Is Rosemary Safe For Cats?

Rosemary, or Rosmarinus officinalis, is a common herb in the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint, deadnettle, or sage family. Many of these plants, including rosemary, are aromatic herbs widely used in cooking. Other members include basil, catnip, lavender, marjoram, mint, oregano, sage, and thyme. Rosemary is popular in home herb gardens, but is it safe for your cat?

Is Rosemary Safe For Cats to Eat?

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control, rosemary is non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. However, some Lamiaceae family members are toxic to cats, including catnip, lavender, marjoram, mint, and oregano, which can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. Non-toxic members include basil, candle plant, prostrate coleus, sage, both summer and winter savory, Swedish ivy, and thyme. 

How Much Rosemary Can Cats Eat?

Although rosemary is non-toxic, don't allow your cat to eat it freely. It contains volatile oils like monoterpene, hydrocarbons, camphene, limonene, camphor, borneal, cineole, linalool, and verbinol. Consuming large amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues. However, most cats only take a curious nibble, which is harmless.

What If Your Cat Eats Too Much Rosemary?

If your cat does decide to eat a large amount of rosemary, even though it’s technically not considered to be toxic you should monitor your cat closely for any GI signs. These can be things as blatant as vomiting, diarrhea, or inappetence. More subtle signs of GI discomfort can include the non-specific symptom of lethargy or just laying around more and not acting like themselves. If you do see any of these symptoms, seek veterinary care.

Are There Any Health Benefits?

In animal studies, rosemary has been shown to help conventional therapies for cardiac conditions such as hypertrophy or decreased function. However, these have been limited rat studies, so we don't seem to have any reputable evidence to definitely say that rosemary has health benefits for cats.

What About Rosemary Essential Oil?

Essential oils are toxic to cats and should not be used topically or aromatically around them. Rosemary essential oil should never be applied to your cat as they can easily groom the oil off of them and ingest it. Not only can ingesting rosemary essential oil cause vomiting and diarrhea, but the ultra-concentrated oils being ingested can cause depression of the central nervous system. This can cause a drop in heart and respiratory rate and can even cause seizures.

Essential oil diffusers aerosolize concentrated oils, which can irritate your cat's respiratory tract if inhaled, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms of irritation include watery eyes and nose, drooling, and difficulty breathing.