Gardening is a wonderful hobby. It not only gets you outside for
some fresh air and exercise, it also offers a sense of
accomplishment once your hard work pays off and plants and flowers
start to bloom.Many cats are fond of
gardens too, and enjoy snacking on grasses and other
vegetation. However, not all plants are
safe for cats to consume, and if your cat munches on the wrong
ones, it could land them at the emergency clinic, or worse.If
you're looking for a safe way to satisfy your kitty?s desire to
forage, consider planting a cat garden. Here are five plants your
cat will love.
1. Cat Grass
Cat
grass is a fast-growing, easy-to-care-for option for cats who
love to graze and cat parents who don?t want to worry about a
high-maintenance plant. Cat grass is made up of cereal grasses such
as wheat, oats, rye, and barley. While cat grass isn?t loaded with
health benefits, it does add?roughage to your cat?s diet, which can
aid in digestion and loosen hairballs.
Cat grass seeds are available at most pet
stores
2. Catnip
No cat?s garden would be complete without catnip. This minty
herb contains a mild hallucinogen and is famous for throwing cats
into euphoric frenzies; they love to rub against it, roll on top of
it, and even chew its leaves. Catnip is
very easy to grow and maintain, and it even grows like a weed in
some places, spreading quickly over large areas. If you plan to
plant catnip outside, just keep in mind that neighborhood cats
might not be able to resist! For this reason, many people grow
catnip indoors or in a hanging basket.
RELATED STORY: 5 Ways to Entertain
Your Cat With Catnip
3. Valerian
Valerian is an herb that most people associate with relaxation and
a good night's sleep. For cats, however, valerian does the opposite
-- it acts as a stimulant. This makes valerian an excellent choice
for chunky kitties who could stand to
lose a few pounds, but need a little
boost of energy to get them up and active. In addition, valerian is a great alternative for cats who
don?t respond to catnip.
RELATED STORY:
Maintaining a Healthy Cat Weight
4. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a popular herb in Asian cuisine, and while they
won?t be using it in soups or sauces, cats go crazy for it.
Lemongrass has a sweet-yet-grassy aroma, and like catnip, it is
soothing to Mr. Whiskers. The stalks of the herb make a hearty
treat; just avoid giving your cat lemongrass essential oil, which
can be toxic.
5. Cat Thyme
Despite what the name suggests, cat thyme is not related to herb
commonly used in Italian cooking. Instead, cat thyme is a
perennially growing plant with lovely pink-hued flowers. It has a
minty, musty, pungent smell that cats adore, but humans may be less
fond of. If you can get past the odor, however, your cat will be
happy to soak up the plant?s soothing effects (which are similar to
those produced by catnip).
