Houseplants: How do I keep my cat out of the houseplants?

Replies: 47 Views: 354

Author	Comment
LiveLaughLovePA Dallastown, PA (Zone 6a) March 22, 2009 06:04 PM	OK, so in almost 8 years, I've never been able to keep my cat out of the houseplants. Therefore, I've never been able to keep them around. I am very determined to have houseplants in my new house. SO, my questions are: Does it really matter if my cat gets into the plants? She doesn't dig in them (thankfully), but she likes to chew on (or eat) them. Meaning, will her chewing not affect the plant? Will the plants hurt her? Or just annoy me? Are there certain plants that she would stay away from? Or is there something I can put in (or near) them to deter her? I know that I could just hang plants (to keep my irritation level lower), but I'd really like to have some table tops or floor planters... Please... HELP!!!
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) March 22, 2009 06:22 PM	There are some plants that are toxic to cats so you should definitely avoid those. Here's a web page that lists some things that are toxic, but if you Google plants toxic to cats you'll find tons of info http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html
XMelissaX Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) March 23, 2009 01:12 AM	There is a message in the Seed Germination forum under Grow lights with info about cats eating plants.
NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS (Zone 8a) March 23, 2009 08:52 AM	Cats seem to enjoy a little "salad" every now and then. You can go to Wal Mart or a pet store and buy a kit to grow green grass (usually wheat) that is specifically for cats. If it's available to them, they will usually stop eating your plants because the grass is sweeter.
LiveLaughLovePA Dallastown, PA (Zone 6a) March 23, 2009 09:38 AM	Thank you, NatureLover! I do have some seeds I can grow specifically for cats... I didn't know that by giving her this it would eventually keep her out of houseplants :)
NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS (Zone 8a) March 24, 2009 08:26 AM	You're very welcome.
MonMon Paris France March 24, 2009 09:05 AM	I know in most garden centers they have special powders or sprays which are designed to keep house pets away from plants. The powders are basically a mix of pepper and some other things. You could try just sprinkling some ground black pepper on the soil of your plant, kitty will probably end up getting a good sniff of it and get the idea that the plant is a 'no no. You could also try training your cat (you might have tried already), get a spray bottle full of a water, and whenever you see your cat chewing on or going near any of the house plants, spray her with water and say 'no' firmly. It's how we got our dogs to stop digging up the plant pots. Offering her the kitty grass alternative to chew on is also a good idea, keep it near her bed/tray/food so she knows its hers.
SmellyLeaf Logan, UT April 07, 2009 07:28 PM	I've started some catnip for my cat, she doesn't seem to like to play in my plants much but she does eat grass outside on our lawn. She didn't liek that wheat grass but I hear other cats do (she's just weird.) Catnip is a cool looking plant and you could have it growing somewhere where she likes to sit like in the sun or something, she might enjoy that. Catnip I think is pretty easy, it just takes a little while from seed as most plants do, and that way she'll get a lot of fun out of it! EDIT: Also, i spray my plants with water and my cat gets freaked out when I do so, and she hasn't gone and sniffed my plants for a long time. I don't know if you spray them but it might be good to do it, since cats hate being sprayed with water ;) This message was edited Apr 8, 2009 3:58 PM
Alexis143 Cordova, AK April 08, 2009 03:02 AM	My cat does the same thing- I'd be concerned about the types of plants it's eating- I know a while back, mine threw up coleus on the carpet..yeah...I grew the "cat-grass", and he LOVES it. Also, a catnip plant will help TONS. They're super easy to grow, and it takes a while to kill them- I started mine from seed outside and it just took off- he loved it!!! Mine gets into the succulents more than anything- even prickly cacti- poor guy, he just loves crunchy greens! God Luck!
theherbalkitty Brooklyn, CT April 08, 2009 03:04 PM	Hi, LiveLaughLove, My 6 cats were always in my plants until a friend of mine suggested using tape such as masking or packing tape and making a latticework across the top of your pots. Make the openings large enough that you can still water them. You may need to replace it from time to time as the glue fades but tape isn't expensive and one roll will cover a lot of planters. Thanks, theherbalkitty
barbaralloyd Anacortes, WA April 10, 2009 12:46 AM	Re: poison plants for all house animals - just google ttl poisonous plants. This is a list of most of the plants that are harmful to all house critters. Philodendrons are bad as well as the lilly family. Buy your cat her own spider plant CHLOROPHYTUM. That's not on the list. I have to hide mine up high or one of my cats chew's it down to nub. barb
GardenQuilts Delaware Water Gap, PA April 24, 2009 12:07 AM	I had planted a pot of "cat grass" last year, but I accidentally left it outside in the cold and it died. I read somewhere that "cat grass" was oats so I planted some in a flat pan (placed in a wicker basket to look cute) The cat really likes her plant. She even takes a nap on it. My guy was worried that she would use it as a litter box, but she doesn't. I am also starting a flat container of cat mint. I would be careful with indoor cat mint and male cats. Years ago, I had planted cat mint outdoors for my childhood cats. One liked to play with it, the other sprayed it. I hang houseplants where the cat can't reach them. You can try double sticked tape on the pot or windowsill. Cats hate it. Feed stores and health food stores sometimes sell oat and wheat seeds. Some people make sprouts with them.
