Herbs safe for cats

Herbs safe for cats are most of the kitchen windowsill: every herb below is graded S0 Safe for cats against ASPCA records, with no toxic principle on record for any of them — basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, and cilantro. The catch is that the two herbs cats actually go looking for are not on the list. Garden mint is S1 Caution, with vomiting and diarrhea on record after large ingestions, and catnip is S1 Caution too: the ASPCA notes that many cats love it, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Neither is a poisoning, but neither is S0, and the two are covered further down. The five that are S0 all want direct light.

BasilThe ASPCA lists Ocimum basilicum as safe with no toxic principle on record — Thai basil and sweet basil included. Direct light, water every 2–4 days; the thirstiest herb here.

CilantroCoriandrum sativum — cilantro and coriander are the same plant, leaf and seed — listed safe by the ASPCA. Direct light, water every 3–5 days; the fussiest of the five. Its alias "Chinese parsley" is a name, not a verdict: parsley is a different plant and not covered here.

RosemaryRosmarinus officinalis, listed safe by the ASPCA with no toxin on record. Direct light, low humidity, water every 5–9 days — it would rather dry out than sit wet.

SageSalvia officinalis, the culinary sage, listed safe by the ASPCA. Direct light, low humidity, water every 5–9 days. Russian sage is a different plant and not covered.

ThymeThymus vulgaris, safe for cats, dogs, and horses on the ASPCA record. Direct light, low humidity, water every 4–7 days; happy on a cat-height sill.

Common, but not safe

The herbs a cat chooses are the ones to watch. Garden mint (Mentha) is S1 Caution: the ASPCA records essential oils causing vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions — a nibble is unlikely to matter, a feast can. Catnip (Nepeta cataria, also sold as catmint) is S1 Caution on nepetalactone; the ASPCA's own wording is that many cats love it, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and it leaves some cats sedated and others stimulated. Lavender rounds out the mint family at S1 Caution, with nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite on record. None of the three is a poisoning; none is S0.

MintS1 Caution: essential oils, vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions. Covers Mentha only — not every plant with mint in the name.

CatnipS1 Caution: many cats love it, but the ASPCA records vomiting and diarrhea, and sedation in some cats, stimulation in others. Covers Nepeta cataria, catmint included.

LavenderS1 Caution: linalool and linalyl acetate cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite on record. The plant only — oils are not covered.

5 plants verified so far. This list grows as the index does — every entry is checked against ASPCA / Pet Poison Helpline records before it appears here.