Can Cats eat Rosemary?


cat stole some rosemary from the table and are you worried? Let’s see if the cat can eat rosemary or if it is bad for the feline.

Cats are very curious animals and those who live with them are aware of how much attention must be paid when preparing some dish in the kitchen.

In fact, our four-legged friends, during the preparation of lunch, dinner or even a simple snack can easily steal some ingredients from the table if we get distracted for a second.

But what if the feline eats rosemary? Is this spice dangerous for our furry friend? Let’s find out together below.


Can cats eat rosemary?

Rosemary is one of the spices most used by humans to season potatoes or meat.

So it is a very common herb that we can find on our tables, and it is on the latter that our beloved feline could climb and then eat rosemary.

What if this happens? There are many plants that are toxic to our four-legged friends, does rosemary belong to this category?

If your beloved feline has munched on some rosemary, out of boredom or out of curiosity, don’t worry, as this spice is not poisonous to the cat.

So can rosemary be given to the cat? The answer is yes, but you have to pay attention to the quantities, it is important to give the cat rosemary only as a pleasure occasionally and not every day and above all you must contact your veterinarian before sharing this spice with the cat.

Benefits and harms of rosemary for cats

Rosemary as mentioned above does not belong to the category of plants toxic to cats, indeed this herb can be beneficial for the cat.

In fact, rosemary is rich in antioxidants, specifically it contains rosmanol which can accelerate the healing of the cat in case of wounds and can fight cancer cells.

Furthermore, rosemary is made up of different acids:

  • Carnosic acid: useful for protecting the feline brain from free radicals;
  • Ursolic acid: useful for cat muscle growth;
  • Betulinic acid: which has anti-inflammatory properties.

Finally, rosemary also contains camphor, a substance that helps keep mosquitoes and parasites away from cats.

However, in addition to the benefits, this herb could also cause minor health problems for the cat if given in large quantities.

In fact, the natural oils of this plant can cause problems in the cat’s stomach, causing ailments such as:

  • Diarrhea in cats
  • Vomiting in cats.

In this case it is necessary to contact the veterinarian.

How to give rosemary to cats

Having established that our cat can eat rosemary, how can we add this spice to its diet?

First of all, you have to pay attention to the quantities in order not to harm the feline’s health. After that it is very important that rosemary is given to the cat only as a reward, let’s not forget that the cat is a carnivorous animal and that its diet is mainly characterized by animal proteins.

That said, you can sprinkle some of this spice on meat or chicken. In case your cat eats canned food, you may want to add rosemary to his Di him food.

Finally, you could try offering this herb to the cat, always in small quantities, directly from your hand.


Cat BreedsCat Food and Nutrition
Tips for Cat OwnersCat Training
Cat BehaviorKittens
Cat HealthCat Grooming
Cat AdoptionTravel with Cat
Holiday Season- Cat

Leave a Comment