- Herbs for cats: which ones do they tolerate and which ones they don't?
- Grow your own cat herbs or buy them?
- Planting medicinal herbs for cats in the garden
- Scented plants for cats
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Herbs can be a tasty and even healing addition to cat food - you can find out here which herbs are suitable for cats and what you need to be aware of.
People have used the healing power of herbs for thousands of years. But not only we are happy about the aromatic and healing plants - cats can also benefit from herbs. As an addition to the food, many cat herbs are particularly tasty and are readily accepted by the four-legged friends. Even with minor ailments, medicinal herbs for cats can bring relief and are therefore a popular home remedy. The play behavior of the animals should also not be forgotten: a garden full of herbs offers them an incentive to explore and romp around and also stimulates the noses of the curious animals with its multitude of smells. But which herbs do cats like and what can they be used for? Below is the answer.
Herbs for cats: which ones do they tolerate and which ones they don't?
Even cats can benefit from herbs and their healing properties. However, recommendations for humans should not be applied to cats lightly - in fact, cats have a significantly different metabolism and digestive system, so many substances that are beneficial for us have no or even a toxic effect on them. For example, cats cannot tolerate the salicylic acid found in meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). However, plants containing bitter substances such as wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) are also unsuitable for cats.
Even essential oils, which we humans have positive associations with, can cause toxic reactions in cats if they are given in too high a dose or over a longer period of time. For this reason, not only pure essential oils, but also plants with a high content of these - for example anise (Pimpinella anisum) or fennel (Foeniculum vulgare ) - kept out of the reach of cats. If youIf you are interested in helping your pet with herbs, be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian to determine the correct dosage.
Expert tip: Feeding dry herbs in the actual feed has proven successful - these have a lower content of essential oils. However, herbal tinctures and drops are not recommended, as cats cannot tolerate the alcohol used as a solvent.
Grow your own cat herbs or buy them?
Kitten herbs are best when grown in your own garden. By growing in your own green, cats can not only discover the herbs with all their senses and play with them, but you can be sure that no chemical agents that may be harmful to he alth were used during cultivation. Instead, you should rely on ecological alternatives: For example, the Plantura organic herb and seed soil consists exclusively of natural raw materials and is therefore absolutely harmless for cats and other animals.
Chemical pest control and mineral fertilizers should also be avoided if the herbs are intended for the cat. Alternatively, a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - such as our Plantura universal fertilizer - can be used. This is also absolutely harmless for cats and is therefore ideally suited for a herb garden for cats.
Planting medicinal herbs for cats in the garden
If you want to do something good for your cat, you can support it with cat herbs. In the case of minor complaints or as an accompanying measure, the plants can - in consultation with the veterinarian - definitely be a sensible addition to the cat's diet, which also has a positive effect on he alth. The following herbs in particular are very popular:
1. Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) is often offered in many shops as a special cat grass for house tigers and is very popular with cats. The medicinal plant is particularly popular with purely domestic cats, as they have no other way of eating grass. The cat herbs help the four-legged friends to regulate their digestion and are particularly important when spitting out the hairballs.
2. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is actually not suitable for every cat - while some cats find the smell appealing and will even nibble at the plant voluntarily, others flee from the aroma. Thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal effect, the medicinal herb is still a good supplement for catsparticularly supports the gastrointestinal system.
3. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is very popular with many cats because of its smell. However, cat owners are particularly fond of the plant - a decoction of rosemary sprayed on the outside is said to help against annoying cat fleas. But even if the cat nibbles on the rosemary, it doesn't matter: the plant is not only harmless to cats, it is even said to have an anti-inflammatory effect on our four-legged friends.
4. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a medicinal plant not only for humans, but also for cats. Offered as a tea or mixed in dried, chamomile can help with gastrointestinal problems and is a frequently used home 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 around the eyes.
5. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is one of the most popular herbs for cats. The plant has an intoxicating effect on many cats, causing the cats to change their behavior significantly. The smell of catnip is often stimulating and toys containing catnip are often played with lively. On the other hand, if you feed dried catnip, it can have an appetizing or slightly sedative effect, which is why it may be particularly helpful in stressful situations. However, since every cat reacts differently to cat weed, oral administration in particular should always be discussed with a veterinarian.
If you want to know more about the effects of catnip and how to use it, please visit our article on it.
Scented plants for cats
Herbs are often particularly interesting for cats because of their intense smell and can even have a calming or stimulating effect on them. We reveal here which herbs cats particularly like:
1. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is known in humans for its sedative effects. With cats, however, it is exactly the opposite - tired animals are perked up by the smell of the herb and almost seem to get intoxicated. Toys with valerian fillings or the scent of valerian are particularly popular to get animals to uncomfortable placeshow to get used to the transport basket. The feeding of valerian, on the other hand, is not recommended: although the plant is considered non-toxic in small quantities, it can lead to vomiting if consumed in large quantities. Some cats are also aggressive to the smell of valerian.
2. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) divides the cat world: While some cats avoid the herb altogether, other cats are drawn to the strongly scented plant. When cats like the smell of lavender, the plant often has a calming and relaxing effect on them. In addition, lavender is considered non-toxic, so even lightly nibbling on the plant usually does not pose a risk.
3. Cat gamander (Teucrium marum), like catnip, is one of the herbs for cats that have an intoxicating effect. In fact, the plant is almost more popular than catnip even with cats. Toys with cat gamander are particularly popular, but the plant also magically attracts cats and puts them in a euphoric state.
4. Matatabi (Actinidia polygama), also known as Japanese ray pen, is largely unknown in Germany. In Asia, however, the plant is a must for every cat lover - the herb has an intoxicating effect on cats that is reminiscent of catnip. In fact, the effect of matatabi is even stronger than that of catnip, so cats that are otherwise not animated by scented plants are also attracted to the plant.
Would you like to try your hand at herb growing? In our Plantura herb growing set you will find everything you need for growing herbs - growing pots, substrate, seeds, plant labels and a mini greenhouse.