What Herbs Are Safe for Cats? A Quick Guide on Herbs for Cats

We want our pets to be healthy, happy, and live for many years. There are plenty of things you can do to help achieve this. Make sure they see their veterinarian yearly for a check-up, feed them nutrient rich food, keep fresh, clean water available to them at all times, and give them lots of love. Pet supplements can be very beneficial for this.

Having a cat (or more specifically, when a cat chooses you) is a big responsibility with big rewards. That purr, head butts, lots of cuddles, your cat is your best friend – and you want that friend to have their best chance at a long, healthy life.

Cats are unusual, delightful animals. They often don’t readily show when they are sick or in pain so it can be difficult to tell when something isn’t right. That makes it even more important to keep your feline friend as healthy as possible with pet supplements that will boost immunity and enhance wellness so you can keep them around for a good, long time.

This guide will walk you through herbs that are safe for cats, explain why pet supplements are important, and provide you with information that will allow you to make the best choices in caring for Kitty.

Importance of Pet Supplements

A number of pet foods that are sold commercially are lacking essential nutrients to keep your pet healthy. Digestive or nutritional imbalances can show up as skin irritation, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal issues. In order to close that gap, you may need to supplement your pet’s nutrition or address certain issues.

These supplements for cats and dogs contain beneficial herbs, nutraceuticals, and antioxidants that help support your pet’s health, including:

• Provides nutrients that regular pet food doesn’t provide
• Boosts immune system
• Improves skin and coat
• Eases anxiety
• Improves digestive issues and overall digestion
• Boosts joint health
• Improves development
• Boosts energy
• Aids in better overall wellness

At the same time, there are herbs that are toxic for cats. These toxic herbs can cause minor issues like an upset stomach, or they can cause severe reactions like seizures, respiratory problems, and death.

If you believe that your pet has consumed any toxic substance, call your veterinarian or pet poison helpline of the United States ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435. They can provide you with information on the toxicity of substances as well as what to do in a poisoning emergency. They are open 24/7 all year round.

If you have a green thumb, you may grow your own herb garden. Just make sure that you know the difference between a toxic plant and a non-toxic plant. Your pet’s life depends on it. With that said, growing a fresh herb garden is not that difficult. You can even grow it indoors as long as you have access to some direct sunlight. At the very least you can grow cat grass or catnip.

But.

While there are a number of pet supplements on the market, but not all are beneficial or even good for your pet. When you choose Cedar Bear pet supplements you can rest assured that you are giving your pet supplements that have undergone extensive research and testing. The herbs are non-GMO, ethically sourced, and 100% alcohol-free. 

So, what herbs are safe for cats? You may be familiar with licorice root and lemon balm, but there are several others that are quite beneficial for your furry friend.

Valerian Root for Cats

Valerian root is particularly beneficial for indoor cats who often suffer from boredom, anxiety, and stress due to lack of stimulation. Outdoor cats can benefit as well though, especially if the cat is unmotivated or doesn’t get proper exercise.

For many cats, valerian is a stimulant. You may see your cat playing or rolling around. They may become excited and have more energy. It can increase mental stimulation so they have more motivation to chase, run, and pounce which are natural cat behaviors.

Catnip has a similar effect on cats, but not all cats respond to the herb. However, they may respond well to valerian.

As with any substance, even natural remedies, some cats may have a somewhat adverse response to valerian, hissing, growling, or flattening their ears against their head. If this happens, just give the cat its space and avoid interaction or stimulation until the herb wears off and the cat returns to normal.

If you are looking for a great product with Valerian root for cats, Cedar Bear’s Pets Calm Down contains valerian root and several pet-friendly soothing herbs including Passionflower leaf, hops strobile, English lavender flower, skullcap herb, and chamomile flower. It helps to calm your kitty, relaxing the heart rate, soothing nerves, and taking the tension out of muscles. This benefits the cat’s overall wellness, state of mind, behavior, and even digestive tract. Even in stressful situations, this supplement supports calm behavior.

