Everybody knows that there are several benefits for those who eat certain herbs. They taste great and are often loaded with lots of vitamins. Herbs can help reduce the risk of cancer, treat a cold and a cough, help maintain flawless skin, help fight against infections, maintain healthy bones, the list goes on. Herbs are not just good for humans. Cat owners might be surprised that certain herbs are also great for their little feline friends.
If you have a garden or even a small balcony at home, most herbs are simple to grow even if you don’t have a green thumb. You can grow them for both your pet cat and yourself. Not only will your cat enjoy these delicious herbs, but they also have lots of health benefits.
Below is a list of 10 herbs that are safe for cats. Understand that not all herbs are safe for cats, so before you regularly feed your cat herbs, please speak with a professional veterinarian for further information.
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- Catnip
Probably the most well-known herb that most cats adore is catnip. This herb is part of the mint family, and cat owners all around the world like to feed it to their pets. Here are a few of the benefits you should expect if you feed your cat catnip.
- Relieves stress
- Relieves nervousness
- Can help reduce scratching
- Soothes a cat’s skin
Not all cats react to catnip well as the herb contains essential oils known as nepetalactone that might send some cats to act a little bit crazy. Plus, if you overfeed your cat too much catnip they might suffer from diarrhea or vomiting.
- Cat Thyme
Your cat should experience similar soothing effects from cat thyme as they would from catnip. The main issue with cat thyme is that it can give off a disgusting odor which most people find difficult to stand. If you can handle the bad odor the herb gives off, and you have the patience to grow it as it does take a lot longer than most other herbs, it will prove very beneficial for your kitty. If your cat has issues with catnip, there is a strong possibility they won’t react well to cat thyme either.
- Valerian
Humans and cats react to valerian very differently. When we take valerian it helps us to relax and sleep better. However, when we feed this to our pet cats, it works as a stimulant. If your cat tends to lay around the house doing nothing most of the time, this herb will help get them to get moving. Most cats adore the taste of the herb.
- Goldenseal
Goldenseal is a great herb that you can use as a natural disinfectant to treat your feline friends’ wounds. Others also use it to help reduce eyes that are swollen on your cat if they have allergies or other types of infections. Talk to your veterinarian before using goldenseal to treat wounds and infected eyes on your cat.
Here are a few other benefits for cats that ingest goldenseal:
- Helps treat cancer
- Helps treat Diarrhea
- Reduces Gas
- Treat Ulcers
- Helps lower the blood pressure of a cat and can help them maintain a regular heartbeat
Goldenseal is not to be fed to kittens. If a kitten ingests goldenseal it can cause brain damage.
- Licorice Root
When you were a child you probably remember licorice candy. Whatever you do, don’t feed this to your cat as the candy consists of lots of harmful ingredients such as sugar, salt, malic acid, and artificial flavoring.
However, most kitties love to eat this herb and it has lots of healthy benefits especially if your cat is suffering from arthritis. Here are some of the benefits you should expect if you feed your cat licorice roots:
- Helps soothe cats suffering from itchy skin
- Helps with their digestive system
- Helps cats fight against colds
The root also has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Dandelion Root
Not only will a dandelion look pretty in your garden or on your balcony, but it helps liver detoxification. It also helps maintain your cat’s urinary tract. If your cat is suffering from constipation it is a great natural remedy that many cat owners use.
Don’t throw away the dandelion leaves either as your cat can also eat them too!
- Eyebright
Don’t be worried if you have never heard of eyebright as this is probably the most uncommon herbs mentioned on our list. This herbaceous plant can help with upper respiratory issues that some cats suffer from. Here is a list of some of the benefits when feeding your cat eyebright:
- Helps cats with breathing problems
- Helps cats suffering from nasal problems
- Stops cats from constantly sneezing
- Helps cats to stop itching their eyes
- Supports a cat’s immune system
Most cat owners make eyebright into herbal tea for their cats to drink. Others use it to clean a cat’s eyes or nose.
- Echinacea
This herb is often found growing in the summertime in North America. It is fairly common for our feline friends to suffer from upper respiratory infections at times, and Echinacea can be used to treat these infections. Cats can become immune to this herb, so speak with your veterinarian to help you understand the proper dosage. The veterinarian will take your cat’s weight and age into consideration before giving you advice on dosage.
- Calendula
Calendula is a herb that many pet owners use to treat their cats who are suffering from itchy skin. If the correct amount of calendula is given to your cat here are a few of the benefits you should expect:
- Treats minor bruising
- Offers relief if your cat has been bitten by an insect
- Help keep wounds clean
- Helps soothe itchy skin
Make sure that you contact your veterinarian before using Calendula as it is known to have severe side effects.
- Parsley
Parsley is great for both humans and cats. Parsley helps fight against infection and also has anti-fungal properties similar to the dandelion root.
You should feed your cat parsley because it has high levels of:
- Folic acid
- Antioxidants
- Calcium
- Potassium Minerals
- Iron
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B Complex
Don’t feed your cat too much parsley as it can lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
Summary
Not all herbs are good for cats. Garlic, chives, marijuana, St. John’s wort, and others can all have a devastating effect on your cat if ingested. Always speak to a professional for advice before feeding your cat any of the herbs listed above. For more on plants that are not cat-friendly, please visit Toxic and Cat Friendly Plants 2020.
Looking for dried herbs for your kitties? Look no further:
If you’d like to grow your own herbs for cats, Botanical Interests carries an array of herb seeds:
Start your Herb Garden with Botanical Interest Seeds
