Plants for Cats & Cat Gardens
For us cat moms with green thumbs, creating a little cat garden is a fun way to treat your furbaby while also discouraging their munching on all your other plants. While there are many great resources out there for what plants cats cannot have, don’t let this make you think there are no fun plants for cats! There are a lot of great plants that cats can enjoy, ranging from the ever-popular catnip to lesser-known plants like catmint and cat thyme. Here, I’m sharing a handful of great plants for cats that you can use to create a cat garden for your furbabies:
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Table of Contents:
Fun Plants to Grow for Cats
Catnip
When it comes to plants cats love, an obvious choice for your cat garden is catnip. A common herb in the mint family, catnip is an easy-to-grow plant that cats tend to love. In fact, the scientific name Nepeta cataria (cataria meaning “of a cat”) indicates just how long the herb has been associated with cats.
Catnip leaves and stems contain nepetalactone oil, which is what triggers cats’ robust response to the herb. The scent of nepetalactone oil triggers a pheromone response in cats, giving them a “sense of euphoria or overwhelming happiness,” according to The Dodo.
Learn more about catnip in my catnip FAQ guide here!
Valerian
A pretty plant with a rather potent scent, valerian (and its roots, in particular) are often used as a soothing ingredient in teas for humans. Depending on the cat, it can be either stimulating or soothing (much like catnip), and can often be found mixed with catnip in cat toys and the like. Like catnip and cat grass, as far as plant stop grow for cats, valerian is easy to grow and can give your furbaby something new to sniff on in their cat garden!
Cat Grass
One of my cats’ favorites, cat grass is a simple-to-grow option for cats who love to munch on greenery. Of all of these plants to grow for cats, this is probably the simplest option. Cat grass satisfies your cats’ natural instinct to chew on grass and plants, while aiding in digestion and reducing the risk of hairballs (a major plus for me!). It’s also a simple way to give your cat some stimulating engagement, whether you keep your little cat grass planter indoors or on your screened-in catio like we do. There are a lot of cat grass options out there, but we love The Cat Ladies brand sets; they’re super easy to cultivate and have high-quality seeds packed with vitamins and essential nutrients! You can learn more about that here (and check out my cat, Louis, munching on some fresh cat grass!)
Silver Vine
Another popular alternative to catnip, silver vine (Actinidia polygama) is actually a member of the kiwi family with origins in China, Japan, and Russia. The name silver vine comes from the silver-white markings on the plant’s leaves and white flowers. Silver vine produces a similar euphoric effect to catnip, with results lasting about a half hour. According to PetMD, more cats are responsive to silver vine than catnip, so if your cat doesn’t care about nip, maybe treat them to silver vine instead!
Update: As a plant, silver vine is kind of hard to find for casual gardeners. The Etsy shop I had previously found that sold the plants is out of stock. However, I wanted to leave this suggestion in because you might be able to do some digging yourself and find a plant. Alternatively, look for catnip toys featuring silver vine, like the ones I’ve linked below!
P.S. if you want to jump start your cats’ silver vine trip, check out these awesome silver vine toys! My cats love them!
Mint
Like with catnip, cats tend to love the scent of mint plants. While you do have to be careful with mint because it can upset their stomachs if cats eat too much, it is typically an enjoyable plant for a cat garden with supervision. Catmint, which is pretty similar to catnip, contains some of the nepetalactones that produce euphoria in cats. Unlike catnip, though, catmint tends to be a tidier looking plant.
Cat Thyme
Cat thyme is a great option for cats who don’t typically go for catnip. It gives a similar effect as catnip but is different enough to engage non-catnip loving cats. This herb has a stronger smell than catnip, so be warned! It is known to be pretty potent.
Why Do Cats Eat Grass?
Related to this post, it is common to ask why cats eat grass in the first place. Cats of all sizes tend to graze on grass, from housecoats to lions. There may be a few reasons for this, including to help to purge hairballs, to settle upset stomachs, or simply because they think it tastes good. Likely, cats enjoy eating grass because of the taste and texture. If your cat has shown interest in grass, definitely check out the cat grass sets featured below!
Do Cats Prefer Catnip or Cat Grass?
People often ask, “what is the difference between catnip and cat grass?” The two plants are both widely popular plants to grow for cats and easy to incorporate into cat gardens, but they are not the same plant. Catnip is an herb whereas cat grass is…well, a grass. Cat grass sets like these feature a blend of seeds including wheat, oat, rye, and barley seeds.
Shop Seeds & Supplies for These Plants to Grow for Cats
Has your cat tried any of these plants or herbs?
Do they have a favorite?
My cats love catnip and cat grass the most!
Curious about why cats love catnip?
Whether you’re a veteran cat lover or new to the feline world, we all know about cats loving catnip.
Here, I’m sharing some frequently asked questions about cats and catnip, along with some of the best catnip products you can get for your furbaby!
*This post was originally published as part of my Cat Mom Life series in 2024. It was most recently updated on April 1, 2025.