Dandelion Root for Cats

Many people see dandelions as nothing more than troublesome weeds to kill and remove from their yard when the truth is, they are one of the most powerful, beneficial herbs for both humans and animals. It has excellent restorative and rejuvenating properties for overall wellness, but it is particularly good for kidney problems, spleen, gall bladder, stomach, and liver health.

All parts of the plant are useful, the flowers, leaves, roots, and even the juice in the stem (which is a great topical application for warts and other issues). It is great for addressing certain issues that need some extra support, or as a way to help your cat with various ailments, including liver damage.

There are so many ways that your cat can benefit from dandelion, from helping to purify the blood to aid in calming and helping a cat’s urinary tract. It can even help improve and boost the condition of the cat’s skin and coat. When used properly, dandelion is safe for cats and even kittens when given in small amounts. When given in large amounts to adult cats it can cause diarrhea and other stomach issues.

Cedar Bear’s Pet's Coat Care is a wellness supplement that includes dandelion root for cats and dogs. It contains sarsaparilla root, lemon peel, calendula flower, burdock root, anise seed, beetroot, Oregon grape root, and of course, dandelion root. These herbs all work together to give your cat better health and a shiny, healthy coat and skin.

Calendula Root for Cats

Calendula, or marigold, is a popular herb used in herbal medicine for centuries. It is effective as a topical application aid in easing irritated skin.

What many people don’t know is that it can also be ingested to support a variety of issues, including lowering blood sugar, helping to prevent gastric ulcers, and aiding in easing stomach issues.

Calendula for cats is a non-toxic plant but it may trigger uterine contractions so you want to avoid giving it to pregnant felines, or any animals for that matter. Allergic reactions can occur with Calendula which can result in some adverse effects, but they are often fairly mild. As with any new supplement, medication, or food that you give your cat, keep a close eye on them and if you see anything that seems out of the ordinary or raises a red flag for you, call your veterinarian.

Cedar Bear’s Pet's Coat Care has some great health benefits that can help supplement your cat’s diet. It contains calendula, along with other important herbs to help keep your cat’s skin and coat healthy and supple.

Alfalfa for Cats

Alfalfa, also called “cat grass,” is a member of the pea family with leaves that closely resemble small clover and flowers that are varying shades of purple. It is a popular grazing grass for livestock, but cats and dogs can also benefit from this nutrient rich plant.

The wide range of vitamins and nutrients that alfalfa grass for cats contains make it a good daily nutritional supplement. This herb is chock full of so many good things, including:

• Vitamins
• A
• B1
• B12
• C
• D
• E
• K
• Dietary fiber
• Chlorophyll and other compounds

Alfalfa is often used as an effective support for detoxifying the blood and may support joint function. It has whole-body benefits that will help your cat stay healthy and happy.

To make sure your cat enjoys the many benefits of alfalfa, try Cedar Bear’s Pet's Daily Needs and Joyful Joints supplements. Both provide excellent nutrition with a number of herbs that promote wellness and better health.

Dill for Cats

Dill is not necessarily a medicinal herb, but most cats just love it. The good news is, it is non-toxic for animals to ingest. Dill, along with other culinary herbs like cilantro, thyme, coriander, basil, and rosemary stimulate your cat’s senses and can be used to help make tinctures and herbal supplements more palatable.

Cedar Bear uses dill in its Pet's Daily Needs supplement which is safe for both dogs and cats. It provides your cat with essential nutrients and can help fill in the gaps that their commercial pet food may be lacking.

Cedar Bear Naturals

Being a pet owner is so rewarding but it isn’t always easy making sure your pet gets the proper nutrition. It is tough finding herbal supplements for your pets, especially those with quality ingredients. But if you are looking for herbs for cats or dogs, Cedar Bear has you covered. Browse our pet friendly product line and find the supplements that you need to keep your kitty healthy. You might even take a peek at all our supplements for the entire family!

Give your pets the best, they deserve it and Cedar Bear has it.