Lemon Balm
Also known as Balm, Common Balm, Balm mint. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Lemon balm is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists Melissa officinalis as safe for cats, dogs, and horses with no toxic principle on record — and despite the "balm mint" name, it is not a Mentha, so the garden-mint caution does not carry over.
FULL VERDICT →Lemon balm is non-toxic to dogs (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists Melissa officinalis as safe for dogs, cats, and horses with no toxic principle on record.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
When to call the vet
FAQ
Lemon balm is sold as "balm mint" — is it a mint, and does the mint warning apply?
No to both. Lemon balm is Melissa officinalis, and the ASPCA lists "Balm, Common Balm, Balm mint" as its other names — the word mint is a nickname, not a genus. Garden mint is Mentha, a different plant with a different record: S1 Caution on our mint page, where the ASPCA lists essential oils with vomiting and diarrhea after large ingestions. That warning belongs to Mentha and does not carry over. For lemon balm the ASPCA lists no toxic principle at all, which is why it is S0. Check the botanical name on the tag: Melissa is this page, Mentha is the other one.
Which parts of lemon balm are safe — leaves, stems, flowers?
The ASPCA entry does not single out any part, because it lists nothing toxic to single out: Melissa officinalis is "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses" with no toxic principle on record. Our record therefore has no toxic-parts field for this plant. Leaves, stems, and flowers are treated alike. The one thing to watch is quantity, for the reason that applies to every S0 plant: a pet that eats a lot of any leafy plant may bring it back up. If that persists, see your vet.