Is Short-Frond Lady Fern toxic to cats?

No — short-frond lady fern is listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats. It is a sensible choice for a home with a cat; a curious nibble will not poison them, though no plant is meant to be eaten. Athyrium brevifrons belongs to the family Athyriaceae, which has no documented toxic principles for dogs or cats. The genus Athyrium is not individually listed by ASPCA, but no toxic compounds are reported for any Athyrium species, and related fern genera confirmed non-toxic by ASPCA include Nephrolepis and Asplenium.

Yes — the ASPCA lists short-frond lady fern as non-toxic to cats and dogs. A cat that chews a large amount of any foliage can still get a mild, brief stomach upset, so discourage grazing, but it will not be poisoned.

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Short-Frond Lady Fern is non-toxic to dogs as well. See the full short-frond lady fern pet-safety guide for both species.

Reliable ASPCA non-toxic picks for a cat home include spider plant, calathea, parlor palm, peperomia, and most true ferns. Browse the best cats-safe plants list to check more before you buy.