Cats like plants as much as we do, and like us, they eat or chew some of them.
Cat grass, catmint, chamomile, our cats love them. Having some of these plants at home will satisfy your kitty’s natural craving for grass. And while your beloved pet is busy chewing them, your houseplants can relax.
But careful, not all of them are safe. Let’s go through a list of 10 plants cats like.
Cat grass
Binomial name: Dactylis glomerata
Cat grass is one of the most famous plants given to cats, in particular to those living indoor. Good thing it is safe for them.
It has many benefits, including:
- it provides vitamins and folic acids.
- it aids in digestion by increasing roughage
- it assists in removing hairballs
On top of it, cat grass will help freshen your kitten's breath thanks to the chlorophyll it contains.
You can find it in two forms: to be grown in a pot, or to be added to a cat’s food.
Cat Thyme – or kitty crack
Binomial name: Teucrium marum
Cat thyme is also a safe plant for cats. It will provide many vitamins including C, A, K, as well as iron, manganese, and calcium. It will also improve their digestion and act as an anti-bacterial agent.
A bit of advice to grow it at home: cat thyme prefers sun, it won’t grow well in shade. And better using dry or well-drained soil.
Also, it is very slow to grow… so better prepare some in advance.
Last detail: the smell can be unpleasant so chose its location wisely.
Cat’s claw – or Uña de Gato
Binomial name: Uncaria tomentosa
You can share this one with your cat as it is good for humans too. Uña de Gato will help to modulate your kitty's immune system and can also relieve itching if it has allergies.
Catnip – or Catwort
Binomial name: Nepeta cataria
The catnip leaves contain a compound call nepetalactone. Cats love it but it will also give them a euphoric high…
Also, watch out as some kitten suffers from vomiting and diarrhea.
Good usage is a tea bath to soothe itchy skin.
Catmint
Binomial name: Nepeta × faassenii
It goes also by the names Kit cat and Cat’s meow. It is similar to catnip and a way to distinguish them is that the catnip has a weedier appearance.
Cats love to eat and play with catmint, however, they tend to go crazy and hyperactive. Catmint can also make your pet vomiting or having diarrhea.
Try in a very small quantity or ask your vet first.
Chamomile
Two species share the name Chamomile, the Matricaria chamomilla and the Chamaemelum nobile
This Matricaria chamomilla is also named German, blue or wild chamomile. It calms your stomach skin and even your nerves and has a similar effect on felines.
But not to be confused, eating and chewing chamomile is poisonous for cats, resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, and a loss of appetite.
To give it to your beloved one, brewed dried chamomile into a tea and give a very small amount. By a small amount, we are talking about a teaspoon or half of a tablespoon for an average cat.
Goldenseal
Binomial name: Hydrastis canadensis
Also named Orangeroot and Yellow puccoon, the goldenseal has some gold/orange root from which it was named.
It’s a safe plant for cats and is used as a disinfectant. Make a cool tea of it by drying and mincing its root.
You can use it to clean a wound or to relieve itchy skin and in a cataplasm.
As goldenseal properties are interesting on animals, researches are done to test its applications on human, including to fight cancer. Nothing proved yet.
Lemon Grass
Binomial name: Cymbopogon citratus
Non-transformed lemon grass is safe for cats in a limited quantity. Excessive ingestion can result in an upset stomach or intestinal blockage that would require surgery in an extreme scenario.
In essential oil on the opposite, Lemon Grass is toxic and can damage a cat’s liver.
Licorice
Binomial name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Liquorice (an alternative spelling) is safe for cat and even has many benefits:
- aiding digestive problems,
- helping respiratory issues,
- detoxify the liver,
- soothe itchy skin caused by allergies.
- As well, licorice root contains blood cleanser and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be used to ease cats with arthritis for example.
- https://plantsforcats.com/plant/glycyrrhiza-glabra
Valerian
Binomial name: Valeriana officinalis
Your cat is not active enough? Valerian is your solution.
It will make your kitty more active as well as reduce its stress.