Cat friendly plants?

[QueenOfIce]

I can't believe I've started a gardening thread, I've changed we have moved recently and have a fairly good sized garden. We have cat proofed so the neighbours aren't burdened with our cat visits but now I need to make it look pretty.

I'm not sure what sort of plants are ok to plant with cats especially since one of them eats flowers given half the chance.

I guess they need some nice areas for shade etc they have an out door litter shelter but I also want a very pretty 'English country garden' type feel.

Does anyone have any suggestions please, I am clueless and google isn't very friendly on this topic.

Thank you!

Well, catnip makes them very happy, which is why I’ve never planted any, to avoid all the neighborhood cats rolling in my flower beds (not sure whether that would happen though, would love to hear experiences). My cats love nibbling on a patch of rye grass I planted, preferring it to normal, thin lawn grass.

Avoid: lilies, as all parts, including pollen can be life threatening to cats. I also avoid ferns, because in our old garden the cats would lounge under them and bring back 1000 ticks a day. Of course, now they lounge under anything else, but the moist ecosystem of ferns was particularly tick-attractive.

And the rye grass produces beautiful architectural stalks (for this city person) in late summer and i found it fascinating. Just normal rye grass, or a special pack of “cat grass” could also be planted out into the ground in a little patch.

All parts of lillies are highly toxic to cats as are anything in the onion family (includes daffs and tulips although just the bulbs). Even getting lilly pollen on their skin can cause renal failure.

Thank you, I don't have flowers in the house at all and especially not lilies.

So tulip and daff bulbs are toxic not the actual flowers? I don't just want a garden they can munch on I want one that looks pretty but is safe for them. Cat grass I will get some of though.

I did pull out my massive clump of day lilies because I was worried the cats would brush past them and collect pollen, (although nothing had happened) and because the clump was a horrid snail and slug festival.

I agree that bulbs could be dangerous but have never had any issues with cats eating them/digging them out. I think they know to leave well alone. I have had lots of squirrels digging out bulbs and leaving some on the ground (snowdrops and muscari) but no interest from the cats. Good to know about toxicity though.
Here is my lazy cat snoozing beside a hedge in long grass, collecting ticks no doubt.
Also, I had to put deterrent sticks in clumps of bulbs growing under a tree, because this cat loves to snooze on emerging bluebells and daffodils 🧐, squishing them flat to a nice soft pillow.

Catnip equals feline orgy in the garden - funny to watch first time- brain bleach to see second time lol.

Cat protection and RSPCA will have info for cat friendly plants - as PP have said some are lethal.

Lilies are the chief thing to avoid, because the pollen gets onto their fur, they lick if off, and death ensues. Lost one of mine to that, (can't be sure, but the vet said it was almost certainly someone's lilies at that time of year.

Am intrigued about the 'cat proofing' bit of your opening post OP!
Having owned (or been owned) by them for years, I'm in awe.
Seriously, avoid lilies.
Mine love the herb garden.
Shady shrubs to chill out under.
And one loves the honeysuckle.
And I must be in the minority, catnip does nothing for them whatsoever.

MrsBert, I fear I might have lost one in the same way.
I was more than annoyed when Monty Don (who I admire) recently said on Gardeners World that cats and lilies have happily lived together in his garden for many years. He was wrong to say that, Vets know about the dangers.

Did he? That was stupid.

Catnip does it for around 75% of cats. Mine is deeply unimpressed by it.