Plants That are Safe for Cats
Avoid Toxic Greenery and Flowers to Grow a Pet-Friendly Garden
Aug 31, 2009
While many avid gardeners seek ways to keep cats out of their gardens, cat lovers who also enjoy gardening can create feline-friendly gardens and grow indoor potted plants that cats will appreciate.
Cat Grass
There are a number of different theories to explain why cats eat grass, including the need to obtain folic acid or get rid of hairballs, but experts agree that grass-eating is a natural and necessary behaviour. Cat grass seeds and kits are inexpensive, and can be ordered online or purchased at pet supply stores. Cats tend to like oat grass best, though other types, such as wheat, are also available.
Cat grass sprouts quickly and easily, which makes it a fun plant for young children to grow. Keeping a pot of cat grass in the house at all times reduces the likelihood that cats will snack on houseplants.
Catnip
Catnip is also very easy to grow from seed. The main difficulty is keeping it from taking over the yard because it thrives in most environments and spreads rapidly. For this reason, confining catnip to a pot is recommended. Catnip requires minimal care, and can be grown indoors or outside. Outdoors, it acts as a natural garden pest repellent, helping to protect nearby plants.
Crushing some fresh catnip leaves between your fingers will release the scent that cats find so appealing. Some cats will crush the leaves themselves by rolling in an outdoor catnip patch.
Cat owners shouldn't be concerned if their cats spend a lot of time in the catnip patch. Contrary to popular belief, catnip is not addictive and doesn’t have a negative impact on feline health, even if it is used regularly.
Cat-Safe Plants and Flowers
Non-toxic plants and flowers include:
- African Violent
- Alyssum
- Bachelor’s Button
- Bamboo
- Begonia
- Buddleia
- Catbrier
- Cockscomb
- Coleus
- Columbine
- Cosmos
- Dahlia
- Dianthus
- Forget-Me-Not
- Heliotrope
- Hollyhock
- Impatiens
- Nasturtium
- Orchid
- Pansy
- Petunia
- Phlox
- Purslane
- Radiator Plant
- Rose (miniature and full size)
- Scabiosa
- Shasta Daisy
- Snapdragon
- Spider Plant
- Strawflower
- Sunflower
- Sweet William
- Sword Fern
- Torenia
- Venus Flytrap
- Verbascum
- Zinnia
Cat-Safe Food Plants
Although the majority of food plants are cat-safe, a few are toxic, including the stems and leaves of potatoes and tomatoes (these are also toxic for humans, so toddlers should be watched closely in the vegetable garden). Plants in the allium family (onions, shallots, scallions, leeks, garlic, and chives) also present health risks for cats. Although onions are the most problematic if consumed in any form, cats are particularly attracted to chives because of their grass-like shape, so pots of growing chives should be kept out of feline reach. While the toxicity of chives is lower than that of onions, regular consumption may pose a risk.
Cat-Safe Herbs
The majority of herbs are safe for cats, including:
- Basil
- Bee balm
- Cat Thyme
- Chamomile
- Chervil
- Coriander (Cilantro)
- Cress
- Dill
- Echinacea Purpurea (Coneflower)
- Gloxinia
- Hyssop
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Verbena
- Lovage
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Spearmint
- Tarragon
- Thyme
Plants That are Poisonous to Cats
Browsing online lists of poisonous plants can be frightening, but many plants listed as toxic cause unpleasant but relatively minor symptoms such as mouth irritation or temporary stomach upset (chrysanthemums and poinsettias, for example). However, there are some that can have deadlier consequences.
Common garden plants that can induce particularly nasty and sometimes fatal reactions include:
- Amaryllis
- Autumn Crocus
- Azalea/Rhododendron
- Black Locust
- Castor Bean
- Cyclamen
- Foxglove
- Kalanchoe
- Larkspur
- Lily (all types)
- Monkshood
- Oleander
- Sago palm
- Yew
Although there are many toxic plants, most cats, given the option, will snack on grass rather than other types of greenery. Pet owners are far more likely to lose cats and dogs to chemical pesticides, antifreeze, or other man-made hazards. Keeping toxins out of pets’ reach and using natural methods to control garden pests will eliminate the most common poison hazards.
If you suspect that your cat has been poisoned, call your veterinarian, your local animal emergency clinic, or the National Animal Poison Control Center hotline, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hotline number is 1-888-426-4435.
Full Lists of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants
Visit the Vancouver Cat Fanciers’ Association for full lists of toxic and non-toxic plants for cats.
References:
- ASPCA. (2009). “17 Poisonous Plants.” ASPCA.org.
- CCA-AFC. (2006). “Toxic Plants.” CCA-AFC.com.
- Christensen, Wendy, and the Staff of The Humane Society of the United States. (2002). The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Cat Care. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
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