Is Rosemary Safe for Cats?

Salvia rosmarinus

Rosemary is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. A cat brushing past or nibbling a leaf in a herb bed is not at risk.

The distinction that matters is plant versus oil: concentrated rosemary essential oil is not something to diffuse around a cat or apply to its coat, because cats clear these compounds poorly.

What to watch for in the UK

• Hardy in British gardens and common in supermarket herb pots.
• Rosemary oil and 'herbal' pet sprays are not equivalent to the plant.
• Keep herb pots above a digger's reach.
• Do not use rosemary oil as a flea treatment — it is not one.

If your cat has already chewed it

1. Nothing to do.
2. Any essential oil exposure: phone your vet.

Take a photo of the plant, and a cutting if you can do it safely — identification is half of the vet's decision. Out of hours, use your practice's emergency number. This page explains risk; it cannot diagnose your cat and it contains no home treatments.

If your cat has vomited after eating a plant, see the cat vomiting guide and, if there is blood, vomiting blood. For a general red-flag checklist, use sick cat symptoms. If the worry is food rather than a plant, the can cats eat guide covers 36 everyday foods.

Related plants

Browse the full UK plant checklist (72 plants).