Chickadee12 Brookfield, CT (Zone 5b) May 15, 2009 11:34 AM	I have the same problem with my little furball. He loves the spiky plants I grow, he'll scratch his face on them and chew on their leaves. Another thing he does is drink any standing water in the trays; every time I water the plants he rushes over and sticks his head in the pot to try to get the water before it drains away. He even uses his paws to snag a drink from the watering cans! (Its a good thing he's sooooo cute :] ) I moved all of the spiky plants out of reach where he simply ignored them. The worst problem I had was with my cordyline; he'd chew on the leaves, leaving it full of holes, and would get sick later because its was poisonous.
brownthumb916 Sacramento, CA (Zone 9b) May 20, 2009 02:42 AM	try bitter apple. you can get it from you local pet store. It doesnt hurt them or your plants. or you can grow them some catnip
dp72 Woodway, TX (Zone 8a) May 20, 2009 11:25 AM	If you were to forego either the cat or the plants, there wouldn't be a problem.
jmp24 Medford, NJ May 23, 2009 09:12 PM	first of all, don't keep any of the plants on the dangerous to pets list. Then, buy a bag of rubber bands, and shoot one at the cat's butt whenever he goes to mess with the plants. He won't have any idea where the thing that just hit him in the @$$ came from, and will likely associate it with the plant. That should work. ha ha just kidding, and before any animal lovers jump on me, I have 2 dogs, a cat and a bird and would never hurt any animals. Put a layer of stones on top of the soil, that is what I have always done and even though the cat I have now is not interested in the plants, it worked in the past.
Chickadee12 Brookfield, CT (Zone 5b) May 27, 2009 02:46 PM	Lol, thats funny. Kitties beware the evil plant of doom! ./\ /\ (O.o)_) ^....^..^... I've also heard that because they are so sensitive to scent, lemon or orange scented sprays might keep them away.
fizzbomb Lenora, KS June 08, 2009 03:13 PM	I had problems with my cat eating my spider plant when it was within his reach, so I hung it where he couldn't get to it. However, I do let him chew on an aloe because aloe isn't poisonous. I do have other poisonous plants, but he's not interested in them. This cat greatly enjoys sleeping on the room divider where I have many of my plants. He'll stretch out and sleep under the leaves. I joke that he's getting back to his "jungle" cat ancestry. He also drinks out of the rock-and-water-filled vases I have setting around for humidity - why in the world he would want to drink what amounts to "pond scum" water when he has fresh water available is beyond me, but he's a cat and I stopped trying to understand cats a years ago when I was breeding Siamese... The rubber band trick does not hurt animals and I've used it for years.
LiveLaughLovePA Dallastown, PA (Zone 6a) June 10, 2009 10:59 AM	Rubber band trick? As in shooting rubber bands at them? Hehehe that sounds like fun ;-)
jmp24 Medford, NJ June 10, 2009 12:56 PM	cats love spider plants. don't know why but every cat I have had, even the non-plant-eating cats, love spider plants!
fizzbomb Lenora, KS June 14, 2009 12:37 PM	"Rubber band trick" does mean shooting them with rubber bands. They get mildly snapped (they are more startled than anything) but have no clue where it came from. My husband LOVED doing it because the cat would jump about 6-10 inches high, looking around as if to say "What the ---- was that?" But be careful there is nothing fragile/breakable too close to the cat. I've heard slightly squished up pieces of foil in the pot will keep cats out of the plant, but don't know if it really works. I would think the the foil would need to be anchored down in some way or else the cat could move it.
