Plant guide
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
Treat spearmint with caution around cats. Veterinary guidance differs, so keep it out of reach and do not offer it as a treat. Concentrated mint oils are not the same as the fresh plant; contact your veterinarian if your cat eats mint or develops symptoms.
What this guide covers: Mentha spicata only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Photo:
Photo details
Mentha spicata — Mentha spica
By Forest-and-Kim-Starr
License: CC BY 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
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Photo:
Photo details
Mentha spicata — Mentha spica
By Forest-and-Kim-Starr
License: CC BY 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
Spearmint plant
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Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Mentha spicata
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
Our practical recommendation
Your cat comes first.
Treat spearmint with caution around cats. Veterinary guidance differs, so keep it out of reach and do not offer it as a treat. Concentrated mint oils are not the same as the fresh plant; contact your veterinarian if your cat eats mint or develops symptoms.
Explore reviewed non-toxic plants ↗Why the guidance differs
ASPCA warns that mint (printed as Mentha sp.) can cause vomiting and diarrhea after large ingestions; that broad entry does not identify spearmint specifically. The University of Zurich veterinary plant database identifies Mentha spicata as non-poisonous, reports no animal poisoning cases described in its cited literature, and says it is unsuitable as feed. Neither establishes a safe dose for cats. Because these sources differ in scope and conclusions, we do not classify spearmint as safe for cats.
A disagreement between references does not cancel a toxicity warning. We keep those warnings visible while the assessment remains unresolved.
Sources & review
ASPCA warns that mint (printed as Mentha sp.) can cause vomiting and diarrhea after large ingestions; that broad entry does not identify spearmint specifically. The University of Zurich veterinary plant database identifies Mentha spicata as non-poisonous, reports no animal poisoning cases described in its cited literature, and says it is unsuitable as feed. Neither establishes a safe dose for cats. Because these sources differ in scope and conclusions, we do not classify spearmint as safe for cats.
Source scope and date
ASPCA · Source name: Mentha sp.. Mentha spicata only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Accessed .
Describes spearmint as non-poisonous, notes no animal poisoning cases in its cited literature, but says it is unsuitable as feed. This is not a cat-specific feeding recommendation.
Source scope and date
University of Zurich, CliniTox · Source name: Mentha spicata. Mentha spicata only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Accessed .
Evidence checked . The cat-safety classification remains unresolved.
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How to grow this plant
Mentha spicata only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
- Light
- Sunny position or Some direct sun
Full sun to partial shade.
- Watering
Maintain moist soil; avoid prolonged dryness.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
Outdoor herb; no preferred indoor temperature range proposed.
- Humidity
No specific humidity target established.
- Potting
- Organically rich, well-drained soil.
- Through the year
- Grow in a container to restrain spreading rhizomes. Trim spent flower spikes to encourage fresh leafy growth.
Growing-guide sources
- Mentha spicata ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
Mentha spicata only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.