Plant a Garden for Your Cat

Why share when you can plant your cat her own lush paradise. We know, it seems kind of silly to harvest plants just for your cat, but you and your garden will thank us.

The first order of business is to decide if you want to plant a separate area in the garden for your kitty or mix cat-loving plants in with your others. If you decide to mix them among your garden, plant them in the back or less prominent places since your kitty will be rolling on, eating, chewing, and laying on them. You don’t want wilted, tramples, and nibbled plants to be the first thing people see.

Now what to plant? Start off with catnip, obviously. Most cats go crazy for the stuff and it’s actually a gorgeous plant. Tiny green leaves appear first then talk stalks of cone-shaped little white or light purple flowers. Plus, it can benefit you – people use it in tea and it is supposed to aid in respiratory infections.

Catmint is also a must. This hearty bush-like plant has silvery green leaves with stunning purple flowers. These look great as a border for gardens and can withstand poking from your cat more so than catnip. Most likely your cat will be glued to this over-flowing plant.

Cats also love grass of any kind. A popular one is cat grass which is high in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Bonus: It can aid in digestion and reduce hairballs. The grass you see in pet stores is often wheat grass and is super easy to grow – the bright green color is also a great addition to your garden.

Some other plants that are safe for cats are herbs like bee balm, lavender, thyme and flowers like orchids, snapdragons, cockscomb, and many more. Consult a vet or do research before planting your flower bed.

If you want, make a little home for your cat amongst the plants with an enclosed cathouse. Place the litter box behind it so it’s out of site but still accessible. Having a kitty litter in the garden will prevent her from peeing on your plants which will in turn kill them. Make sure she also has food and water out there if she is spending a large amount of time in the garden.

There are some plants you want to avoid in your garden all together. Lilies of any kind, azalea, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, paprika plants, ivy, chrysanthemums, figs, mistletoe, daffodils and bulb plants, like onions and rhododendrons can all be poisonous to your kitty.

Also, make sure you don’t use any chemical pesticides or soil in your garden. Since your cat will be eating and frolicking in her garden, you don’t want her ingesting or being exposed to toxic chemicals. Instead, use organic, pet safe mulch and insect killer. A great brand is EcoSmart which uses herbs like rosemary, peppermint, thyme, and clove to repel pests but be careful as even these essential oils can be harmful to your cat