Safe Bushes and Plants That Are Non-Poisonous to Cats

Everyone knows many cats love catnip, but many other herb plants can also do well with your feline friends. Consider keeping an indoor or outdoor herb garden stocked with cat-safe plants such as basil, chamomile, chervil, catmint, catnip, dill, lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, mint, oregano, parsley and thyme.

While some flowers -- particularly spring bulbs such as tulip and narcissus -- are poisonous to cats and other animals, many lovely blooms aren't. Cat-safe flowers for indoors include the African violet, begonia, and miniature rose. Outside flower beds filled with alyssum, calendula, columbine, coneflower, dianthus, nasturtium, phlox, snapdragon, sunflower, and violet offer color throughout the seasons and won't harm little Socks.

Succulents and cactus plants require little care, and most are safe for your kitty. Plants to consider include jade, blue echeveria, hens and chicks, Christmas or Easter cactus, and string of pearls. Spiny succulents may not be the best choice for use around curious kitties, who might try to paw or nuzzle the spines. Use your discretion with these. Beware of succulents in the kalanchoe family, which are not cat-safe.

Cat-friendly bushes or shrubs include American rubber plant, autumn olive, bamboo, banana, bottlebrush, chenille plant or foxtail, crape myrtle, crimson bottlebrush, Oregon grape and Russian olive. Several types of palm, such as cane palm, canary date palm and ponytail palm, also are cat-safe.