Use Citruses There are several ways in which you can use citruses to keep your cat from eating the leaves of your favorite plant. Or you could try a spray bottle filled with water and spray the cat every time you see it … One is that cats' reactions vary widely. If you're tired of cleaning up after one of these wrestling matches, or own plants that are toxic to cats, keeping them apart requires some dedication and ingenuity. Unfortunately, if you own a cat, these plants can be particularly tempting for them to eat when you're not around, and while some may be safe for your companion, others may put him or her at a risk of poisoning or myriad other feline health problems.Luckily, there are a number of ways that you can deter your cat from eating your house plants and utilize these decorative ideas for a cat … When given an alternative like this, most cats will forget about the houseplants entirely. Sometimes you have to get close in to see for sure. Click here to see a comprehensive list of toxic plants. Even with this guide, accidents happen. You can ease up on the disincentives if your cat is not eating the plants but merely sniffing or rubbing her cheeks against them, as part of her normal "taking inventory" routine. With the new year right around the corner, why not create a fitness resolution for both you and your pooch? The smell of the vinegar will keep your cat away and break her habit of eating or playing in the plants. You can also rub a dilute vinegar solution on the leaves; it won't hurt the plant, but it's a major turnoff for cats. Ask-a-Vet is not manned by the staff or owners of CatHealth.com, and the advice given should not delay or replace a visit to your veterinarian. Getting your dog to accept booties and wear them without a fuss is a whole other discussion. Houseplants or not, it's imperative that you take steps to keep your cat adequately stimulated. The following table lists some of the more common harmful plants. Put Plants Out of Sight. Use a combination of mild deterrents as needed to make plants unappealing. Within a few days, you'll have seedlings sprouting up. Too much exposure, even to the non-toxic and safe plants can lead to health issues, especially vomiting and diarrhea.How to Keep Your Cat from Eating Your Houseplants As nasty as it is for us to clean up, it also causes extreme discomfort to your cat Cats love to climb and explore so it may be difficult to keep plants away from them, no matter how high you place them. Sometimes it’s not the eating of the plants that is the problem, but rather it’s the planter itself that attracts your cat. When deciding where to put your plants, remember that cats are excellent climbers and jumpers! This may protect your plants from your cat’s hungry mouth and fun-seeking paws. Some of the best cat safe houseplants include Spider Plants, Staghorn Fern, Money Tree, Polka Dot … The smell and the acid in these fruits will burn their eyes and nose they will leave the plant alone. Often plants obtained from a nursery or florist have been recently treated with insecticide. Another option, especially with larger plants, is to keep the plants in a room that is inaccessible to kitty, but this is much easier said than done. Research shows that cats have a tendency to chew on grass even if they do not consume them. 4 Ways to Get Your Cat to Stop Eating Your Houseplants. Stepping on tin foil creates … Put plants on shelves that are too high for a jumping cat. Cats will turn anything into toys, and that includes houseplants. When in doubt, assume that a plant is poisonous. You can toss orange and lemon peels into your pots to keep pets away. There is a charge for the service if you choose to connect to a veterinarian. Initially, a bot will ask questions to determine the general nature of your concern. Notice: Ask-a-Vet is an affiliated service for those who wish to speak with a veterinary professional about their pet's specific condition. Place tin-foil plates on a table. Even something as simple as English Ivy can poison a house cat. Best cat safe houseplants. We're not really sure. Even the slightest wiggle can activate your cat’s hunting instincts. It’s all natural and won’t do any harm to the leaves or roots. Have a spray bottle of water handy, and give your cat a spritz when they get near your plants. In Short... Keep the plants out of your kitty's reach. 