How To Plant a Simple Cat Garden

No, not a garden where you grow cats (although I like this idea immensely). But rather, a garden full of catnip and other “euphoric” plants that will make your cats go crazy. With spring in full swing, it’s the perfect time to get your hands a little dirty and give your kitties a treat!

Gardens come in all shapes and sizes. You can opt for growing these plants by creating a space right in your yard, or you can make a container garden, which is what I did.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Containers: You can use any shape or size as long as it’s low enough to the ground for your cat to get to.  I used two window boxes.
Organic Potting Soil: Use organic if you can – it’s better for kitties
Plants: Catnip is, of course, a must.  Here’s some others:

• Parsley: both the flat- and curly-leaf variety are fine
• Mint: there are many different kinds – I opted for peppermint and spearmint
• Rosemary: not only is it fragrant, but it also repels fleas (and you can use it in the kitchen too)
• Valerian: like catnip, it acts as a stimulant (it has a sedative effect on humans); also, if your cat doesn’t respond to catnip, it may respond to valerian
• Marigolds, Petunias, and Zinnias: these plants are safe for cats and also add a splash of color; they also repel unwanted garden pests

There are many other plants you can use.  Just make sure that the plants are non-toxic for cats and preferably grown organically (you can also try growing from seed).  A good rule is to check the ASPCA website as they have an extensive list of toxic and non-toxic plants for cats.

L’il Guy went crazy before I could even get started as you can see.  In fact, all 7 of our cats came outside to see what the to-do was.  And soon enough, everybody was rolling around on the ground.

We were all so happy about the outcome of all this that I’ve decided on Phase II of the Cat Garden.  Phase II will consist of buying two more window boxes and planting some cat grass (a mix of organic barely, oats, and wheat).  Cat grass includes vitamins, minerals, amino acids and helps with digestion.  It also gives them a shiny coat and fresh breath.

Here’s a picture of how it all turned out!