Cat-friendly Plants

Cats love green grass and plants! However, there are a lot of plants, bushes, and even some grass that are not good for your cat. Some plants and bushes have poison chemicals in the plant, which will make your cat very ill or even die.

Benefits of Growing Cat-friendly Grass and Plants

Why does a cat like to eat green grass or plants? Cats do this to help with digestion and to assist with releasing hairballs from their system. Grass or plants serve as a self-medicating means for your cat.

Wheat, oat grass, catnip, or heather are just some of the plants you can grow as either an indoor or outdoor garden for your kitty. When growing cat-friendly grass in your house, it’s a great idea to find a long potting box to enable your cat to crawl up into the grass and lay in it. When growing cat-friendly grass and plants, it may save some of your other plants from being gnawed on and from dirt being spread around by your cat.

Catnip Pleasures

Growing catnip either in your house or outside will give your cat the pleasure he is looking for. Catnip is from the mint family and cats not only love the smell of it, but also love to nibble on it. When growing catnip you will want to pinch off the tops of the blades of grass from the catnip once it is high enough, as this will help the plant to bush out and grow. While the plant is growing indoors, you will want to limit the time your cat has access to it, since too much catnip will make your kitty immune from it.

House Plants and Cats

Purchasing plants for the house should be a careful purchase. It’s nice to decorate your home with fresh plants and flowers, however, it needs to be a comfortable and safe environment for both you and your cat. Contact the local florist or greenery to find out more about plants you’re considering purchasing for your house. You can also search the web for more information on a plant that you may already have or one you’re looking to purchase. This way, you’ll know if the plant is safe for your cat to be around.

Dangerous Plants for Cats

Lilly plants are probably the most dangerous plant for your cat to have access to. A list of other common poisonous plants for cats are: Poinsettia, some types of ivy, rhubarb, aloe vera, amaryllis, babies breath, black-eyed susan, bleeding hearts, some cactus, Christmas rose, cornflower, chrysanthemum, daffodils, elderberry, ferns, holly, honeysuckle, jessamine, marigold, mistletoe, morning glory, mushrooms, Virginia creepers, tulips, tobacco, and tomato plants. Before planting any of these plants, you should be sure to plant them in an area your cat will not have access to.

Safe Plants for Cats

On the flip side, the following are some common plants that are safe for cats to be around: African violet, American rubber plant, baby rubber tree plant, bachelors buttons, bamboo, begonia species, blue daisy, boston fern, buttercup squash, camellia, cape primrose, Carolina hemlock, cat ear, chaparral snapdragon, Christmas palm, Christmas orchid, common snapdragon, common catbrier, Dallas fern, dwarf feather fern, dwarf palm, Easter daisy, Easter cattleya, Easter orchid, Easter lily cactus, feather fern, and strawberry,

Methods to Keep Cats Away from Plants

There are several ways to keep cats away from plants you don’t want them to be around, and several items you can purchase to assist with keeping your cats from the plants or your garden. One such item is plant/garden sprays which give off scents that are unappealing to a cat. If your cat decides to lick the area that’s been sprayed, it will not like the taste either!

Patience is Key

When you’re trying to train your kitty around plants you must be patient. Cats aren’t trying to purposely ruin your plants, they are probably just trying to find something to make them feel better. If your cat does accidentally ingest a plant that makes them sick, you should contact your vet immediately. You will probably be advised to bring your cat in for an exam and your vet will want details on what your cat has ingested.

By growing your kitty some cat-friendly grass, you’re doing yourself AND your cat a favor!

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