cat herbs window sill

Healthy Herbs For Cats: Medicinal Herbs & Fragrant Plants

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Herbs can be a tasty and even healing addition to cats’ food – find out which herbs are suitable for cats and what to look out for here. People have been using the healing power of herbs for thousands of years. But it’s not just us who enjoy the aromatic and healing plants – cats can also benefit from herbs.

As an addition to food, many cat herbs are particularly tasty and are gladly accepted by the four-legged friends. Even for minor ailments, medicinal herbs for cats can bring relief and are therefore a popular home remedy.

Not to forget, however, the play behavior of the animals: a garden full of herbs offers them an incentive to explore and romp and also stimulates the noses of the curious animals with its variety of smells. But which herbs do cats like and what can they be used for? Below you will get the answer.

Herbs for cats: Which ones do they tolerate and which ones don’t?

Cats can also benefit from herbs and their healing properties. However, recommendations for humans should not be transferred to cats lightly – in fact, cats have significantly different metabolism and digestive system, so many substances that are healing for us have no effect or even a toxic effect on them.

For example, cats cannot tolerate salicylic acid, as found in meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). But plants containing bitter substances, such as wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), are also unsuitable for cats.cats-in-the-garden

Even essential oils, which are quite positive for us humans, can cause toxic reactions in cats if they are given in too high a dosage or over a long period of time.

For this reason, not only pure essential oils but also plants with a high content of them – for example, anise (Pimpinella anisum) or fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) – should be kept out of reach of cats.

If you want to help your pet with herbs, be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian to determine the proper dosage.
Care should also be taken when watering: While carnivores like their substrate to be kept well moist at all times, they are very sensitive to lime in the water. Therefore, if you want to properly care for your carnivorous plants, it’s best to use low-lime rainwater.

Grow cat herbs yourself or buy them?

Cat herbs are best when grown in your own garden. Growing them in your own green space not only allows cats to explore and play with the herbs with all their senses, but you can be sure that no chemicals that may be harmful to their health were used in the growing process.

Chemical pest control and mineral fertilizers should also be avoided if the herbs are intended for the cat. Alternatively, a fertilizer with organic long-term effects can be used. This is also absolutely safe for cats.

Planting medicinal herbs for cats in the garden

If you want to do something good for your cat, you can definitely support it with cat herbs. For minor ailments or as an accompanying measure, the plants – in consultation with the veterinarian – can definitely be a useful addition to the cat’s diet, which also still positively affects health. Especially the following herbs are very popular:

Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum)

Is often sold in many stores as special cat grass. Especially for pure domestic cats, the medicinal plant is popular, because they have no other way to ingest grass. In fact, cat herbs help quadrupeds regulate their digestion and are particularly important in regurgitating hairballs.man keeps container with weatgrass

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

While some cats find the smell appealing and even willingly nibble on the plant, others flee from the aroma. However, thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties, this medicinal herb is still a good addition for cats, especially supporting the gastrointestinal system.lemongrass

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Is extremely popular with many cats because of its smell. Especially cat owners are fond of the plant, however – a decoction of rosemary should help externally sprayed against the annoying cat fleas. But even if the cat nibbles on rosemary, this is not bad: The plant is not only safe for cats, it is even attributed an anti-inflammatory effect in the four-legged friends.cat rosemary

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

Is one of the medicinal plants not only for humans but also for cats? Offered as a tea or dried mixed in, chamomile can help with gastrointestinal problems and is a frequently used household remedy, especially for diarrhea.

Chamomile can also have a soothing effect on inflamed areas in the mouth. For smaller wounds, chamomile tea can also be used for cleaning, as it has an antiseptic and soothing effect. But be careful: chamomile should not be used on deep wounds or in the eye area.chamomile flowers

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Is one of the best-known herbs for cats. On many cats, the plant has an intoxicating effect, so that the cats change their behavior significantly. The scent of catnip often has a stimulating effect and toys with catnip are often lively played with.

If, on the other hand, dried catnip is fed, it can have an appetizing or slightly sedating effect, which is why it may be especially helpful in stressful situations. However, since every cat reacts differently to catnip, oral administration, in particular, should always be discussed with a veterinarian.catnip

Scented plants for cats

For cats, herbs are often particularly interesting because of their intense smell and can even have a calming or stimulating effect on them. Which herbs cats particularly like, we reveal here:

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Is known in humans especially for its calming effect. With cats, however, it is exactly the opposite – tired animals become lively by the smell of the herb and seem almost intoxicated by it.

Toys filled with valerian or scented with valerian are especially popular to get animals used to disagreeable places such as the transport basket. Feeding valerian, on the other hand, is not recommended: While the plant is considered nontoxic in small amounts, it can cause vomiting if ingested in larger amounts.

Some cats also react aggressively to the smell of valerian.

black cat and valerian plant in the pot

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Divides the cat world: while some cats avoid the herb altogether, other cats are taken with the strong-smelling plant. When cats like the smell of lavender, the plant often has a calming and relaxing effect on them.

Additionally, lavender is considered non-toxic, so even light nibbling of the plant usually poses no danger.

cat in the lavandele

Cat thyme (Teucrium marum)

Similar to catnip, also belongs to the herbs for cats that have an intoxicating effect. In fact, the plant is almost more popular than catnip even among cats.

Toys with cat chamomile are especially popular, but the plant also magically attracts cats and puts them in a euphoric state.cat thyme pink flower

Matatabi (Actinidia polygama)

Matatabi (Actinidia polygama)Also called Japanese ray pencil. In Asia, on the other hand, the plant is a must for every cat lover – the herb has an intoxicating effect on cats, reminiscent of catnip.

In fact, the effect of matatabi is considered to be even stronger than that of catnip, so that even cats are attracted to the plant, which otherwise can not be animated by scented plants.

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One Comment

  1. Essential oil of Lavender is HIGHLY toxic to cats, I know of at least two cats who were seriously damaged by it, one died and the other suffered neurological damage for the rest of its life, because the owner was innocently using essential oil of lavender in a mist diffuser in the same room the cats were in, not realizing she was slowly poisoning them.
    Since cats have such high toxicity to Lavender I would be leery of having cats around it for this reason, even in its whole plant form.
    Thank you for this blog !

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