Cat safe plants

[omnipotentsushi]

I'm planning on starting an indoor window garden soon and was wondering if any one knows (or knows a helpful website) what plants are safe/not safe to grow around cats? I plan on growing mostly herbs, but may try some veggies. One of my kitties will probably take it upon herself to become a taste tester, so any help is appreciated.

Comments

[subluxate]

All the animals I have leave the nightshade family alone, but if she's going to be a taster, you'll want to either test this (see if she's interested in tomato leaves) or avoid tomatoes altogether.

Here's the ASPCA list of toxic plants. And here's the Animal Planet list.

[omnipotentsushi]

Thanks! I will check those links out.

[wicked_sairah]

can't help with herbs or veggies, but long ago I was told Snake Plants aka Mother In Law's Tongue are OK for cats. So I've had those for years with no problems.

What I suggest is getting some bitter apple spray from the pet store and spray your plants once a day (when you water?) Kitties don't like the taste of it, and it should wash off of herbs and such. You could also try spraying lemon juice on the plants.

[swallow_soma]

Uh, you might want to google that. I desperately want one of those for air purifying qualities but every single search I've done, they're toxic to cats and dogs.

[wicked_sairah]

weird.. I see what you're talking about, I did a search as well. But the pamphlet I got from our ER vet said it was fine, though it can cause some mild tummy upset in some cats. I would guess if they are toxic, they can't be very toxic, since we've had no issues here.

I still strongly suggest the bitter apple spray on any plants.

[omnipotentsushi]

Oh, the spray is a great idea, thank you!

[scarybaldguy]

Spider plants are fine, they're good air filtererers and they don't mind if kitteh nibbles on them.

(also, yay tortietude!)

[omnipotentsushi]

Thanks! She is definitely full of the 'tude ;)

[small_chicken]

Most herbs are safe for cats to nosh on. When we had basil and parsely, the cats often got a bigger piece of it than we did :-) They ignored the rosemary and the sage, while they thought the lavender plant was a great sofa (it made Shadow smell really nice). They also didn't bother too much with the melissa, but then again that plant was only alive for a little while before it died on me :-(

As for tomatoes and zucchini plants--our cats have always ignored them. Tomatoes are stinky--but if you have a balcony it's probably a good idea to supervise the interactions at first.

[omnipotentsushi]

Thanks! We have rabbits who get veggies like parsley every night and the cat in the picture wants so hard to eat their food too, but always forgets she doesn't like vegetables. So she will most likely try out whatever I grow too :P