8 Enchanting Cat-Safe Herbs & DIY Crafts for You and Your Feline Familiar

Step into a purrfectly enchanting realm where your inner witch and your cherished cat can both celebrate nature’s bounty. In our cat-safe green sanctuary, discover an array of easy-to-grow herbs that blend magical tradition with modern DIY flair—perfect for your kitchen witchery, crafts, calming rituals, and a few things just for your fabulous feline!

Cat-Safe Herbs and DIY Delights for Your Feline Companion

Today, we adventure through two herbal worlds: one devoted to feline-friendly botanical delights and another brimming with culinary and craft herbs for your personal projects. First, a few plants that are well-suited for your familiar.

The Enchanting Feline's Herb Lineup

• Catnip (Nepeta cataria): Known for its heady, herbaceous aroma, catnip sparks delightful, playful antics. It’s a garden essential that brings endless joy to your cat's world.

• Catmint (Nepeta mussinii):  With a subtler scent and attractive silvery-green leaves, catmint gently encourages playful exploration without overwhelming your feline friend.

• Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): Bursting with a refreshing scent, lemon balm livens up your kitty’s sensory world and adds a bright note to any play area.

• Silver Vine (Actinidia polygama): Perfect for kitties who might not respond to catnip, silver vine offers a complex, enticing aroma that can ignite bursts of spirited energy.

  
  

Fun fact: Both catnip (Nepeta cataria) and catmint (which includes several species like Nepeta racemosa and Nepeta × faassenii) belong to the Nepeta genus. The family they’re part of is Lamiaceae, also known as the mint family. It’s a wonderfully fragrant and pollinator-friendly group to have in the garden—plus, most cats clearly think these plants are magical. Don't forget to also visit the Enchanting History of Catnip blog for more about this fascinating plant!

Important Safety Note: While many cats adore catnip and similar non-toxic herbs, even these safer plants can sometimes upset their stomachs or lead to other gastrointestinal effects such as vomiting or diarrhea. Every cat is unique, so it’s important to monitor your furry friends closely when introducing any new herb or plant. Always refer to the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants for guidance, and contact your veterinarian if your cat exhibits any concerning symptoms. Your pet’s health always comes first!

Enchanting Feline Herbal Crafts

DIY Organic Cat Play Toy

Materials

• Pet-safe fabric scraps or an old, soft organic cotton t-shirt

• A blend of dried herbs (choose from catnip, catmint, lemon balm—with an option to include silver vine or Tatarian honeysuckle)

• Natural cotton stuffing or shredded organic cotton

• Needle and cotton thread

Instructions for the Classic Stuffed Toy

1. Shape It Up: Cut your fabric into two matching pieces in a playful design (think mini pillow, ball, or a cute mouse silhouette).

2. Stitch & Secure: Sew around the edges of the two pieces, leaving a small opening for filling.

3. Fill with Fun: Gently stuff the toy with the natural cotton filling and liberally sprinkle in your herbal blend.

4. Finish: Sew the opening closed and watch your cat revel in its new aromatic toy!

DIY Organic Drawstring Pouch Cat Toy

For a slightly different twist, try making a small, basic drawstring pouch using natural materials. This pouch doubles as a cat toy and a storage for herbs!

Additional Materials for Drawstring Pouch

• Natural cotton cord or twine (about 4–5 feet, depending on your desired pouch size)

Instructions for the Drawstring Pouch

1. Prepare the Fabric:

   • Cut a single piece of your pet-safe fabric into a rectangle (approximately 6 x 8 inches, or adjust to the size you prefer).

   • Fold the rectangle in half with the right sides together.

2. Sew the Sides:

   • Stitch along the two long sides and the bottom edge, leaving the top open to form a pouch.

3. Create the Drawstring Channel:

   • Fold the open top edge over about half an inch to form a small channel.

   • Sew along the folded edge, making sure to keep the channel open.

4. Insert the Drawstring:

   • Thread your natural cotton cord or twine through the channel using a safety pin or bodkin.

   • Tie the ends together in a secure knot, ensuring the drawstring is long enough to open and close the pouch.

5. Fill with Fun:

   • Open the pouch and fill it with your natural cotton stuffing mixed generously with your chosen herbal blend.

6. Finishing Touch:

   • Adjust the drawstring to secure the contents inside the pouch. Now your cat has an aromatic, handheld bag to enjoy and bat around!

Cat-Safe Kitchen Witchery for Your Hearth & Home

Step over to your personal herb collection, where easy to grow aromatic wonders like basil, rosemary, sage, and thyme come together to infuse your life with flavor and magical energy. These projects are delightfully simple, perfect for adding a personal, organic touch to your enchanting kitchen.

The Enchanting Cat Parent's Herb Lineup

• Basil: With its fragrant, peppery leaves, basil is a culinary must-have that sparks endless creativity in both the kitchen and craft corner.

• Rosemary: This evergreen marvel offers a vibrant, resinous aroma ideal for both flavoring dishes and inspiring rustic decorative projects.

• Garden Sage: Earthy and aromatic, sage is excellent for creating cleansing wands or infusing vinegars that bring a natural charm to everyday routines.

• Thyme: : Delicately bold and brimming with herbal clarity, thyme lends its subtle spice to both food and non-food crafts, weaving a thread of old-world charm into your modern kitchen rituals.

