Gardening Question of the Week
How Do You Keep Cats Off Your Houseplants?
This question comes up all the time. mmcdannells wrote: “What are your ideas to keep my kids cats off my plants? They have yet to go to the bathroom in them, I am not giving them a chance but you know how a sneaky cat can be. One of the cats lays on top of one of my houseplants, just broke this one not long ago!! I moved a larger plant out of the main kitchen window and put the cats sleeping boxed there since they broke this bigger plant so many times wanting the sunlight I guess?, I gave into the cats on that one. Moved that bigger plant to another spot and set up lights for where it is now. However I would rather not give up this other spot to the cats. I am frustrated.....
I should add, there is not one plant they like more then the other. I have made it so they are not allowed in one "room" that is just for plants and the bathroom which is full of plants. Thank you!”
I pointed her to a really good article by About.com’s Guide to Cats, How to Win Territorial Battles with your Cat. One of them put sea shells around her plants to prevent her cats from scratching. I would suspect rough stones would work as well.
But for cats that are after the sun or heat or who are munching on plants, the suggestion I liked best was to use a citrus scented household spray cleaner on the table under the plant. Most cats hate the smell of citrus and stay clear.
Any more suggestions?
Photo courtesy Amber Braaten / stock.xchng.
Comments
Please call me at 404-316-4102.
I want to know how to make donations to about.com
Do you have any suggestions for keeping cats from outside flowerbeds?
Instead of spray can which has ‘toxians’, put orange or grapefruit peel around the plant and even on the shelf.
A squirt gun worked for me!! if I missed at least the plant got watered.
My cats WERE using the bigger plants to relieve themselves. I put some little fencing around them. That seems to have worked!!
My cats prefer plants with grass-like foliage (most dracaenas, most palms, etc). They rarely chew on leaves that have rounded edges, only sharp ones. I use a lot of hanging baskets. I keep the most valuable houseplants in rooms that can be closed off when I’m not at home. I find high places in good light and cluster the plants close together so the cats have nowhere to land if they try to jump onto the surfaces. I avoid plants in large pots with exposed soil. It’s a constant struggle, in a small apartment with 3 cats and upwards of 30 houseplants!
Just put a little insect screening on top of the soil in your plant pots and the cats will leave them alone.
Della
In response to Joe, if you’re talking about money donations, thanks you, but About.com is a commercial company that makes its profit from advertising.
If you’re talking about submitting articles, hold that thought. I’ll be putting up a submission form very soon.
Cayenne pepper from the spice aisle in the grocery store works. Sprinkle liberally around the base of the plants so that it covers the soil.
I cover the soil around the plants with pine cones and the cats don’t bother the potted plants anymore.
buy some small balloons and after blowing them up place in and around the plants or flowers. The curious animals will bat at them with their claws and when they break it the sound will scare them. They wont be back after they break a couple of them. This also works for keeping pets off furniture.
Good luck
I used my mister to keep my cats off my houseplants with a sharp no. My cats learned quickly that they would get wet if by a houseplant. They figured out there own way to get the sun, and not disturb the plant.
Any type of chili powder works for me, sprinkled liberally on the topsoil. Cats cannot handle it, and while they learn they are fabulously entertaining.
hide clear plastic picnic forks (handle side in the soil with just the prongs out of the ground) in flower beds.