Are Herbs Safe for Cats? Basil, Mint & the Ones to Avoid

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A little kitchen herb garden is a whole vibe — fresh basil, pretty pots, that “I have my life together” energy. But if your cat likes to sample your windowsill, you need to know which herbs are safe and which are a hard no (some are genuinely dangerous). Here’s the cat-safe herb rundown.

✅ Cat-safe herbs

These are ASPCA non-toxic to cats (verify any specific plant on the ASPCA database):

• Basil — non-toxic; a curious nibble is fine.
• Rosemary — non-toxic and pretty pet-safe.
• Thyme & sage — non-toxic in normal amounts.
• Cilantro (coriander) — non-toxic.
• Dill — non-toxic.

Note: “non-toxic” means not poisonous, not “should be a snack” — a cat gorging on any herb can get a mild upset stomach.

⛔ Herbs to avoid

The big one: never grow chives, garlic, or onions where your cat can reach them — the Allium family is genuinely toxic. And skip essential oils entirely around cats.

Herbs cats actually love

Some herbs are cat-approved treats: catnip (the classic “high”), catmint, valerian, and cat grass (cereal grasses). Growing these gives your cat a safe, enriching thing to munch — and keeps them out of your basil.

Grow them a safe green

The easiest peace treaty between your herb garden and your cat: give the cat its own greens. A tray of cat grass satisfies the chewing instinct so your kitchen herbs stay intact.

Kijani Paws pick

Organic Cat Grass Kit

A safe green for your cat to graze so your herb garden stays yours. Sprouts in days — here’s how to grow it.

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FAQ

Is basil safe for cats?
Yes — basil is ASPCA non-toxic. A nibble is fine; a huge amount could cause mild stomach upset like any plant.

Are chives or garlic safe for cats?
No — the Allium family (chives, garlic, onion, leeks) is toxic to cats and can damage red blood cells. Keep them out of reach entirely.

Is mint toxic to cats?
Small amounts of the plant are usually just mildly upsetting, but peppermint essential oil is toxic. Don’t diffuse mint oils around cats.

What herbs can I safely grow with a cat?
Basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, cilantro, and dill are non-toxic — plus cat-approved catnip, catmint, and cat grass.

The bottom line

Most cooking herbs — basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, cilantro, dill — are cat-safe. The hard no’s are the Allium family (chives, garlic, onion) and essential oils. Want total peace? Grow your cat its own catnip and cat grass so your kitchen herbs stay off the menu.

More: plants + pets safety cheat sheet and cat-safe flowers.

Sources

• ASPCA — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database
• ASPCA — People Foods to Avoid (onion/garlic family)

Written by Mo Ruman, a self-taught plant parent who cross-checks every plant against the ASPCA database. Not a vet — when in doubt, call yours. More about Kijani Paws · Ask me about a plant. As an Amazon Associate, Kijani Paws earns from qualifying purchases; this never affects our safety info.