Are artificial olive trees safe for pets? The complete guide
Faux olive trees contain no toxic compounds, produce no pollen and pose no ingestion risk to cats or dogs. Real olive trees are a different story — they can cause mild gastrointestinal upset in pets. If you have cats or dogs and want an olive tree in your home, the faux version is the genuinely safer choice.
If you've been searching for a pet-safe indoor olive tree for your home, the answer is straightforward: a quality artificial olive tree is completely non-toxic to cats, dogs and other pets. The materials used — PE foliage, moulded resin or real wood trunks, wire branch frames — contain no compounds that are harmful to animals if chewed or ingested in small amounts.
The more important question — which most people don't think to ask — is whether the real plants they're considering as alternatives are actually safe. Many of Australia's most popular indoor plants are toxic to pets in ways that aren't widely known. This guide covers both sides of the equation.
Are real olive trees safe for pets?
Real olive trees (Olea europaea) are considered to have low to mild toxicity for cats and dogs. The leaves, bark and fruit can cause gastrointestinal upset — vomiting and diarrhoea — if ingested in moderate quantities. They are not considered severely toxic in the way that some other popular houseplants are, but they are not completely safe either.
The practical risk with real olive trees comes from leaf drop. A healthy olive tree indoors will periodically shed leaves — and cats in particular are likely to investigate and sometimes chew fallen leaves. For most pets this causes nothing more than mild stomach upset, but for pets with sensitive digestive systems it's worth knowing about before bringing a real olive tree home.
The real problem — popular houseplants that ARE toxic to pets
The olive tree is relatively benign compared to many popular indoor plants that Australian pet owners commonly bring into their homes without realising the risk. This is the more important conversation.
| Plant | Toxicity to cats | Toxicity to dogs | Symptoms if ingested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faux olive tree (artificial) | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | None — no toxic compounds present |
| Real olive tree | Mild | Mild | Possible gastrointestinal upset if leaves ingested |
| Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) | Toxic | Toxic | Oral irritation, vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea |
| Birds of paradise (Strelitzia) | Toxic | Toxic | Nausea, vomiting, drowsiness |
| Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) | Highly toxic | Toxic | Oral burning, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Pothos / Devil's ivy | Toxic | Toxic | Oral irritation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Ficus / Rubber plant | Toxic | Toxic | Vomiting, diarrhoea, skin irritation |
| Areca palm (real) | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | None known |
| Spider plant (real) | Mild | Non-toxic | Mild gastrointestinal upset in cats |
Why faux olive trees are the pet-safe choice
Premium artificial olive trees use three materials throughout: PE (polyethylene) foliage, moulded resin or real wood trunks, and internal wire branch frames. None of these materials contain compounds that are toxic to animals.
PE foliage — the same base polymer used in food-safe containers and children's toys. Even if a cat chews a leaf, the material doesn't contain pesticides, fertilisers, sap compounds or any of the naturally occurring toxins found in real plant material.
Real wood trunks — the same material as any piece of furniture in your home. Non-toxic, non-irritating and in practice no pet is going to chew through a solid wood trunk.
Wire branch frames — the main practical consideration. The internal wire that makes branches bendable is not toxic, but a branch that's been significantly deformed or damaged by a determined chewer could theoretically expose wire ends. For households with very destructive pets, positioning the tree out of direct reach or in a room the pet doesn't access unsupervised is worth considering.
For cats specifically: Cats are more likely than dogs to investigate and occasionally chew faux plant leaves. A light spray of citrus-scented deterrent on the lower branches discourages most cats without damaging the tree. Alternatively position the tree in a tall, heavy pot — cats are less likely to interact with plants that aren't at their eye level or easily knocked over.
The best pet-safe artificial plants for Australian homes
If you have pets and want statement indoor greenery, faux plants give you access to species that would otherwise be off-limits. Here are the best pet-safe artificial plants for Australian homes with cats and dogs.
