Indoor Gardening and Cats: The Unknown Dangers and Solutions

No need to avoid indoor gardening because of your pets. Plenty of safe cat houseplants exist.
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The following is a guest post by Josh Nicholas of Millrace Garden Centre in England.
Scared to garden indoors for fear of harming your pet? Don’t be! Though there are some
plants that can be dangerous for your pets if they eat them, there are more than enough
safe options for you to have a stunning indoor garden.
Plants can be a fantastic source of stimulation for cats, too – and with a little planning and
preparation, you can ensure that both you and your cats can enjoy your plants.
Avoid Toxic Plants
Some plants are poisonous to cats and dogs, and in certain cases can even prove fatal.
Though animals will generally not ingest anything that doesn’t taste like “proper food,” it’s a
good idea to keep toxic plants away from your home, just in case.
Lillies and poinsettia are two of the main offenders when it comes to plants that are toxic to
cats, but you should research any houseplants that you may want to introduce to your
home before purchasing. Cats Protection offers a useful list of plants that are toxic to cats,
and Dogs Trust has created a similar list for our canine friends. If you’re at all unsure, check
with your vet.
That said, while a few plants are dangerous for pets, there are lots that are perfectly safe.
Basil, mint, coriander, dill and parsley are all safe for cats and will be a great addition to your
kitchen. Meanwhile, cornflowers, petunias, impatiens and zinnias are also safe for cats if
you’re looking for flowering options.
Create an Indoor Cat Garden
Cats love to chew on plants, sniff them, and play with their leaves. So why not set up a little
area filled with safe plants just for them?
Cats love parsley and thyme, so fill a heavy bottomed, low planter with a few different
varieties to keep your four-legged friend stimulated.
Cat grass, or wheat grass as it’s also known, is great for cats, as it adds roughage to their
diets. Fill a pot or bowl with soil and cat grass seeds to grow your own. Take note that some
cat grass on sale is actually a mixture of a few different types of grass, but rest assured that
it will be perfectly safe so long as you purchase it from a reputable supplier.

Catnip is a favorite, of course. If you grow your own catnip plant, your cat can enjoy rubbing
against the herb whenever he likes, and you can use cuttings from the plant to stuff into his
toys for even more fun.
Also consider the location of your cat garden. If possible, choose an area with an easy to
clean floor, and keep plants on the floor to avoid their being broken by a fall. Using heavy-
bottomed, wide pots is also effective, as they are difficult for your cat to knock over.
Keep Your Other Plants Safe from Kitty
While a feline garden may keep cats occupied and away from your other plants, it’s also
worth pet-proofing your other plants that you don’t want to be dug up or chewed. Here are
a few tips for cat-proofing your houseplant collection:
Sprinkle cayenne pepper on the soil of your plants, or spray the leaves with a 50 percent
Tabasco sauce, 50 percent water solution. Your cats will think this spray tastes and smells
horrible!
Put orange and lemon peel in your plant pots. Cats dislike citrus, so this will cause them to
give the plants a wild berth.
Cover the soil with pebbles to hide it from your cats and dissuade them from digging.
Use a glass dome to create a terrarium – this will create a barrier between your cats and
your plants.
Place your plants in hanging baskets or on high ledges that your cat can’t reach.
For more tips on keeping your indoor plants looking healthy and beautiful, check out the 8
Tips for Gardening Indoors In Winter post on the Mill Race blog.
With a little forward planning and research, you can easily make sure that your cat and your
plants will both be perfectly safe in your home. And with a little creativity thrown in, you
can create a plant-filled space for your cat to enjoy, too, providing extra stimulation for
them as well as a great addition to their diet.