5 Booties or shoes for your dog can help keep your dog’s paws properly protected when faced with ice, snow, or other inclement weather. One crucial suggestion, though – try not to keep plants that are toxic for your cat in the apartment. Bitter Apple, a well-known repellent, has an odor that cats hate but is unnoticeable to humans, and it's safe for your plants. Keep the plants in an area your cat can’t reach or has no access, such as a bedroom. Click here to see a comprehensive list of non-toxic plants. If a plant is toxic, assume all parts of the plant are poisonous! Can You Spray Your Houseplants With White Vinegar to Keep Cats From Eating Them?. Beagles have their own set of health concerns that they’re genetically predisposed to. Put orange and lemon peels in your pots along with the plants to help deter them. Eating houseplants is only one danger facing a bored cat. Be stealthy if you use the latter technique, so that kitty associates the squirt with the act, not with you. If you don't feel like creating your own mixture, Bodhi Dog makes a Bitter Lemon Spray. Move houseplants: The easiest thing to do to keep your cat away from your houseplants is to basically move them to another part of the house or apartment. Sign up for the FREE Cat Health Mewsletter: How to Keep Your Cat from Chewing on Houseplants, Click here to see a comprehensive list of toxic plants, Click here to see a comprehensive list of non-toxic plants, How to Select, Set Up, and Maintain The Litter Box(es), If it's after-hours, call the nearest emergency veterinary clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at. Place your houseplants in high places such as on top of a shelf or cabinet. Spraying your plants with vinegar will prevent Kitty from eating the leaves -- but the leaves will be dead. Indoor cats in particular — we speak from long experience here — have a tendency to assign themselves amateur gardening duty out of boredom, curiosity or (we're speculating) a need to follow … Molly of Almost Makes Perfect came up with a liquid solution to spray onto your plants. You can find low-cost spray bottles online(link to Amazon) or at a local hardware store. An alternative, particularly if your cat … Fresh catnip is another healthy option; the plant is not difficult to grow indoors. The easiest way to keeping your plants safe is by moving them to a more secure location. Choosing Safe Indoor Plants Avoid keeping toxic plants in the house. This is by far the most effective step you can take to prevent your cat from eating your indoor plants—some of which may be toxic. Cats don’t like the scent of citrus. While you’ve more than likely set one for yourself, what about New Year’s resolutions for your puppy? Once the first tiny blades of grass pop up, move the container to a sunny location. However, that’s exactly why it’s so important to keep your kitties away from your plants—many common varieties are toxic to cats and dangerous when ingested. If you feel inclined to harbor any of these plants mentioned below, please keep them as far away from cats as possible. NOTE: Citrus oil extracts like those found in insecti… For plants in medium-to-large containers, putting decorative but sharp-edged rocks on top of the soil will dissuade kitty from sitting there. Rotate the toys, inject variety into the playing routine, and introduce cardboard box "hideouts" on a regular basis to give your cat an opportunity to discover new things and exercise her mind. You can also plant a container of wheatgrass yourself; it's easy. Place them far from your houseplants, perhaps in the kitchen, near where she eats. In the home, cats sometimes eat houseplants out of boredom, or because they're attracted to the leaves fluttering in the air currents. from plants. Of course, if your cat is using the planter as a litter box, you need to diagnose and fix the underlying cause, which could be anything from an insuffficient number of litter boxes to dangerous bladder stones. But young, tender vegetation seems to be their favorite. Unfortunately, it's also a great plant killer, so effective that it can kill weeds. The only downside to this setup is that the grass usually dies out after a couple of weeks, so you have to replenish often. Vinegar is a great cat deterrent. There are a number of non-toxic substances that you can apply to plant leaves to make them smell or taste terrible to kitty. The toxicity of other plants in the list ranges from mild to severe. Those of us with houseplants and house pets know that combining the two is tricky, occasionally dangerous and almost always messy. Many plants have leaves that wiggle from a breeze of vibrations in the floor. About two out of three cats go wild over catnip for its mind-altering properties (which, by the way, decrease the more that a cat is exposed to the plant). Although cats are primarily carnivores, in the wild they also nibble on plants, for added nutrients or fiber, or perhaps just because they like the taste. What if My Cat Ingests Part of a Poisonous Plant? Place your plants in hanging baskets and suspend them from hooks in the ceiling, away from ledges where cats can't reach them. Related link: How to Select, Set Up, and Maintain The Litter Box(es)). (Side note: sharp rocks may also stop cats from urinating in planters. As a result, they won't want to come close to the plants. You … If your cat is repeatedly chewing on your houseplants, give him/her cat grass so he/she leaves the rest of your plants alone. Eating green matter often causes cats to vomit. Put