Is Boston fern safe for dogs and cats?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
ASPCA reports Boston fern (Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis): listed as non-toxic to dogs and non-toxic to cats. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA page prints the species name as 'exalta'. Pets that eat a lot of any plant can still get an upset stomach, so call your vet if yours ate a lot. Check the exact plant name too, because common names are shared.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Also called: no other common names listed. Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis.
Good to know
The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA page prints the species name as 'exalta'.
Did your pet chew it?
Call your vet or a pet poison line, and say what plant, how much and when. If you aren't sure which plant it was, take a photo of it.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Some plants can make pets sick, and lilies are very dangerous for cats. Ask a grown-up before you bring a plant or flowers inside."
A job: Be the plant checker. Help a grown-up look up each plant in the house on this site, and write the ones to keep away on a list.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Common names are shared by different plants, so check the Latin name.
Sources
- ASPCA: Boston Fern (checked October 29, 2026)