Plants Safe for Cats to Chew: Greens Cats Can Nibble

Which plants are safe for cats to chew?

The safest plants for cats to chew are the ones the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats, and that list is shorter and stranger than most people expect. Basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, dill, cilantro and lemon balm are all listed as non-toxic to cats. Mint, parsley and chives, which sit on the same kitchen windowsill, are listed as toxic, and so is catnip itself. This guide is about nibbling: a pot a cat is allowed to chew. For a broad list of cat-safe and dog-safe houseplants see pet-safe houseplants for cats and dogs, and for the dangerous ones houseplants toxic to cats.

Which herbs can cats nibble, and what light do they need?

Herbs are the easiest nibbling plants because they grow back fast and fit on a windowsill. Penn State Extension says most herbs need about 6 hours of direct sun, ideally from a south-facing window in the Northern Hemisphere (north-facing in the Southern), with grow lights as the alternative.

These statuses come from the ASPCA plant pages; they say non-toxic and nothing more. For soil and pot choices, starting a windowsill herb garden covers the basics.

Which windowsill herbs are not safe for cats?

Several of the most popular kitchen plants are on the ASPCA toxic list for cats:

• Mint: listed as toxic to cats.
• Parsley: listed as toxic to cats.
• Catnip: listed as toxic to cats. Many cats love it, but letting one play with a little is a separate question from letting it chew a whole plant.
• Chives, garlic and onion: listed as toxic to cats. Penn State recommends chives as an easy indoor herb, so keep them somewhere your cat cannot reach.
• Lemongrass: listed as toxic to cats.

If you want a cat plant, thyme or basil are the safe, tasty alternatives to mint and parsley.

What about cat grass?

Packs sold as cat grass are usually wheat, oat or barley seedlings. The ASPCA list we checked does not give a toxic or non-toxic rating for these seed mixes under those names, so we cannot call them verified. What the ASPCA does say is that eating any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset in dogs and cats. If you grow a grass pot, use fresh potting mix, no pesticides, and give it its own spot so the cat has a better target than your other plants.

Which houseplants can cats chew without harm?

For leaves you do not eat yourself, these are non-toxic to cats on the ASPCA lists, and they cope with a nibble:

Spider plants are the classic cat favourite because the arching leaves dangle within reach, which is also why they end up with brown, chewed tips. Fertilize little and use filtered water, because NC State says chlorine and fluoride in tap water cause leaf tip burn on spider plants.

Does non-toxic mean a cat can eat as much as it likes?

No. The ASPCA says the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats, even when the plant is rated non-toxic. Sharp-edged leaves can also irritate. Give a few leaves' worth of nibbling, not a plant that is being eaten to the soil. If your cat keeps chewing, offer a separate pot of thyme or grass, and move everything toxic out of reach. Watch for repeated vomiting, drooling or lethargy, and call a vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away if you suspect a toxic plant; the ASPCA line is (888) 426-4435.

Which cat-safe plant for which spot?

• Sunny south-facing window (north-facing in the Southern Hemisphere): rosemary and thyme, which Penn State lists as full-sun herbs.
• Bright but not sunny: basil near the window, and Boston fern a little back from the glass.
• Dim corner or north window: spider plant, which NC State says tolerates deep shade, and the lower-light herbs cilantro and lemon balm.
• Deep pot needed: dill, because of its taproot.

Rotate herb pots now and then so every side gets even light, as Penn State suggests, and water when the potting mix starts to dry out, except thyme, rosemary and sage, which like to dry slightly in between.

How do you set up a safe chewing corner?

1. Pick one or two plants from the non-toxic lists above and give them a spot at cat height.
2. Move every toxic plant to a room your cat cannot enter or to a high shelf.
3. Use a heavy pot with a drainage hole; cats dig in loose soil.
4. Keep the plants pesticide-free; if you must treat pests, choose the least toxic option and follow the label.
5. Check the plant name in Flori's care profile, which shows toxicity for each plant, or identify an unknown plant from a photo before you let a cat near it.

Up next · 5 min readPet-Safe Houseplants for Cats and Dogs

14 pet-safe houseplants checked against the ASPCA cat and dog lists, with light needs, the toxic plant each replaces and what to do if your pet chews one.

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Flori editorial team

Written and fact-checked by the Flori team. Every guide cites horticultural sources such as the RHS, university extension services and the ASPCA, and is updated when the advice changes. How we write our guides

General plant care information. Plants vary; when a plant is valuable or a problem spreads quickly, consult a local nursery or plant specialist.