Tips for cat friendly gardens is about easily creating a garden that also a garden that you, the subservient human, can enjoy too.
Gardening for your cats includes: –
- choosing plants they may like to nibble; especially herbs that are good for a cat’s health
- tall plants to hide under and stalk through the undergrowth like a tiger
- creating a garden with sunny corners for snoozing and shady spaces for when the sun is really shining (you may be allowed to share)
Tasty plants and herbs
Gardens which are both edible and ornamental will get a big tick from the humans, but its easy to include a couple of specific herbs for your cats. Those mentioned below will grow in the ground or in pots.
Catnip – Nepeta cataria
Nepeta cataria is the ‘true’ catnip, which is the one where the leaves are dried and put in those cat toys that your cute kitty goes crazy for. Nepetalactone is the relevant chemical in the catnip that sends cats into a highly relaxed state. It is thought that the plant originates from Nepete in Italy, and that it was used in ancient Rome as a tranquilliser.
Catnip, also known as catmint, is easy to grow in your garden, from seed, or by purchasing a plant. And it has to be the number one plant for cat friendly gardens! However, it’s a good idea to keep the small plants well out of your cats reach as otherwise they may get eaten before they’ve had chance to grow. Once grown and flowering, Nepeta cataria has flowers that are loved by bees as much as the leaves are loved by cats.
Nepeta cataria is also an insect repellent and as such may help keep fleas away from your cat. But more importantly in the garden, it performs well as a companion plant, improving the health of other plants, such as roses.
Making Catnip treats
Making your own catnip treats and toys with the Nepeta from your garden is surprisingly easy.
- Harvest the leaves on a dry day in the morning, and after the dew has dried.
- Simply place them in a brown paper bag (which saves time at a later stage) or tie the stems together.
- Hang the leaves somewhere warm and dry. An airing cupboard is useful as your cats won’t be able to get to the catnip, but there may not be sufficient air circulation. If the catnip is hanging from a hook, then a paper bag does (slightly!) reduce the cats’ tendency to leap for drying leaves. If you can hang them out of temptation’s way, that’s obviously better.
- Once the leaves are fully dried out, simply crumble them up. Which is one of the reasons why I like to dry them in the bag as I can just use a rolling pin and contain the mess. The other reason is that as they may start to crumble before you realise they’re ready.
- Store in a glass jar and use as required.
You could make your own cat toys out of fabric remnants stuffed with the catnip, or simply sprinkle a little on the floor next to your kitty.
Other Catmint plants
There are other types of Nepeta which are also popular with domestic cats. For example, Nepeta x faassenii ‘Six Hills Giant’ is an herbaceous perennial, with aromatic grey/ green foliage and lavender blue flower spikes. A favourite cottage garden plant, when mature it’s large enough to tolerate a bit of nibbling by your cats. Just be aware they may also like to sleep in the middle of it…
And in case you were wondering, Nepeta has the same effect on the domestic cat’s big cousins, the lions and tigers.
Cat Thyme
In addition to catnip, cats also love Teucrium marum or cat thyme. Native to Spain, this is a mound forming tender perennial or sub shrub, that many cats love. The aroma for humans is not the pungent thyme scent but a slightly mustier one. Cat thyme is actually not related to thyme at all but to hedge germander, Teucrium x lucidrys, which, as a point of historical interest, was the more usual hedging plant for Medieval and Tudor knot gardens.
Cat grass
Dactylis glomerata, Cat grass, is quick and easy to grow, and is suggested as being particularly beneficial for indoor cats, and for cats who eat a lot of lawn grass. The oil and fibre content in cat grass aid digestion and can reduce fur balls.
If your garden is small, then a tray of cat grass would be much appreciated by your cats. Seeds are readily available from online and local garden centres. Indeed, spreading a few trays of cat grass around the garden where you’ve noticed your cat eating grass could be beneficial.
Lavender
Lavender has a soothing and relaxing effect on humans and cats alike. A low hedge of English Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, along a sunny brick path will offer your cat a pleasant place to lie, tucked under the scented flower stems. The bricks will act as hot water bottles, storing the heat and radiating it back out, so don’t be surprised if your cat lingers there in the evening.
Of course, we have to hope the path is wide enough for you to walk down even if a cat has taken it over! Alternatively, a few bricks placed on the flower border side of the lavender hedge to make a cat sized resting place may be acceptable to your feline friend.
Jungle plants for Cats
It wouldn’t be a cat friendly garden without some jungle plants! Although these will need to be on a scale to suit your cat not a tiger, even if it’s a large Maine Coon.
Many ornamental grasses fill the role quite nicely as well as being decorative plants for the human garden. The best ones are those that arch over to sweep the ground, such as Stipa tenuissima and some of the Carex cultivars. Do be aware that clumps of grass often make a comfortable cat bed (and fox bed) If this happens a lot, perhaps try planting Miscanthus instead of Stipa and Festuca as those grass stems are tougher.
