Sometimes in life, there are things that both you and your cat can enjoy. For those cat owners with a green thumb, there are a number of plants and herbs that you can grow that not only you can enjoy, but kitty too! All of these plants/herbs can be grown indoors or out, so if you happen to live in the city and don’t have the additional outdoor space you can still find ways to make your kitty garden grow. Here’s a list of 9 plants and herbs both you and your cat can enjoy:
1. Wheat Grass Apparently, wheat grass isn’t just a superfood that health nuts use for juicing. Also known as cat grass, this grass can offer nutritional benefits to your cat if they eat it–rather than just play with it. Although it’s not actually needed in your cat’s diet for them to stay healthy, if consumed it provides a great source of fiber to aid in digestion. It can also help to remove any hard to digest substances that have been consumed, like those pesky fur balls from all that grooming. This one totally debunks the theory that cats just eat grass to cure their indigestion issues!
Source: @Christopher Paquette via Flickr
2. Lemongrass The plant that is appropriately named, has a fragrant citrus aroma that draws both humans and cats to it. It’s important to remember to treat this one as a “treat”, and only let your cat enjoy it in moderation. The plants natural insect repellant abilities are great to guard against pesky mosquitos, too.
Source: @Feliciano Guimaraes
3. Catnip This one is obviously a given. Although it doesn’t have much of an effect on kittens, older cats can go simply crazy for this stuff. In the mint family, this feline-friendly named plant works with your cat’s pheromones to make them go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs when they get a good whiff of the stuff. But if a cat is to consume it, rather than simply smell, it will lead to the similar tranquil effect that it gives us humans–making it a great additive for a relaxing tea.
4. Mint Offered in a wide variety, including the vastly popular spearmint and peppermint, this is another mint family plant that cats can take a liking to. With a large selection of mint plants, there is something to please everyone–especially with the number of ways that you can use the plant.
5. Parsley This common garnish can be enjoyed by both you and kitty in a number of ways. Parsley can provide a source of potassium and beta carotene, along with vitamins A, B and C for you and also your cat.
6. Thyme This one may be more for cats, as there is a specific variety available for growing known as “cat thyme”. While cats may be naturally drawn to cat thyme, it has been reported that some humans notice a strong, unpleasant odor associated with the plant. This plant may be better suited for outdoors for those who find the plants cat-luring scent unappealing.
7. Rosemary Rosemary tastes great to us humans, especially in food dishes like new potatoes or roasted chicken, and the pleasant smell to both human and kitty even works as a natural flea repellant. Who knew this one served so many purposes, even providing a fresh pine-like fragrance for your home.
Source: @PROUDLY VEGAN via Flickr
8. Spider Plants Cats are certainly attracted to this one, but not only because of the inviting scent. This decorative cat aphrodisiac plant works like catnip, and the dangling leaves draw those cats in like a charm every time. If you have one of these in your home you may notice your cat gravitating to it like they would a mouse–simply unable to resist the temptation!
