Cat-Safe Garden Plants Cats Actually Enjoy (Besides Catnip)
Catnip gets all the attention, but it's far from the only plant that interests cats. Many cats enjoy investigating, nibbling, rolling around in, or simply lounging near certain garden plants. If you share your yard with outdoor cats, neighborhood visitors, or indoor cats that spend time on a patio or deck, choosing cat-safe plants can help create a garden that's enjoyable for everyone.
As always, curious cats can have individual sensitivities, but the plants below are generally considered non-toxic to cats and are popular choices for pet-friendly gardens.
Cat Grass
If you've ever brought home a tray of cat grass, you already know how much many cats love it.
Cat grass is typically grown from wheat, oat, barley, or rye seed and provides tender green shoots that cats enjoy chewing. Some experts believe cats are attracted to grass because it helps satisfy a natural urge to nibble vegetation.
Cat grass grows quickly and is easy to start from seed in containers, window boxes, or garden beds.
Growing Tips
- Prefers full sun to partial shade
- Keep soil evenly moist
- Grows quickly from seed
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor growing
Because cat grass likes consistent moisture, a rain gauge can help you determine when natural rainfall is doing the watering for you and when supplemental watering may be needed.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are best known as houseplants, but they are also popular with cats. Many cats enjoy batting at the dangling plantlets or gently chewing the arching leaves.
Spider plants are easy to grow, forgiving of occasional neglect, and considered non-toxic to cats.
Growing Tips
- Bright indirect light
- Well-drained soil
- Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings
- Excellent for containers and patios
Sunflowers
Sunflowers bring height, color, and pollinators to the garden, and they're considered non-toxic to cats.
Most cats aren't interested in eating large amounts of sunflower foliage, but the plants create shady spots and interesting places to explore.
Growing Tips
- Full sun
- Average garden soil
- Moderate watering
- Support taller varieties if necessary
Sunflowers are surprisingly drought tolerant once established, but young plants benefit from steady moisture during their early growth.
Zinnias
Few annual flowers provide as much color with as little effort as zinnias. They bloom for months, attract butterflies, and are generally considered safe around cats.
Growing Tips
- Full sun
- Good air circulation
- Water at the base of the plant
- Deadhead for continuous blooms
A rain gauge is especially helpful with zinnias because excessive watering can encourage mildew while too little water can reduce flowering.
Snapdragons
Snapdragons add vertical color and are a favorite in cottage gardens. Their unique blooms attract pollinators and provide visual interest throughout much of the growing season.
Growing Tips
- Full sun to partial shade
- Moderate moisture
- Rich, well-drained soil
- Cool-season performer in many regions
Tracking rainfall can help maintain the consistent soil moisture snapdragons prefer without overwatering.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are one of the easiest flowers to grow and often thrive in less-than-perfect soil. Their bright blooms attract pollinators and their trailing habit makes them useful in containers and raised beds.
Growing Tips
- Full sun
- Lean soil
- Moderate watering
- Avoid excessive fertilizer
Too much water and fertilizer can produce lots of leaves but fewer flowers, making rainfall tracking especially useful.
Calendula
Often called pot marigold, calendula produces cheerful yellow and orange flowers and is commonly grown in vegetable and herb gardens.
Unlike some ornamental plants that can be problematic around pets, calendula is generally considered a safer choice for cat-friendly gardens.
Growing Tips
- Full sun
- Regular moisture
- Cool-season flowering
- Deadhead to extend blooming
Roses
Many gardeners are surprised to learn that roses themselves are not considered toxic to cats. The bigger concern is avoiding scratches from thorns rather than toxicity.
Roses can provide beauty, fragrance, and pollinator benefits while remaining compatible with a pet-friendly landscape.
Growing Tips
- At least six hours of sun
- Deep watering
- Good air circulation
- Regular pruning and feeding
A rain gauge is particularly useful for roses because they perform best when they receive deep, consistent watering rather than frequent shallow watering.
A Few Plants to Avoid
While many garden plants are perfectly safe, others can be dangerous for curious cats. Some of the most common plants cat owners should avoid include:
- Lilies
- Oleander
- Foxglove
- Azaleas
- Sago palm
When adding new plants to your garden, it's always worth double-checking pet safety before planting.
Watering a Cat-Friendly Garden
Most of the plants on this list prefer moderate moisture and well-drained soil. Instead of watering on a fixed schedule, it's often better to pay attention to actual rainfall and soil conditions. Read our Complete Guide To Watering Your Garden for more information.
A rain gauge provides a simple way to track how much water your garden receives naturally. Knowing whether your garden received a quarter inch of rain or a full inch can help you decide whether additional watering is needed and avoid wasting water.
Healthy plants, fewer watering mistakes, and a garden that's welcoming to both people and pets is a pretty good combination.
Final Thoughts
Creating a cat-friendly garden doesn't require sacrificing color or variety. From cheerful zinnias and sunflowers to trays of cat grass and containers of nasturtiums, there are plenty of safe plants that can make your garden more enjoyable for feline visitors.
Add a rain gauge to keep track of rainfall, water only when necessary, and you'll have a healthier garden that's easier to care for all season long.