If you enjoy cooking for your feline friend, you might consider seasoning their chicken with some fresh rosemary. Perhaps you’ve brought home a rosemary bush and discovered your feline friend enjoys nibbling on the leaves.
The question then arises, “Is that safe?” Or are you giving your cat the chance to come into contact with a poisonous plant?
We’re here to tell you that you shouldn’t feed rosemary to your cat, whether you’re trying to play it safe or are desperately looking for answers after letting your cat feast on the stuff.
Can Cats Safely Eat Rosemary?
The good news is that cats and dogs can safely consume rosemary, so there’s no need to worry if you happen to catch your cat munching on some.
However, your cat shouldn’t consume huge amounts of rosemary because the plant’s oils can cause stomach problems if consumed in excess. Fortunately, the answer is yes! Rosemary is probably safe for your cat to eat in large amounts. It has a potent smell and taste that most cats dislike.
Is Rosemary Safe for Cats?
Rosemary is safe for cats to eat, per the ASPCA. But that only means that they can safely consume it without fear of death.
Even though a small amount of rosemary won’t kill your cat, it’s best to keep them away from it because it contains oils that can cause stomach upset.
As we’ve established, it’s highly unlikely that your cat will find enough pleasure in the flavor to mowing down an entire garden’s worth of rosemary plants, but cats have been known to eat stranger things.
Rosemary can be used to slightly mask the flavor of cat food, making it more suitable for feeding. Of course, there’s the issue of your kitten getting too fat on scraps, but that’s a problem for another day.
What Is Rosemary?
Rosemary is a popular herb in the kitchen and is often used in place of other herbs and spices. It goes well with lemony-piney foods like lamb, pork, and pizza sauce.
Although you can find rosemary in any grocery store, many people prefer to grow their own because it is simple to care for and doesn’t need a lot of room.
While it’s true that some felines will munch on rosemary if given the chance, the vast majority of animals simply don’t like the flavor or the scent. In fact, it’s frequently employed as a means of warding off deer and other unwanted visitors.
Is Rosemary Toxic to Cats?
Relax if you’ve recently witnessed your cat eating rosemary and are concerned about their health.
Cats can safely consume rosemary without fear of poisoning. The ASPCA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, does not consider rosemary to be a poisonous plant for cats and dogs.
When consumed in large quantities, the volatile oils found in rosemary can lead to nervous system depression and stomach upset. However, you shouldn’t be concerned about cats eating that much.
Since meat is part of a cat’s natural diet, even if they try some rosemary out of curiosity, they probably won’t like it.
Animals, such as cats, are put off by the strong flavor of rosemary, so don’t feed it to them.
Cats are not likely to ingest enough rosemary to cause any harm from chewing on it. If you have a rosemary plant in your home or backyard, your cat is safe there.
Does Rosemary Have Any Health Benefits for Cats?
Yes. There are powerful antioxidants in the plant that have been shown to benefit feline health.
The antioxidant rosmanol stands out among the rest because of its role in killing cancer cells. If your cat ever sustains an injury, this can aid in the healing process.
The carnosic acid found in rosemary helps prevent cell death caused by free radicals in the brain. Also present are betulinic acid (an anti-inflammatory) and ursolic acid (which promotes muscle growth).
Finally, camphor can be found in rosemary. As a result, your pet is less likely to contract mosquito-borne and other parasite-carrying diseases.
We wouldn’t use rosemary instead of a proper flea and tick treatment, but any help is appreciated.
How Is Rosemary Good For Cats?
Rosemary is safe for cats to ingest. This herb is rich in a number of nutrients, including A, C, folate, and calcium. Rosemary has been used to aid in the digestion of cats in some cases.
Rosemary may be useful in treating inflammation when used in conjunction with other treatments.
The coat and skin of cats may benefit from this herb as well.
How Can I Safely Give Rosemary To My Cat?
Due to their nature as “obligate carnivores,” felines require a diet high in animal protein. Make sure that rosemary is not a regular part of your cat’s diet, but rather a special treat.
It’s also worth noting that the natural oils in rosemary can sometimes make cats sick.
Keep an eye on your cat if you feed it human food, especially if it contains rosemary, in case it has an adverse reaction or has trouble eating it.
Serve your cat only a small amount of rosemary if you decide to do so or if your regular vet recommends including it in your cat’s diet.
Try chopping it up and mixing it in with your cat’s regular food, or offering your cat a taste of it straight from your hand.
What’s the Verdict? Is Rosemary Safe for Cats?
Don’t freak out if you find your cat eating leaves from your rosemary plant; they’ll be fine. In the worst case, you’ll have a huge litter box mess to clean up (but that’s nothing new, right?).
In fact, since rosemary has many positive effects on feline health, you should probably let your cat consume as much of it as it can stomach. However, many animals have aversions to the smell or taste of the stuff, so your cat probably won’t listen to you.