kutekawanna Minneapolis, MN June 14, 2009 05:32 PM	I fight constantly with my cat Nahla over her interest in my houseplants! She loves anything with long slender leaves. Actually, any plant moved by the casual open window will get attacked by Nahla! If I water them, she likes to play in the dirt...even unpotting several of my plants! I've even watched her push the smaller, lighter plastic potted plants off the table just to watch them fall and then, yay! Dirt all over the floor to roll around in and play in! I've come home or woke up to brand new freshly potted plants completely toppled over. ARGH! Couple of suggestions.......If your cat likes to knock plants over; If the pot/plant is small...like 5 inches or under, I pot them in a ceramic planter or a heavy pot..maybe even adding stones for the weight factor. Second, now I could be wrong, but in nature with so many poisonous plants how do our darling 4 legged creatures get along? Don't they have instinct?? I have many many poisonous plants, and I see Nahla messin around with plenty...I think she knows what to eat...and what to knock over :( I haven't had any problems with her, diarrhea or vomitting. Lastly, I got her some catnip. Now she has her own plant. I potted it up and have it in an east facing window. Catnip, truly is a WEED...it can take anything! Nahla and my cat Blue both have broken stems rolling over the plant time and time again. They have even ripped stems off and the plant keeps on growing! :) The only problem is Nahla is high most of the day! :)) LOL View Larger
jmp24 Medford, NJ June 15, 2009 11:24 AM	kute, your kitty is so cute. It is true that animals in the wild seem to know what plants to avoid, and it could be that they should know with our indoor plants as well. However, when talking about instinct, we are talking about a wild animal who along with his ancestors has probably lived in the same environment forever, and just instinctively knows what is safe to eat and what is not amoung the plants that he is familiar with and knows that share his little piece of the world. Then we have our domestic cats and our plants from all different places, thrown together in an unnatural environment that we have created - mistakes are bound to happen! It isn't common, but I do know of cats who have been poisoned. My sister in law had one die after chewing on her diffenbachia plant. Before I knew diffenbachia was poisonous, I had one, don't think the cat ever bothered with it, but i got rid of it after her cat died. Better safe than sorry!
kutekawanna Minneapolis, MN June 15, 2009 12:10 PM	Yes very true. And I wouldn't want to encourage anyone to be ignore warnings. I would be DEVASTED to lose one of my babies! And you can always replace a plant, you cannot replace a personality which our pets have. My advice is to observe your animal around the plant and carefully monitor your pets habits. I do know that many plants are labelled poisonous to kids and pets if ingested but you'd have to eat the entire plant in order for any danger to come of it! :) (Not all, but some) And although I am very much in agreement with jmp24, I still think our furried friends are smarter then we think. They have senses that are far more superior to ours. Cats and dogs who are let outside RARELY end up dying from eating something poisonous and this habitat is far more vast than what we create indoors. Not saying not to be careful, but I think closely monitoring is a good start.
dp72 Woodway, TX (Zone 8a) June 15, 2009 02:48 PM	Sometimes we have to make intelligent and reasonable choices. If a person wanted to keep a lion and a rabbit in the same cage, that just would not work out. Your cat is likely bored and gets into mischief out of desperation. It's too bad that the situation exists.
kutekawanna Minneapolis, MN June 15, 2009 03:14 PM	Well I'm slightly confused dp72....??????? Lion Rabbit? Cats Plants?? I can guarantee you my cat is not bored, definately not desperate. My cat is just a ball of non stop fun, young too, just over a year. She just lovesss my plants.....anything that moves really. My older cat Blue, who is seven could care less about my plants..except the catnip :) This is obviously just a difference in personalities. And Nahla is sooo mischievous! I say, unless you are actually being productive or giving CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM no need for any negativity or put downs. I certainly don't come to Daves for any downers...wink This message was edited Jun 15, 2009 2:36 PM*
jmp24 Medford, NJ June 16, 2009 09:17 AM	kute, you are so right about their senses being superior to ours...but you also mentioned personality, and as someone who has lived with animals my entire life, it is a fact that some cats are also SMARTER than others. My advice to anyone wanting to keep a plant on the danger list is to keep it out of reach of pets and kids. My cat leaves my plants alone too, except for when there is a spider plant in her reach, but I have a parrot that chews on EVERYTHING!
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 08, 2009 08:12 AM	I grow the cat grass and catmint and my cats still go for the other plants more than usual. Deffently avoid toxic plants!!! If your not sure about the plant being toxic, keep it out side untill you can look it up! Get a bunch of toys. PLEASE, dont flick your cat with rubber bands! You should get a cheep water gun or spray bottle (that way it wont harm the cat or your plant). Simply squirt your kitty when she is being bad. Your vet can offer you some more advice
GardenQuilts Delaware Water Gap, PA July 21, 2009 06:00 PM	My cat HATES the smell of neems oil. I sprayed some on my outdoor patio plants, and she stayed away from her favorite place by the back door for days! She was even meowing near her cat grass planter located near the back door. I realized that she wanted me to move it away from the neems outside. If I have any problems with indoor plants this winter, I know what to try. Some people don't like the smell of neems. I don't mind it. Preferable to shredded plants and cat vomit. I would try rubber bands, but they may break the vacuum (only kidding). I would never hit the cat with rubber bands, I have terrible aim.
