Can Cats Eat Dill? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ
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Are you looking for a cheap and effective treat for your cat? Or are you worried because you just caught your cat chowing down on your dill plant? Either way, you’ve come to the right place.
Dill is safe for cats to eat, but that doesn’t mean you should just let them eat it whenever they want. It can be a relatively complicated subject, so in this guide, we aim to clear a few things up.
Can Cats Eat Dill?
Dill is an herb that is safe for your cat to eat. The ASPCA highlights it as completely non-toxic to cats, dogs, and even horses, although you need to be careful with dill essential oils, which are likely toxic.
Keep in mind that while dill isn’t toxic to cats, that doesn’t mean you should start adding it to their diet. Cats have a fine-tuned dietary system and giving them excessive amounts of dill can lead to other dietary concerns.
Do Cats Like Dill?
While each cat has their likes and dislikes, if you’re looking for a plant that your cat will likely go after, dill has to be near the top of the list.
Dill looks like grass, and cats have the instinct to chew on grass. When they eat dill, many cats like the taste, which keeps them coming back for more.
It does come down to the particular cat, though. Some cats have no interest in trying to eat it, and others will try it but don’t like the taste.
Is Dill Healthy for Cats?
Dill has numerous vitamins and antioxidants that are healthy for your cat. But dill, as with most plants, is only good in moderation.
Too much dill can lead to an upset stomach. This is why you don’t want to just let your cat chow down on dill plants that you have growing on countertops or in pots throughout your home.
Also, dill doesn’t provide all the nutrients that your cat needs. If they’re eating too much dill and filling their belly, they might not eat the rest of their food, which can lead to deficiencies.
Should You Feed Your Cat Dill?
If you’re looking for a safe treat for your cat and they like dill, there’s no reason that you can’t give them a few pieces occasionally. However, occasionally is the keyword here.
Don’t give your cat a large amount of dill, and don’t make it a regular part of their diet. Use it as an occasional healthy treat.
What Should You Do If Your Cat Eats Dill?
If you find that your cat has eaten dill, that you didn’t mean to give them, don’t freak out. There’s nothing wrong with your cat eating dill as long as they don’t do it excessively.
So, while you don’t need to rush them to the vet, you do need to find a way to ensure that they can’t keep getting more dill whenever they want it.
How to Keep Your Cat from Eating Dill
If you find that your cat is eating dill and you want them to stop, there are three different methods that you can try. First, try surrounding the plant with a surface that your cat doesn’t like walking on. Tin foil is commonly used for this method or little pebbles.
The second method is to treat the plant with a deterrent spray. However, if you’re planning to use the dill in any of your own foods or recipes, treating it with something that tastes bad might not be ideal. But keep in mind that once your cat realizes that they don’t want to eat it, you shouldn’t have to keep treating it.
Finally, you can simply move the dill plant to an area where your cat can’t reach. Hanging pots are a great way to do this.
Other Herbs That Are Safe for Cats
If you’re growing dill in your home, there’s a good chance that it’s not the only herb that you have around. Once your cat gets a taste for one herb, it’s not uncommon for them to go around trying others.
If you’re worried about your cat getting into herbs in your home and harming themselves, these are a few herbs that are perfectly safe to have around. However, just like with dill, that doesn’t mean you should encourage or feed them these herbs with any regularity.
- Basil
- Sage
- Cilantro
- Thyme
Herbs That Are Toxic for Cats
While some herbs are perfectly fine for cats, that’s not the case for every herb. If you have any of these herbs in your home and your cat likes to eat plants, you need to be especially careful to ensure that they don’t have access to these.
Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list, and you should always double-check if any herb or plant is safe for your cat before bringing it into your home.
- Oregano
- Marjoram
- Bay leaf
- Chives
- Mint
- Tarragon
You might not always notice right away if your cat has consumed something they shouldn't have. It is important to watch your cat’s behavior afterward to see if they are showing any symptoms of irritability or poisoning, and contact a veterinarian for an advice.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know that dill is safe around cats, it’s up to you if you want to take extra precautions to ensure that your cat doesn’t get into it. Just keep in mind that if your cat has already eaten dill, there’s a good chance that they’ll venture out to different plants in your home to see if they like them, too.
Double-check the safety of all the plants in your home to ensure that there isn’t one that could harm your cat if they decide to eat it.
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Christian started writing for a local newspaper as a teenager, and he's been involved in the publishing industry for most of his adult life. Combining his love of writing with a passion for animals, he is currently the Director of Editorial at Pangolia and the Editor-in-Chief at Catster.
Christian lives in the Philippines with his wife, son, and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
