Cat's love plants, usually too much.
If your cat is destroying your plants here are some tips to deter them from digging up and munching on your houseplants. Keeping both your plants, and your cat safe!
How to Deter Digging
- Create Uninviting Terrain: Cover the soil with small pebbles, marbles, pinecones, or (our favourite) large, smooth river stones. This will block them digging.
- Aluminum Foil Shield: Cats often dislike the feel and sound of aluminum foil on their paws. Placing it over the soil can be an effective deterrent.
Prevent Munching
- Citrus Surprise: Cats typically dislike citrus scents. Orange or lemon peels placed around the base of your plants might deter them.
- Bitter Taste Deterrent: Bitter apple sprays can be applied to plant leaves to discourage chewing (and don't harm the plant)
- Cat-Safe Alternatives: Consider getting cat-safe plants like spider plants or Boston ferns. These options can satisfy your cat's curiosity without harming them.
- Offer Healthy Grass: Provide your cat with their own "grass" to munch on. Wheatgrass and other cat-safe plants are readily available and can satisfy their cravings.
General Tips
- Keep Plants Out of Reach: Trim hanging plants and move toxic plants to an inaccessible area.
- Understand Your Cat's Behavior: If your cat seems bored, increase playtime with interactive toys and provide a comfortable window perch for entertainment.
- Identify Toxic Plants: Research which houseplants are harmful to cats and remove them from your home. Symptoms of plant poisoning can be severe and even fatal. If you suspect your cat has ingested a toxic plant, contact your vet immediately.
It might take a combination of these methods to find what works best for your cat. Have you found other hacks that have worked with your cat? Let us know!