The most popular faux plant in Australia and completely non-toxic. Available from 90cm to 2.4M — the 180cm version is the sweet spot for most living rooms. Real olive trees cause mild gastrointestinal upset; the faux version eliminates this risk entirely while delivering the same visual impact.
Shop faux olive trees →Real fiddle leaf figs are toxic to both cats and dogs — causing oral irritation, vomiting and drooling. The faux version delivers the same bold architectural statement with zero toxicity risk. For pet owners who love the fiddle leaf fig look, this is the only responsible way to have one in a home with animals.
Shop faux fiddle leaf figs →Real birds of paradise (Strelitzia) cause nausea, vomiting and drowsiness in both cats and dogs. The faux version is non-toxic throughout. Given how dramatically the birds of paradise looks in a home, this is one of the strongest arguments for choosing faux — you don't have to choose between the aesthetic and your pet's safety.
Shop faux birds of paradise →The real areca palm is actually one of the few genuinely non-toxic real houseplants for pets — but it still requires watering, adequate light and maintenance. The faux version gives you the same tropical, relaxed aesthetic with zero maintenance and the same non-toxic safety profile. A strong choice for coastal homes and pet owners who want tropical greenery.
Shop faux palms →As seen in Australian editorial publications
"One of the most realistic faux olive trees we've come across — a natural-looking trunk, irregular bendable branches and soft silvery-green foliage that closely mimics the real thing."
— Style Curator, June 2026 · Read the full feature →
Frequently asked questions
Are artificial olive trees safe for cats?
Yes — premium artificial olive trees are completely non-toxic to cats. The PE foliage, moulded resin trunk and wire branch frame contain no compounds harmful to cats. Real olive trees can cause mild gastrointestinal upset if leaves are ingested, making the faux version the safer choice for cat owners who want the olive tree aesthetic at home.
Are fake plants safe for dogs?
Yes — premium faux plants are non-toxic to dogs. The materials used (PE foliage, wood or resin trunks, wire frames) contain no toxic compounds. The practical consideration for dogs is destructive chewing — a very determined chewer could theoretically damage a faux plant enough to expose internal wire. For households with destructive dogs, positioning the tree out of reach when unsupervised is sensible precaution.
Is a real olive tree toxic to cats and dogs?
Real olive trees have mild toxicity for cats and dogs — the leaves, bark and fruit can cause gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhoea) if ingested in moderate amounts. They are not considered severely toxic but are not completely safe either. If your cat or dog has ingested olive tree material and is showing symptoms, contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738.
Which popular houseplants are toxic to pets in Australia?
Several of Australia's most popular indoor plants are toxic to cats and dogs — including fiddle leaf figs (toxic to both), birds of paradise (toxic to both), peace lilies (highly toxic to cats), pothos/devil's ivy (toxic to both) and ficus/rubber plants (toxic to both). If you have pets, the faux versions of these species eliminate the toxicity risk while delivering the same visual impact.
What are the best pet-safe artificial plants for Australian homes?
All premium faux plants from The Plants Corner are non-toxic to cats and dogs — including our faux olive trees, fiddle leaf figs, birds of paradise and palms. For pet owners, faux plants offer a significant practical advantage over real plants: many of Australia's most beautiful indoor species (fiddle leaf figs, birds of paradise, peace lilies) are toxic to pets in their real form. The faux version lets you have these species safely.
My cat keeps chewing my faux plant — is this dangerous?
For premium PE foliage faux plants, occasional chewing or mouthing is not dangerous — the material is non-toxic. To deter the behaviour, try a light spray of citrus-scented deterrent on the lower branches (cats dislike citrus). Alternatively move the tree to a position where it's less accessible — on a higher surface or in a room the cat doesn't access unsupervised. If your cat ingests large amounts of any material and shows symptoms, consult your vet.
Pet-safe faux plants — beautiful and worry-free
Premium artificial olive trees, fiddle leaf figs and birds of paradise — all non-toxic to cats and dogs. Dispatched from Sydney within 4 business days.
Shop Pet-Safe Faux Plants