Plant my cat can nibble on?

[earthmama1]

My little love bug is always into my plants! I am wondering if I can get him a safe non toxic and low maitenence plant that he can eat? Does anyone out their have a plant specifically for their kitty?

 

[Trellum]

Hello there! There actually are several choices out there Maybe your kitty would like to try the Blue Echeveria. The hens and chickens plant is also not toxic for both cats and dogs, those two are fairly easy to take care of and I'm 100% sure they are not toxic at all.

 

[gata montes]

There are two plants that are grown specifically for cats - Cat Grass and Cat Nip but if you were to ask a cat which one it would prefer you to grow - it would most definitely always say Cat Nip

Neptia or Cat Nip belongs to the mint family and is very easily grown from seed - which is a good thing as all cats love it - in fact so much so - that you will have trouble stopping them from munching on it - as its like party time for cats - during which time there reaction is something like this

but should you run out - you could get a reaction like this

 

[Meowmie]

I grow cat nip (called cat mint if you are buying it as a medicinal herb) and used to grow cat grass for my cats but have found, through growing cat grass for juicing for myself, that wheat grass is very hard to digest even for the furry humans.

Cat grass is sold as a mixture of wheat and oat seeds. I have since switched to just oat seeds for the cats.

I love those pictures

 

[kate23]

Yes, as others have said grass (particularly oat grass as it's easy to grow and very tender so cats love it) and cat nip.

But remember that cats are obligate carnivores so you don't want them to do any more than nibble. They weren't designed to digest organic matter, except maybe whatever they find in prey's stomachs. Although, some cats will avoid eating the stomach contents

 

[Meowmie]

Which is why commercial cat food makes no sense to me. It's not the diet they are supposed to eat, but one of my cats refuses to even taste anything that isn't dry cat food.

My cats don't do more than nibble on the grasses, and the one that won't eat anything but dry cat food just sticks her face in the catnip then roll around on the floor hugging the pot. I think She's having a love affair with it.

I did have a cat who would eat a whole container of cat grass at once if I let her so I didn't have it where they could eat it all the time. I couldn't even have flowers in the house, she'd eat them, and she even ate the plastic plants I got instead, so I got rid of them.

Unfortunately she is no longer with us, I miss her a lot but do like that I can leave the cat grass and catnip out and have flowers in the house.

Cats do need some grasses and in the wild will eat grass, but vegies shouldn't be the bulk of their diet. They need protein. But most of them love catnip.

 

[Capricorn's Quandary]

Hello there! There actually are several choices out there Maybe your kitty would like to try the Blue Echeveria. The hens and chickens plant is also not toxic for both cats and dogs, those two are fairly easy to take care of and I'm 100% sure they are not toxic at all.

Oh, wow. I never knew about growing hens and chickens as a plant for cats. Considering that cat grass is so ephemeral, I'll have to keep this in mind. I'm sure Madame will like these.

Two other plants that are safe for cats to chew are spider plants and wandering Jews. I've accidentally kept both my spider plant and wandering Jew in Madame's reach, and the little sneak had decided that these were her personal salad bar. Perhaps I'll pot and grow some of the spider plant babies just for Madame's snacking pleasure.

Also, be extra certain not to have anything from the lily family (Liliaceae) in your cats' reach. These plants are toxic--stems, leaves, bulbs, and flowers--to cats.

 

[Trellum]

Gld I could be of help! By the way, if you want more info on what plants are toxic both to cats and dogs, then check this web site: http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/poisonous_plants.html

 

[Rosyrain]

My cat does the same thing to the point where I can't have any indoor plants. I posted a thread on here about that very topic and I was told to spray pepper spray on the plants or get some grass for her to chew on. I wil let you know how well this works.

 

[rubydust]

This thread has been very informative. I have two cats who will now be indoor-only pets, since our new house is close to a very busy road. I know that they love to nibble away on grass and various other greenery in the great outdoors. It's really helpful to see some good advice on indoor plants especially for them! I will definitely be growing some oat grass and some catnip after reading this.

