Club Moss — (c) Nicola van Berkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Nicola van Berkel
Photo by (c) Nicola van Berkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Nicola van BerkeliNaturalistCC BY-SA
cat safety reference

Is Club Moss safe for cats?

Selaginella kraussiana

Club Moss is a low-growing, fern-like plant often used in terrariums and as a ground cover. It is considered non-toxic to pets, though its fibrous nature may cause minor digestive upset if consumed in large quantities.

African clubmossKrauss's spikemossSelaginella kraussianaTrailing spikemoss
Light
Bright indirect light
Habit
Creeping
Care
High

Safety status

Cats

Generally safe

Consulted references do not classify the plant as toxic for that pet type, while still allowing for mild GI upset if large amounts are chewed.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

What this means for your cat

Cats are safe around club moss — the ASPCA lists Selaginella kraussiana (also sold as Krauss' spikemoss or trailing Irish moss) as non-toxic to cats. There is no identified toxic principle, so a curious cat that bats at or chews the spreading mat is not at risk of poisoning.

Sources: ASPCA (no first-aid guidance).

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Catsconcern notes

Common signs

None expected, though large ingestions of fibrous plant material may cause mild vomiting or diarrhea.

Escalation note

The plant is non-toxic; however, if your cat consumes a significant amount and shows persistent signs of distress, contact your veterinarian.

Bring it home

Club Mossis generally pet-safe in ordinary household exposure. If you’d like one for your space, here’s a starting point.

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Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

Club Moss is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Kew Plants of the World Online

botanical · 95% reliability

Open source

Accepted botanical classification for Selaginella kraussiana.

Cats & dogs pagedogs page

Same cat verdict

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