Our cat Snickers would love nothing more than to go outside, snooze in the sun on our deck, and nibble on the fresh grass. But as an older declawed kitty, he isn’t permitted to go outdoors and this makes him very sad. I’d love to build a gorgeous catio for him, but right now that’s a little out of the budget.
What I can do to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside is create this oh so simple DIY indoor cat garden using kitty-friendly plants that Snickers loves. I can almost guarantee your cat will love it, too.
To get started, here’s a list of what you’ll need:
- A bowl or planter of your choice. Look for one that has good drainage;
- Potting soil;
- A small garden shovel;
- Cat-safe plants.
There are lots of great plants that are completely safe for cats but as you can imagine, there are a lot of plants that are not safe. I highly recommend doing your research, maybe even consulting with your veterinarian before deciding which plants to include in your DIY indoor cat garden.
For my garden, I chose catnip, curled parsley (don’t get Spring parsley), rosemary, and mint. I found all of these in the garden center at my local Lowe’s store. Because it’s currently spring planting season, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding plants, no matter where you shop.
Putting your garden together is super simple. Start by gathering all of your supplies, and if you really want to kick the fun-factor up a notch, invite your dog to “help” you. Georgie was excited to get in on the action.
How to Create a DIY Indoor Cat Garden for Your House Kitty
- Add some potting soil to your bowl or planter. How much you need will be determined by the size of the bowl. Be sure to cover the bottom of the bowl, at the very least.
- One by one, place your plants in the bowl. Arrange them in whatever way you find attractive.
- Add more potting soil to the bowl, making sure that your plants are firmly packed in the bowl.
- If you want to add some ornamental decorations like rocks, gravel, or little figurines, now is the time to do it.
- Water your plants well and sit them in a sunny cat-friendly location in your home.
Of course, you could have the most beautiful indoor cat garden in the entire world but if your cat isn’t interested in it, what’s the point? I was super excited to introduce Snickers to my creation, and it did not disappoint. He loved it!
He’s especially crazy about the catnip and the mint, but he definitely doesn’t mind the parsley and rosemary!
Have you ever made a DIY indoor cat garden for your house kitty?
It’s a fun and easy project that can be completed in under an hour, and it will make your cat very happy! Give it a try and share your photos over on our Facebook page!
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I love this idea! I’ve grown cat grass for my cats before, and they loved it, but this would add a lot more variety to their lives. I’m planning a catio to build this summer, and I’ll plant these around it as well.
Ryan, if you do create the catio, I’d love to see photos! It’s such a great idea, just wish I had space for one!
This is such a great idea! I will definitely be doing it!