Does anyone have any remedies to deter my cats from eating my houseplants/flowers? I love to keep small potted plants and flowers in my home, but I cats love to chew on the them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have tried all these things. the kitty grass did work before, but now he eats that and my plants. so every morning I wake up to vomit, cause every time he nibbles on any house plants he throws it up. any other suggestions? any sprays I have bought to deter him, including this disgusting sour spray, has not worked at all.
I have read all of these. I bought the cat grass and they ate it down to nothing then moved back onto my house plants. I'm going to try the lemon, and I will keep you up dated. This is a great web site! Thanks All
Hi, Cats eat house plants because they like and need "greens" in their diets too. I buy "cat grass seeds" for our cats. You can buy it at any pet store, grocery stores, Wal-mart. I've also bought wheat grass seeds from Whole Foods.
It grows fast and the cats love it. Mine never touch house plants when they have their own grass. You can buy a kit for about $3. It comes in a plastic container that has soil and seeds. Instructions too.
DON'T use the red, or any other kind of pepper, method. It burns the cats' eyes. There have been documented cases of cats actually scratching their eye out to stop the pain!
Sprinkle the plants with ground red pepper. They always smell anything they are about to eat and hate pepper. If crazy enough to take a bite that's even better. If you lightly mist the leaves first the pepper will stick better. Good luck.
Buy the inside formula cat food. The cat needs the greens just like we do. My cat won't touch the kitty greens. I asked my vet why he was eating my plants and he said I was using the wrong kind of cat food. So after his suggestion I purchased the inside cat food formula and it hasn't happened since. Been 5 years now.
Just get a a little planter and fill with soil and some grass seed. When this grows it will be for kitty. Kitties like to eat grass when they have stomach problems or constipation. Cathy from MA
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Request: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
Archived on 07/31/2008
My husband loves houseplants, but our cat keeps nibbling on them. We always keep his dish full, so he is not starving by any means. I don't want him to get sick. My husband is not happy that his plants keep dying. How can we keep our cat from the plants? He jumps up as high as we can put them. Also, what plants should we not bring into the house? Are there plants that we can buy for only him?
Marie from Idaho Falls, ID
Answers:
RE: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
You can buy the cats their own plants. Pet stores sell cat grass in a small container. You water it and raise it for the cats to eat, they need plants too. Also get some cat nip, they love it and it may help. If the cats still think your plants are yummier, put tin foil under and blown up balloons by your plants so the cat will have to walk on them. They don't like tin foil and when the balloons pop it will scare them. Hope this helps. (08/01/2007)
By Stripes
RE: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
Here is one list of many for plants that are poisonous to cats:
Any plants I have are up and out of reach of the cats. (08/01/2007)
By Maryeileen
RE: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
It's natural for cats to eat greens. Get the cat his/her own greens either with one of those cat grass plants or offer things like cooked peas, which a lot of cats like (just not cooked to death). (08/01/2007)
I bought a cat grass kit from Walmart, and that really helps keep them from eating my other plants. The second time I bought it, I only used about 1/4 of the seeds that were included each time, you don't need to use it all at once. (08/01/2007)
By LM/SD
RE: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
thanks for the tips. i don't live in the U.S. so i have no access to WALMART. Putting balloons around my plants is not going to improve on the decor of my home BUT many tks to Stripes for her idea of tin foil around the plants. thats unobtrusive and HOPEFULLY it will deter the cat! however tempting it is to buy poisonous plants, my mum would be heartbroken if anything happened to her precious cat even tho i could cheerfully strangle it sometimes, specially when i find ANOTHER half eaten pot plant! (08/02/2007)
By cett
RE: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
I am glad that your cats will eat kitty grass. The cat I had for nine years didn't get the idea. He would look at them and then look at me as if to say,what do you want me to do with these. My friends have cats that love them. So it depends on the cat. Mine like my plants better. (08/02/2007)
By SunshineRose
RE: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
I rub a fresh lemon all around the rim of the flower pots when i see the cat going back near them again i put more lemon around it works great. I like to do jigsaw puzzles i do them on a card table i squeeze the juice from the lemon on foil and put it in the corners of the card table now the cat does not jump on the card table. it works good and the smell keeps them away. good luck. No more problems
(08/02/2007)
By francorrine AT webtv.net
RE: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
I use to have the same problem with my cats so I put oranges, lemons or grapefruit around the plant. The smell and the acid in these fruits will burn their eyes and nose they will leave the plant alone. Or you could try a spray bottle filled with water and spray the cat every time you see it near the plant. Both worked for me. (08/02/2007)
By adrian
RE: Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
tks for suggestions especially francorrine. thats a brilliant idea of using lemon around the rim of the pots! It won't harm the cat or my plants. going to try it out RIGHT NOW! (08/05/2007)
