50 Cat Safe Plants For Your Garden

50 Cat Safe Plants For Your Garden

Guest post by Laura M. Sands

Growing cat-safe plants in your garden is a wonderful goal for pet owners and non-pet owners, alike. Avoiding toxic plants helps to ensure the safety of your own pets as well as neighborhood cats who may occasionally roam your yard. According to the ASPCA, plants like Aloe and Branching Ivy are particularly harmful to cats, but with so many plants that are safe for a cat to enjoy you’ll hardly miss any that should be avoided.

Some of the most beautiful and cat-safe plants for your garden include:

1.      American Rubber Plant

2.      Bamboo

3.      Basil

4.      Brazilian Orchid

5.      Cat Ear

6.      Cocktail Orchid

7.      Coriander

8.      Cornflower

9.      Dwarf Date Palm

10.  Dwarf Feather Palm

11.  Dwarf Royal Palm

12.  Easter Orchid

13.  Fire Weed

14.  Flame African Violet

15.  Freckle Face

16.  Garden Snapdragon

17.  Golden Bells

18.  Hawthorn

19.  Hens and Chickens

20.  Irish Moss

21.  Jacob’s Ladder

22.  Jasmine

23.  Kenya Violet

24.  Lady Palm

25.  Leopard Lily

26.  Magnolia Bush

27.  Mosaic Vase

28.  Mulberry Tree

29.  Natal Plum

30.  Orange Star

31.  Pampas Grass

32.  Patient Lucy

33.  Petunia

34.  Queencup

35.  Queensland Arrowroot

36.  Red Palm Lily

37.  Rose

38.  Sand Lily

39.  Sunflower

40.  Texas Sage

41.  Tropical Moss

42.  Urbinia Adavoides

43.  Velvet Plant

44.  Verona Fern

45.  Walking Anthericum

46.  Wax Rosette

47.  Wild Strawberry

48.  Yellow Palm

49.  Zinnia

50.  Zucchini Squash

Plants Beloved By Cats

In addition to the 50 cat-safe plants mentioned above, another very obvious choice is Nepeta cataria-- or as it is more commonly known-- catnip. Some gardening aficionados have been known to plant catnip in close proximity to vegetable gardens since it may attract felines to the area, which may help control rodents and other pests. Not all cats embrace Nepeta cataria, but some love it so much, that you may find yourself looking for ways to keep them from chewing too much of it or rolling around in the plant and crushing its leaves.

While some cats are not fans of catnip, others love a similar but more ornamental plant known as catmint. With its delightful fragrance and violet flowers, some cats just can’t get enough of this one. Whether you choose catnip, catmint or decide to plant a little of both, be prepared for your cat to not only be wildly attracted to the plants, but they may even exhibit signs of euphoria or enter into a deeply relaxed state after frolicking in or chewing either plant.

Other plants loved by cats include parsley and bean sprouts. Grasses, especially oat grass, are particularly good for helping cats manage hairballs. Extending your focus beyond cat safe plants, you may want to deliberately plant a few of these favorites as a way of keeping your feline friend healthy and happy.

Plants like these are also a great way to keep cats occupied while you are free to do other things like relax outdoors or work in other areas of your garden. Avoid leaving your cat unattended for long periods of time, though. And if you have a cat sitter, be sure to instruct her to keep an eye on your furball so that your little one doesn’t overindulge on garden treats while you are away.

Do it For the Cats!

Before planting anything in your garden, spend a little time researching whether or not it will be hazardous to your pet. Using seeds to start new plants is the most advisable method to ensure that cats are not exposed to harmful chemicals. If your pet suffers from diabetes, feline obesity or other health problems, consult with your veterinarian before allowing your cat to graze on catnip or other edible plants. Above all else, enjoy creating a beautiful landscape that you will not only love, but that your cats will thank you for.

More Pet Care Advice

Did you enjoy these tips on cat safe plants for your garden? For more advice on how to make your cat happy, visit Fetch! Pet Care’s website and blog. There, you will discover timely information on how to enhance the quality of your pet’s life and find answers for some of your most pressing pet care questions. With locations all over the United States, Fetch! Pet Care also offers the most reliable pet sitting, dog walking and pet boarding. From afternoon visits with your cat or dog to overnight stays in your home while you’re away, Fetch! Pet Care is fur-ever at your service.

Guest post by Laura M. Sands; blogger, copywriter and proud member of the Fetch! Pet Care team. As a national service provider, Fetch! offers a variety of pet care services from dog walking to overnight pet sitting. You may find other pet-related posts by Laura and learn more about Fetch! by visiting their most awesome blog.