Many of the smaller flowering shrubs also work as jungle plants in the garden. For example, Teucrium fruticans and upright Fuchsia. Also herbaceous perennials with large leaves, such as Acanthus mollis and Giant Scabious, Cephalaria gigantea.
Allow some of the twining stems of honeysuckle, Lonicera, to hang down, creating a cat den between the fence and the plant. In the vegetable garden, a tepee of runner beans is popular for the same reason. Courgette and Squash plants offer dappled sunlight.
Remember to check your cat’s eyes and ears if they regularly pretend to be jungle tigers. Seeds from many plants can get into their ears and cause problems if left.
More Tips for Cat Friendly Gardens
These may help to keep your cat from injury, and your sofa from damage.
Cat shelves and perches
Cats are very fond of hiding places, so they can leap out at unsuspecting prey. And they also like to be high up. Trees are the obvious location, as are tops of fences, garage and shed roofs.
But if they’re jumping down from a height onto a hard surface – patio, driveway – many times a day over a number of years, they may cause themselves some harm. For example, it can aggravate age related conditions such as arthritis. So why not add a cat shelf or cat perch?
A cat shelf may be as simple as a piece of exterior grade wood that you already have attached to the fence with brackets or more wood (whatever you have lying around). It should be large enough for your cat to lie on as well. Decking planks and gravel boards are usually the correct width, length depends on the size of your cat.
But be sure the shelf is in the correct place! This isn’t difficult but may take a bit of time to work out. For example, watch where your cat jumps down from the top of the fence on to the patio. At what point to they stop stretching paws down and make the leap? That’s the spot for the shelf.
As for sheds and garages, if you havent already got a water butt taking the water off the roof now is the time to get one. They make very good cat perches.
Scratching Posts
Old branches make excellent scratching posts in the garden. Set a few at different places round the garden, to give your cat a choice. You may need to play around with the combination of both the place and the type of tree before the arms of your new sofa are safe. I’ve found that hazel, beech and fruit trees are the most popular. Although old Christmas trees are acceptable, as are the edges of decking, gate posts, potting shed doorways…
Tips for Cat Friendly Gardens – the outdoor litter tray
Not as crazy as it sounds. We’re not talking about an actual litter tray. This is about designating an area of your garden for your cats to use as their toilet.
“If you’re a gardener and a cat owner, you’ll be well aware of the fondness of cats for a nicely tilled section of earth. Winter is time when you have the chance to review your garden. Why not look for a small area that you could safely and easily turn into a cat toilet?
Sharp sand over free draining gravel is going to be the best choice, as it won’t get wet and muddy, your cat’s paws stay clean too. This combination is unlikely to freeze so your cat can use it even when the ground is frozen solid. Sift the sand occasionally and remove the waste. You could even surround the patch with some tall planting to give your cat some privacy. It’s so much easier than finding ‘presents’ when you’re working in the flower border.”
Extract from “In Your Winter Garden with Plews Garden Design”
Greenhouses and garden sheds
No greenhouse or potting shed is complete without a box for your cat to sleep in. This is essential, as they will otherwise sleep on your emerging seedlings. (Okay, so they will still sleep on the seedlings but that’s your fault for not covering them up, silly human)
Greenhouses, due to their warmth, are particular favourite sleeping places. But do remember to check for snoozing felines before watering the tomatoes, or you could have a very angry cat!
Small tucked away corners where there may be mice make the garden shed a tempting place to explore. There are lots of reasons why cats frequently get shut in sheds. But a cat keeping you company with a background purr whilst you pot up cuttings is what cat friendly gardens are about. The amicable co-existence of human and feline.
and finally
For further gardening advice and inspiration, including ideas and tips for cat friendly gardens, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet You could also come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook
But if you’d like help creating a cat friendly planting design for your garden, or have queries regarding your existing garden, do get in touch to ask about our design and consultancy services.
Or you may prefer hands-on personal help from yours truly, with a mix of practical sessions and theory in bespoke Gardening Lessons and Courses
And you can have a peek at the progress of my garden renovation, Spitfires and Slow Worms, on Instagram and Facebook You may even get to see it in person later this year / early 2025 as I’m planning a couple of workshops. I had hoped to do that already but house renovations have been as big a thing as garden reno so there hasn’t been the room. Keep an eye on the website and social media for an update.
Related Gardening articles you may enjoy from our Award Winning Blog
Gardening with Your Pets
How to Kitten Proof Your Garden
Pets in your Garden – Questions and Answers
Gardening Courses and Lessons
What might a Plews Gardening Lesson be Like?
Plews Gardening Lessons Information
NB This is an updated and “tweaked” version of the ‘Cat Friendly Gardens’ blog first written and posted here on Plews Potting Shed in 2015 And yes, I have been living and gardening with my own cats and dogs for many decades Plus I’ve been creating gardens and planting designs so my clients can enjoy sharing their garden with their pets for over twenty years.
