Plants for Cats - Catnip and more

 Catmint Seeds

Houseplants are growing in popularity. Research has found (me asking around) that it’s millennials setting the new trend of rekindling the 1970’s popularity for spider plants, cheese plants and aspidistras. The common aspidistra has been a favourite of hallways since the Victorian era as they are shade, draft and neglect tolerant but since the 1980’s over 100 new varieties have emerged to tempt the new homeowners.

The range of indoor plants also caters for our feline friends. Not all cats manage to get outside where they can avail of the delights of ingesting grass, which is said to improve their digestion. Cats also seem to have a huge attraction to certain mint plants too and will happily sit in/on them all summer.  For this reason I’ve decided to grow some plants in pots especially for cats that live in the house and don’t get out much.

Plants for Cats

Catnip is the best known plant for a cats pleasure, many a toy has been stuffed with the dried leaves which in turn sends the cat into a frenzy. It affects cats in various ways, from a soft nuzzle to a fully blown euphoric meltdown.  Only about 80% of cats are effected but they might be partial to some other type of plant that contains Nepetalactone,  an organic compound that is the active ingredient. Nepetalactone also repels cockroaches and mosquitos so it’s a win win for you and the cat.

Here are the most popular types of plants to get kitty in a tizzy. I have just received the Catnip, Cat’s Grass, Catmint and Catmint Lemon and will be sowing the seeds now to give them an early start for spring. I’ll be testing them out of my mother in laws usually sedate moggie to see if it works. I’ll keep you posted.

Catnip (Nepata cataria) is a perennial. Cat's find it hard resist the intoxicating scent of this plant. The leaves have a mint-like smell.  Catnip can be grown in pots or the garden. Like most herbs in the mint family, catnip can easily spread and take over outside if allowed to. Responsive cats enjoy a psychosexual reaction that lasts up to 15 minutes, after which cats lose interest in the herb for at least an hour. The stems are as easy to dry as any other mint, and dried catnip retains is psychoactive powers for many months when stored in a cool, dry, dark place. Catnip flowers attract pollinators and other beneficial insects in droves so maybe I won’t let them flower in the house.

Cat grass -(Dactylis glomerata) is more commonly known as orchard grass, and it is also attractive to cats. It apparently helps to remove fur balls and maintain their good health and great for the indoor cat.  Cat Grass is a good aid to help add missing vitamins and minerals  so might be the favourite to grow indoors. Seeds of wheat, oats and rye also can be grown as cat grass.  

Catnip Lemon - (Nepata cataria Citriodora) is a perennial, that is very similar to catnip but with a more delicate hint of lemon aroma. Its natural habitat is on roadside banks but will hopefully do well in a pot on a sunny table in the porch.

Catmint mussinii – The last of my choice experiment plants. This Catmint produces attractive grey-green foliage topped with spikes of lavender flowers. Cats may flatten the plants so I’ll be careful with this one as it might have to be put outside. 

Other Plants to Delight Cats

Here are a few more plants which cats seem to enjoy in the garden - not in pots. I would have loved to have known about these a few years ago when I rescued a stray cat. I put it in the boot of my car and somehow it found its way into the chassis through the side panel. I had to drive around with it in the interior lining of the car for three days until it decided to show its face and have some food. If I had these plants I could have lured it out much sooner. It was non the worse for the ordeal and after a good meal it disappeared into the wild again.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)  Cats become excited when they encounter valerian roots, which contain a compound called actinidine that is thought to work as a semi-psychotic stimulant for cats.

Cat thyme (Teucrium marum) is not a thyme but a germander, a group of fragrant herbs that grows best when given fertile soil, full sun, and great drainage. Cat thyme can grow to two feet (60 cm) when protected from cats, which is nearly impossible.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is surprisingly attractive to cats, plus you can use the leaves in cooking.