey’s Tail succulent
Donkey’s tail succulent is an evergreen succulent from Mexico. It has woody stems that lie along with the soil or trail over the sides of the container. It has green-blue leaves clustered around the stem in a spiral arrangement.
If conditions are good, it produces deep pink flowers in spring and summer.
The leaves of this succulent are fragile so, extra care is required.
Common Name | Burro’s Tail, Lamb’s Tail |
Scientific Name | Sedum morganianum |
Light | Direct sunlight |
Water | Keep thoroughly moist from spring to fall. In winter only apply enough water to prevent the soil from drying out |
Temperature | Normal room temperature, cooler in winter |
Soil | Well-drained soil / premixed cactus soil |
Christmas Cactus
Christmas cactus comes rainforest of Eastern Brazil. It is an ideal plant for a hanging basket.
The flowers of these plants are intensely red and are produced either singly or in groups of 2-3, from a cluster of long, brown bristles at the end of new stem segments, over several weeks in spring.
Each flower may only last 2-3 days.
Common Name | Easter Cactus, Thanksgiving cactus |
Scientific Name | Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertnerrii) Christmas cactus (Schlumgera bridgesti) Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumgera truncata) |
Light | Indirect sunlight |
Water | Keep moist all the time, apart from s 3-4 week rest period after flowering when the soil should only be given enough water to prevent it from drying out. |
Temperature | Normal room temperature |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
Echeveria
The Echeveria are succulent ever-green plants originating from dry semi-desert regions of Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America.
There are about 150 species of Echeveria and many cultivars.
Blue Echeveria
Common Name | Maroon Chenille Plant, Painted Lady, Copper Rose, Wax Rosette, Plush Plant |
Scientific Name | Echeveria |
Light | Direct sunlight |
Water | Keep barely moist and don’t overwater |
Temperature | Normal room temperature |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
Chickens and Hens
Common Name | Hens and Chickens, Mother Hens and Chicks, Mexican Rose |
Scientific Name | Echeveria elegans |
Light | Direct sunlight |
Water | Keep barely moist and don’t overwater |
Temperature | Normal room temperature |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
Haworthia
Haworthia is a stemless plant from South Africa. It a rosette of tightly packed fat, rigid, dark green or purple-green leaves, with sharp, red-brown tips covered in rough, pearly white lumps. It is best grown like cacti in individual pots or groups in a large container.
Pearl Haworthia
Common Name | Pearl Plant /Pearly Dots |
Scientific Name | Haworthia margaritifera |
Light | Indirect sunlight |
Water | Keep thoroughly moist from spring to fall. In winter only apply enough water to prevent the soil from drying out |
Temperature | Keep cool all the times |
Soil | Well-drained soil / premixed cactus soil |
Zebra Haworthia
Common Name | Zebra Haworthia |
Scientific Name | Haworthia fasciata |
Light | Indirect sunlight |
Water | Keep thoroughly moist from spring to fall. In winter only apply enough water to prevent the soil from drying out |
Temperature | Keep cool all the times |
Soil | Well-drained soil / premixed cactus soil |
Joseph’s coat cactus
Joseph’s coat cactus is native to South America. It is a thorny shrub that grows almost tree-like with several branches. It produces yellow or orange-red flowers from late spring to early autumn.
Common Name | Drooping prickly pear, Cochineal prickly pear, or Barbary fig |
Scientific Name | Opuntia monacantha |
Light | Direct sunlight |
Water | Less water (Infrequent watering) |
Temperature | Hot and dry |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
Thimble Mammillaria Cactus
Thimble Mammillaria, a tiny cactus native to Central Mexico.
Its tiny globular bodies are densely covered with interlaced white radial spines, giving the impression of white Thimbles.
It produces creamy yellow flowers in spring or late summer.
Common Name | Mammillaria vetula, Powder Puff |
Scientific Name | Mammillaria vetula (old name Mammillaria fragilis ) |
Light | Direct sunlight |
Water | Allow it dry completely before watering |
Temperature | Normal room temperature |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
Living Rock Cactus
Living Rock Cactus is a perennial succulent that is native to South Africa.
This stemless succulent has a stone-like appearance hence the name. It produces daisy-like yellow or orange flowers in late summer and autumn.
Common Name | African living rock, Mimicry plant |
Scientific Name | Pleiospilos bolusii |
Light | Direct sunlight |
Water | Water thoroughly when soil is dry during the active growing season. |
Temperature | Needs minimum 60°F |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
Mistletoe Cactus
It is an epiphyte cactus native to Central and South America and Africa. It has a pendant, cylindrical green stems about 0.5 cm in diameter. In the wild, they produce small white, yellow flowers. You can expect small greenish-white flowers in winter or spring.
It is a good option for a hanging basket.
Common Name | Mistletoe Cacti |
Scientific Name | Rhipsalis baccifera (Rhipsalis cassutha) |
Light | Bright indirect light |
Water | Keep thoroughly moist from spring to fall. In winter only apply enough water to prevent the soil from drying out |
Temperature | Needs minimum 60°F |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
Old Man Cactus
Old man cactus is a slow-growing columnar succulent that is native to Mexico. It is so popular for its odd woolly appearance. It produces pale pink flowers in the wild when it reaches about 20 feet.
Common Name | Old man cactus |
Scientific Name | Cephalocereus senilis |
Light | Direct sun |
Water | Water only occasionally |
Temperature | Tolerant to 30°F |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
Live-Forever (Sempervivum)
Sempervivums are easy to grow succulents native to Southern and Central Europe. There are around 40 species of Sempervivum and many cultivars.
They are different from Echeveria, though both are commonly known as hens and chicks.
Sempervivums are generally frost-hardy and can not withstand high temperatures.
It dies after flowering, but it produces a lot of babies before that.
Common Name | Hen-and-chicks, Houseleek, Fire Dragon |
Scientific Name | Sempervivum tectorum |
Light | Direct sun |
Water | Keep thoroughly moist from spring to fall. In winter only apply enough water to prevent the soil from drying out |
Temperature | Normal room temperature |
Soil | Well-drained soil |