jmp24 Medford, NJ July 23, 2009 10:58 AM	I hate the smell of neem oil...yuk. I bought a bottle and used it once, had to throw it away, I thought I was going to throw up while using it -
kutekawanna Minneapolis, MN July 24, 2009 10:24 AM	What is neem oil?
jmp24 Medford, NJ July 25, 2009 09:47 PM	I forget exactly what, think it is some oil from a plant or something that is safe environmentally to use as a pesticide/fungicide. Sometimes it smells really bad, like something dead and rotting. When you get a whiff, you think it might be more pleasant to just live with the mealy bugs or whatever it is you are trying to kill.
icanfindroom Anchorage, AK July 26, 2009 12:05 AM	I have an office I keep my cat out of while I'm at work with things he seem to love, Palms are a delicacy in the cat world apparently. I've heard of cat's eating almost anything but they can also learn. If I say no and am persistent he will stop. Sometimes it only takes one no. I have plants hanging, on top of my fridge, and on storage shelves in my kitchen (out of kitty reach). You just have to make sure there's no space your kitty can eyeball that he/she thinks they might be able to fit on. I learned that the hard way. Thankfully that means just adding a few more plants LOL! I also have larger ones on the floor he doesn't bother. Dracaena's in particular, he's never made it past a sniff. Oh, and cactus are always a safe bet ;) Also white bird of paradise. He did admire my Ficus Alii and occasionally nibble it but it was sitting too close to his window seat. I moved it over a bit and that was the end of it. I also have a Congo Philodendron and Spathiphyllum on the floor that he leaves alone. I say just start slowly and train your cat. I've never done anything other than say no and occasionally pick him up and move him if he's being stubborn. I know he hears me the little bugger. Where there's a will there's a way. I love my cat & my plants so co-existence is a must. If anything find a room you can shut during the day when your gone. I leave my office open on weekends now even if I'm away and he's content to sleep between the pots. I call him jungle cat when he's in there.
icanfindroom Anchorage, AK July 26, 2009 12:06 AM	Jungle cat with the Ficus in question View Larger
kutekawanna Minneapolis, MN July 26, 2009 05:53 PM	Haha I love it!!!! :))) You are sooo right though! I've learned the hard way too. But yes, hanging plants and small ledges are good! Leave no space! Thin, wiry leaves are a definate attraction! And my cat! She even loves the cactuses! Well, just Gollum's Fingers and occasionally attempts to nibble on my Jade. But, her attempt is never really to eat the plant, it's to play with it! LOL
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 27, 2009 07:30 AM	awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww what a cute kittie Icantfindroom!! livelaughlovepa, dose your cat sleep in your plants or eat them? You could try growing rye grass in a large planter special for her.(Agway sells winter rye seed $0.60 a pound. thats where I get it.) Use catnip spray or even flakes to lure her to the grass, spray bitter apple around the plants you want to keep her out of. They also have this stuff called pretator urin (wolf, cougar ect) but I think that is more for outdoor use
icanfindroom Anchorage, AK July 28, 2009 12:25 AM	Ooo ya, I hope the urine is for outdoor use LOL! Also bad if you have a dog ;) Catnip spray is a great idea. I've seen it but never checked it out. Is rye grass what cat grass is? Geez, I had no idea, how sad am I? Don't forget to put it in a good heavy pot. Plastic ones always end up on the floor with the grass half way across the room and a trail of dirt, or maybe that's just my cat.
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 28, 2009 08:42 AM	yea. I bought a pound of winter rye for $0.60. It's the same stuff as the little packages of cat treat grass, except for the price. My indoor cats dont like it very much. We have a empty planter full of dirt out side that is used as an ash tray. I poured some of the grass seed in there and I noticed my neighbors out door cats sleeping in it
icanfindroom Anchorage, AK July 29, 2009 12:20 AM	LOL! My cat likes it but not enough to eat it before it dies. Does yours die quickly? Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I have it inside & trim it but no luck.