Gld I could be of help! By the way, if you want more info on what plants are toxic both to cats and dogs, then check this web site: http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/poisonous_plants.html

Thank you for posting that link Trellum. I will make sure to consult it when I am choosing any new house plants.

 

[Trellum]

This thread has been very informative. I have two cats who will now be indoor-only pets, since our new house is close to a very busy road. I know that they love to nibble away on grass and various other greenery in the great outdoors. It's really helpful to see some good advice on indoor plants especially for them! I will definitely be growing some oat grass and some catnip after reading this.



Thank you for posting that link Trellum. I will make sure to consult it when I am choosing any new house plants.

Glad you found all this helpful After this is what we are here for But it's always nice when we are told someone did find our info useful

 

[Danyel72]

There are two plants that are grown specifically for cats - Cat Grass and Cat Nip but if you were to ask a cat which one it would prefer you to grow - it would most definitely always say Cat Nip

Neptia or Cat Nip belongs to the mint family and is very easily grown from seed - which is a good thing as all cats love it - in fact so much so - that you will have trouble stopping them from munching on it - as its like party time for cats - during which time there reaction is something like this

View attachment 2283

but should you run out - you could get a reaction like this

View attachment 2284

I am so glad you posted this. We have had cats for years and honestly I never quite new what to do with catnip! I know it's in many cat toys and we buy those for our babies and they love it. I always see the catnip plants that look like grass at the pet store but never asked what you actually do with it. Do you just put it out on occasion and the cats nibble on it? I'm sure it is in moderation or I would have 2 crazy cats running all over. :0

My cats names are Sushi and Wasabi and they are terribly spoiled
Wouldn't have it any other way !

 

[gata montes]

I am so glad you posted this. We have had cats for years and honestly I never quite new what to do with catnip! I know it's in many cat toys and we buy those for our babies and they love it. I always see the catnip plants that look like grass at the pet store but never asked what you actually do with it. Do you just put it out on occasion and the cats nibble on it? I'm sure it is in moderation or I would have 2 crazy cats running all over. :0

My cats names are Sushi and Wasabi and they are terribly spoiled
Wouldn't have it any other way !

Your welcome and yes Cat Nip is a wonderful plant and whether you choose to buy it as a ready grown plant or grow it from seed yourself - you'll be amazed at its many uses - as not only will Sushi and Wasabi be happy but you will too - as it acts as a very effective biting insect repellent too.

As to where to put it - as all cats vary in their reactions to it and not all cats like to munch it but like to roll in it or brush up against - you can either have pots of it like this

dotted around in the areas that your cats frequent the most - or you can grow a patch of it outside for them to enjoy at their leisure - you can also dry it and then use it make your own cat toys instead of buying them - which is really easy to do.

Although CatNip does have the reputation of making cats go a little crazy - not all of them do - in fact some do quite the opposite as it seems to calm them down and sometimes even makes them fall asleep and just to reassure you - you don't have to worry about them over indulging in their pleasurable experience - as for reason they all seem to know when they've had enough

There is however one thing that I can guarantee if you decide to get your Sushi and Wasabi some CatNip all of of their own and that is - you'll be enjoying many, many extremely funny moments - as the antics that cats get up to around CatNip plants - are usually way, way beyond hilarious

 

[Danyel72]

Thank you ! I really didn't know much about this plant until you were so gracious to share your insight. I think when you imagine any forms of catnip you think about cats going bonkers all over the house. Good to know that it could potentially have a a different affect as well. We are heading to the pet store later this afternoon and I'm looking forward to purchasing some. My cats are so funny and I am positive they will give us many laughs today when they experience it!

Have a great day and thanks again!
Danyel

 

[ChanellG]

I wouldn't encourage your cat to chew on anything. It's not as if you can say "now, Sweetie, only chew this kind right here." They don't speak English and you can't exactly reason with them. You want to be able to keep your houseplants healthy, not have them shredded by cats who can't tell the difference between one and another one.