Is rosemary toxic to cats?
Rosemary is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists Rosmarinus officinalis as safe for cats, dogs, and horses — unlike its windowsill neighbor mint, it carries no essential-oil warning.
S0SAFE
- TOXINnone — no toxic principles on record
- WHAT TO EXPECTno symptoms on record
- CALL THE VETSee a vet only if unusual or persistent symptoms follow ingestion.
S0S1S2S3S4
Nothing to do — really
1
No action needed. A nibbled sprig costs you garnish, not a vet visit.
2
When to call the vet: See a vet only if unusual or persistent symptoms follow ingestion.
Care at a glance
Lightdirect
Waterevery 5–9 days
Humiditylow
Difficulty●○○
FAQ
Mint is graded S1 — is rosemary just as risky on the herb shelf?
No — the two herbs get opposite verdicts despite sharing the windowsill (and the botanical family, Lamiaceae). The ASPCA lists rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses," with no toxic principles on record. Garden mint, by contrast, carries the ASPCA's essential-oils warning — "vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions" — which is why mint sits at S1 Caution on our index. Practically: the rosemary pot can stay in grazing reach; keep the mint pot out of it. See our mint page for the full verdict.