Create a cat-friendly container herb garden with cat grass, parsley, and catnip. Large decorative rocks add a climbable barrier, turning the planter into an interactive outdoor space for curious cats to graze and explore.
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I know what you're thinking - cat content? Don't you have a dog? Yup. But a couple weeks ago, we noticed the same cat hanging out in our backyard - a beautiful male orange tabby who is super friendly. I bonded with this cat right away (and named him Salvatore). He was a little skittish at first, but warmed up to me rather quickly.
Sal likes to sit underneath our deck and underneath the shade of our oak tree. After catching him drink out of the bird bath, I got him his own water bowl - especially since we were about to enter our first heat wave of the year.
Now, he visits our yard on a daily basis. He seems too friendly to be a feral/stray, but I've noticed some wild hunting behavior from it. Also, he's not neutered. So within the next few weeks, I hope to bring him to a clinic to be scanned for chip, then neutered and vaccinated.
Having dogs all of my life, I'm learning about the behaviors and requirements of felines. In the meantime, our new buddy is living his best life when he comes to visit. Although he's strictly an outdoor cat - for the time being, at least - he gets fresh water, crunchies to eat, plus playtime and affection (he seems to really love his "scratchies").
And now, he even has his own container garden. I found pet grass at the grocery store and decided to research cat-friendly herbs to plant with it. There are quite a lot of herbs that are cat-friendly (dog-friendly, too). So I opted for ones that are commonly found in local garden centers - particularly cat nip and parsley. Easy-to-find, easy-to-grow, plus safe and beneficial for cats.
Herbs to Grow in a Cat-Friendly Container Herb Garden
If you have an outdoor cat, or just want to grow some pet-friendly herbs in your garden, here is a good list of plants. Grow these in pots, like this container garden, or directly in your yard.
- Cat Grass
- Cat Nip
- Cat Mint
- Lemongrass
- Valerian
- Basil
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Parsley
- Dill
- Lemon Balm
- Licorice Root
- Dandelion Root
- Cilantro
Avoid growing anything in the onion/garlic family and also oregano, marjoram, and tarragon. If unsure, research the herbs you'd like to plant before purchasing and growing them.
How to Create a Cat-Friendly Container Herb Garden
Before planting your cat-friendly herb garden, choose a planter that's going to be safe, but also at a height that allows your cat to explore and enjoy the plants. Terracotta pots are safe, but can easily be knocked over and cracked. If using plastic or resin pots, make sure they won't easily tip. I chose a large rectangular planter I had - something low enough for easy grazing and won't tip.
I started this container herb garden by adding potting soil to the planter. An option like seed starting soil or organic potting soil is best for cats who like to dig and nibble on dirt. Sal doesn't seem to interested in eating the dirt (and we have a lot of garden space in our yard) so I used a standard potting soil.
Then, I added my plants. First, the cat grass (technically not an herb, but works well with other cat-friendly plants), which I placed in the center. Then, the parsley and cat nip.
Once the plants were tucked in the soil, I watered the planter thoroughly and added some larger rocks on top. Not only does this protect the container garden from becoming a litter box, it also turned into another area that Sal could climb in.
SUPPLIES
- Large, shallow rectangular planter
- Potting soil
- Cat-friendly herbs
- Large decorative rocks
STEPS
- Make sure your planter has drainage holes. If not, drill some into the bottom. Then, fill the planter with potting soil.
- Plant your cat-friendly herbs. Once the herbs are planted, water the planter thoroughly.
- Add the large decorative rocks on top. Place the rocks as close together as possible.
- Keep the container garden in a sunny spot where your cat can easily access it.
While Sal doesn't seem too interested in nibbling on these plants, he does like to climb all over the rocks and brush against the plants. It's a fun, interactive space for him to enjoy while he's hanging out in our yard.
Did you make this Cat-Friendly Container Herb Garden project? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!
