Can you please tell me what herbs can’t be around cats? My family gave me an indoor herb…

The routine feeding or exposure of herbs should be approached with caution by pet owners. Many herbs, either the whole herbs or the active ingredients from herbs, have been used extensively by holistic veterinarians to treat a wide variety of illnesses in pets. Ginger at times is used to relieve indigestion and nausea in people and is thought by some to work in pets. It is also believed to have antioxidant and antibiotic effects. Peppermint is used routinely to freshen breath and is thought to ease digestion. Sage can be recommended by holistic veterinarians for infections or sores in the mouth and Turmeric is thought to possess anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties.

Herbs have been used for medicinal purposes in humans for thousands of years. Much of what we know about herbs and pets has been extrapolated from the use of herbs with humans, and from experience, rather than from scientifically controlled studies. Very few studies have been performed on the use of herbs and their effects on pets. Often times, correct "dosages" have not been determined. While many herbs are considered "safe," some herbs can be toxic if taken incorrectly. Therefore it is essential that cat owners be very careful about routinely allowing cats to nibble on herbs.

Therefore, before allowing your cat to ingest any herbs you may have growing in and around your home, check with your veterinarian regarding safety. Since the number of plants is numerous, rather than list them I recommend a good website that you can check out: http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxiccomlist.htm