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 30, 2009 08:10 AM	it depends on the size pot you use. it grows fast and will become root bounded quickley. The planter outsid that is full is about 30 in acrost. when I plant it indoors I use the 1cup pots (or less) I will count 25-50 seeds. I never trim it. the cats do that. When it becomes root bounded in the pot, I dig a hole in the yard where it is bare and let it grow there. My kitten keeps trying to eat the spider plants that I am rooting. I guess she likes the dangelies. I hope it dosnt hurt her
dp72 Woodway, TX (Zone 8a) July 30, 2009 08:03 PM	A lot of people decide between cats in the house and house plants and avoid the problems. Cats can be yard cats, or the plants can be yard plants. The cat can't help that it's placed in an environment where it's bored, and can't be blamed for exploring, even if that means emptying all the soil out of a pot onto the floor.
icanfindroom Anchorage, AK July 30, 2009 11:09 PM	ilovecatz, spider plants aren't toxic so your plant is the only thing you have to worry about. :) I have tons and tons of house plants and my kitty does fine with them. I do keep my palms and my baby spider plant out of reach though. Palms seem to be a delicacy to cats. Anything grass like or that resembles catnip right? dp72, not upset with the cat for dragging the grass across the floor, he was just trying to eat something I'd grown for him. I used the wrong pot and found out the hard way. Now I put it in a heavy pot so he can just enjoy without the pot following him :)
wescoast Whitewater, WI August 11, 2009 03:57 AM	My cat takes a mild interest in my spider plants, especially the babies. Never too much, however, but I do have some alternatives for him. Spiders, by the way, are not poisonous to cats for anyone concerned. I did see someone let their cat nibble on aloe. According to the rather comprehensive list on Cat Fanciers' Association website (link was posted early in this thread) it is poisonous to cats. Lilies will kill a cat in short order... they are highly poisonous. I have train tracks near me that offers a plethora of catnip. I've begun cultivating it indoors for when the weather starts to turn (and I am in an apartment so nowhere to go with it outdoors). He loves it... he'll just sit by the plant and sniff it usually, completely ignoring the spiders. I also grow him some rye grass on occasion. He actually likes it best when it is all dried and almost dead so lucky me. I would imagine if I were desperate enough a spray or air freshener that smelled like citrus somewhere near the plants would work. My cat hates the smell of any sort of citrus judging by the clear look of revulsion that washes over his face. dp72, I don't know what point you're trying to get across by essentially posting the same thing over and over. Cats are desperately bored when kept indoors? People should choose between cats and houseplants? If either is your intention, I would hope that a small amount of reason would tell you that you are wasting your time with such comments. Obviously these people aren't interested in deciding between them and for good reason. There can be a co-existence with just a small amount of effort. I wonder if people come to dispense sarcastic or inflammatory advice on a beginner's message board just to be self-righteous. I really see no other point in stating the obvious rather than helping to offer a solution to the question.
dp72 Woodway, TX (Zone 8a) August 11, 2009 10:21 AM	Oh, aren't YOU the self-righteous one? What is sarcastic or INFLAMMATORY about pointing out that the myriad of problems lamented about in these posts are evidence that cats will mess with plants when they have the opportunity? Sometimes the "obvious" goes right over the head of people who should know better. If someone wants to have cats, plants, lizards, dogs, and koi in the house, that is their decision, but they should not whine about the resulting conflicts. You offer ramblings about your cats and various plants. I offer reasonable advice as to how to prevent problems that result in a lot of bandwidth asking what to do. How about you do your thing and withhold advice for me and refrain from characterizing my statements with negative adjectives.
icanfindroom Anchorage, AK August 24, 2009 11:55 PM	Hmmm, o.k. dp72, I will dare to repeat one thing, my cat doesn't bother most of my house plants & I have many. Asking for advice on plants that are safe for pets to nibble, or that they may not prefer, is a perfectly reasonable thing. People post here because that's what it's for. There are many households with plants, dogs, and cats that co-exist happily so asking for advice is welcome. Asking a question is not whining otherwise you could categorize many many threads on DG as whining. I don't consider the above rambling, it is a discussion. Communication on threads between the people posting is what it's all about so it is fair for everyone to express opinions and agree, or agree to disagree.
catzgalore Burleson, TX (Zone 8a) November 01, 2009 10:45 AM	I have 9 cats and the the thing I have found to work best is crushed moth balls. You can buy them already crushed up and sprinkle them on top of the soil. It doesn't take much but it keeps mine out of the pots.
cando1 Ozone, AR (Zone 6a) November 02, 2009 01:25 AM	catzgalore, Please don't take this wrong. A friend of mine had a father come up with symptoms of Alzheimers, After a lot of tests it was discovered the man kept lots of mothballs in his clothes closet. The doctor told her the constant contact with mothballs would give symptoms of alzheimers. So google mothballs before u use it. I have cats and dogs and lots of indoor plants with no problems. Tho i plan to plant some cat grass. Thanks Vickie
catzgalore Burleson, TX (Zone 8a) November 02, 2009 08:26 AM	I've never heard that. I'll look it up.Thanks.