Additional Favorites: Expand your repertoire with other non-toxic herbs like fennel, dill, chervil, and cilantro, or add some flower flair to your herbal creations with calendula and roses.

Enchanting Crafts for Your Hearth & Home

DIY Herbal Smudging Wands 

Materials

• Fresh lemon balm, sage, and/or rosemary sprigs (organic is best so that you're burning chemical-free herbs)

• Natural twine

Instructions

1. Gather a small bundle of the fresh herbs and tie it securely with natural twine to create your aromatic wand.

2. Once tied and secured, completely dry the wands in a cool, dry place that gets good air flow.

3. Use wands for smudging rituals or as a charming, decorative piece in your kitchen and home. Always practice safe handling of your wand, including keeping containers of water and/or sand on hand to put fires out and having appropriate fire-safe containers to keep under the wand to catch embers and keep wand from burning flammable surfaces.

DIY Infused Culinary Oil 

Materials

• Extra virgin olive oil (alternatives include avocado, coconut, and grapeseed oil)

• Dried herb of choice, or you may want a medley of dried basil, rosemary, and sage

• A sealable glass jar that is dry and sterilized

  
  

Note: The water in fresh herbs can cause bacteria and mold growth and the oil can go rancid quickly. Using dried herbs for oil infusions is best to reduce the chance of this happening.

Instructions

1. The "folk method" is the easiest way to make an infused oil. Fill your dry, clean jar half full with your dried herbs. Pour your room temperature oil of choice over the herbs and make sure the herbs are covered by an inch of oil.

2. Stir with a wooden spoon to ensure that the oil coats as much of the herbs as possible.

3. Label your jar so that you remember what herbs you put in it and the date it was made.

4. Allow it to steep for 4-6 weeks in a warm, dark spot like a kitchen cupboard.

5. Gently shake the oil-herb mixture every few days during this period to help the infusion along.

6. Now you're ready t enjoy a burst of herbal goodness in your salads, dips, and more!

   
   

Note: There are many ways to infuse culinary oils with herbs, include methods that use heat. I like this How to Make Herb-Infused Oils blog by The Herbal Academy. Feel free to try out different methods!

DIY Calendula Infused Oil

Calendula-infused oil is a gentle, golden elixir ideal for skin-soothing salves, massage blends, or daily rituals of self-care and renewal.

Materials

• Dried calendula petals

• Lightweight carrier oil (such as sweet almond, jojoba, or olive oil)

• A clean glass jar with a lid

• Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer

Instructions

Place dried calendula petals into the jar, filling about halfway. Pour in the carrier oil until the petals are fully submerged and the jar is nearly full. Seal tightly and store in a warm, shaded spot for 2–4 weeks, shaking gently every few days. Strain through cheesecloth into a clean bottle, discarding the petals.

You can also use the 'sun-kissed' solar method that taps into the energy of the sun, echoing calendula’s long-held associations with warmth and vitality. Simply place your tightly sealed glass jar in a sunny windowsill or outdoors in indirect sunlight for 2–3 weeks.

Once your oil is infused, consider transferring and storing it a dark glass jar or bottle to help keep the oil's properties viable for longer.

DIY Infused Herbal Vinegar 

Herbal-infused apple cider vinegars are perfect for edible homemade dressings, while herbal-infused plain white vinegar is a great natural cleaning solution.

Materials

• White vinegar and/or apple cider vinegar

• Fresh basil, sage, thyme, and/or rosemary sprigs

• A glass bottle with a tight lid

Instructions

1. Place fresh herbs into the bottle, filling it with vinegar.

2. Seal tightly and store in a cool, dark place for a few weeks to allow the aromatic infusion to develop.

DIY Rosemary Wreath 

Materials

• Fresh rosemary branches

• Natural twine (and eco-friendly floral wire if necessary)

Instructions

1. Arrange small bundles of rosemary and secure them with natural twine to form a delightful wreath.

2. Add any decorations like ribbons, bells, crystals, or dried cat-safe flowers to your wreath and secure with twine or wire.

3. Hang in your kitchen or on a door to enjoy its invigorating aroma and rustic charm.

Magical Sleep Tea Blend for Relaxation

For a soothing bedtime ritual, consider crafting your very own calming herbal sleep tea to help your body, mind, and spirit prepare for rest.

Ingredients

• Dried valerian root

• Dried lemon balm

• Dried catnip

• A sprinkle of dried sage

• Optional: A few dried rose petals for floral notes

Instructions

1. Combine the herbs in a small bowl, adjusting proportions to your taste.

2. Using a tea strainer or fillable tea bag, steep 1–2 teaspoons in boiling water for 5–10 minutes, strain, and savor your personal cup of relaxation.

Note: Always consult a healthcare professional before using herbal remedies, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on medication.

The Last Leaf: Closing Notes for Your Enchanting Kitchen

Embrace the herbal wonders of your enchanting kitchen—where each plant, sprinkle of magic , and handcrafted creation becomes part of a ritual of joy. Whether you’re delighting your playful familiar with safe, organic herbal treasures or crafting your own aromatic masterpieces, let each project be an expression of creativity to fill your home with love and intention.

From our hearts to your hearth, Loki, Jupiter, Caspian and I wish you happy crafting. May you and your familiar continue to be inspired by the wisdom of nature every step of the way! Don't forget to share your purrfectly enchanting creations and tag us on Instagram!