cat-friendly plants like "kitty grass" in a separate area, such as near the food bowl. Veterinarian-written / veterinarian-approved articles for your cat. Decorative rocks or gravel If you have trouble with your cats using the dirt in your plants as a litter box, the solution may be as easy as adding in some stones to cover the dirt so that they can’t dig. Many popular houseplants, such as ivy and philodendron, are poisonous to cats. For smaller plants, you can place them on high shelves, mount them on the wall, or hang them from the ceiling. Sticking the handles of plastic forks into the soil with the tines facing up can prevent your cat from digging. Out of sight, they say, is out of mind. Cats have a strong distaste for anything citrus. If it’s possible, settling your plants in the most … Luckily, we’ve compiled some of the best tips to teach your dog to wear booties. While simple, this technique only works if you are home most of the time and can keep a personal eye on your plant… You may find her digging in soil, thinking the dirt is another litter box for her. You can find similar products in most pet supply stores, or online. Cats, curious creatures that they are, may nibble on your houseplants just for the fun of it. As pooch parents, it’s our responsibility to make sure that our dog stays fit and healthy. You can find wheatberries at most health food stores. Although dragging and moving your houseplants might seem a bit extreme but it is the easiest method to keep your cat … Simply follow the directions on the package. Then, you will be transferred to a human. Lawns outside can be risky because of pesticides that might be sprayed upon it. Many house plants are toxic to cats as well. When you go to the veterinarian, if at all possible bring the plant, or at least a piece of it, for identification. Looking for footwear for your best furry friend? As a responsible pet parent, it’s important to be aware of these concerns in order to inform proper care of your canine. Sprinkle cayenne pepper around the leaves of houseplants and your cat will back away pretty quickly. If you want to know how to keep feral cats out of the yard, … Clap your hands, say "no" in your moderately-loud "bad kitty" voice, or use a squirt gun. Even plants that are inherently non-poisonous can be toxic if sprayed with chemicals. The other is that the scent of the product wears off after a few days; however, if it's strong enough, it won't take long for kitty to get the message. In most cases, cat versus houseplant will result in a mess. Stopping a cat from eating plants is fairly simple, and there are a couple of different tactics you can try to keep the feline away from your indoor garden. You can also cat-proof houseplants by making them smell bad. One is to keep the cats out of specific areas by planting a few varieties they don’t like. Discontinue any negative reinforcement that overly frightens your cat or that is ineffective. Although … In addition to making the plants unattractive to your cat, you can startle her whenever she's about to start munching on a plant. Putting your plants … Another option, especially with larger plants, is to keep the plants in a room that is inaccessible to kitty, but this is much easier said than done. The easiest (and probably the most effective) way in keeping your cats from eating houseplants is to keep the plants out of their reach. The new year is just around the corner, and with it comes the age old tradition of setting goals to send you into the new year. First, place orange peel on the ground as this has an acidic smell which is very unpleasant to cats. How to Use Clicker Training to Keep Your Cat off the Counter, Training Your Cat To Stay Off The Kitchen Counter. However, be aware that any plant matter, when consumed, may produce minor gastrointestinal discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea. This is the classic cat “training” technique. Cats like the fibrous texture of plants, so chewing on them is simply a fun and pleasurable experience. Vinegar is acidic, and it can kill roots and keep the plant from absorbing water and nutrients. Keep in mind that what works for one cat might not be effective for another. Cats also hate the smell of citrus. If your pet can’t access them, there’s no way it can eat them. When I decided I was going to have cats I actually gave up having house plants. Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. Place Your Plants Strategically. Booties can be an amazing tool for keeping your puppy's paws protected. Another option is spraying the leaves directly with diluted lemon juice or orange oil. Using either juice of a lemon, lime, or orange diluted with some water can be sprayed on the leaves of your plant to ward off any feline invasion. Place your plants strategically. In some cases, it's easiest just to give plants away to someone who doesn't live with a cat (or other animal who needs to be kept away from houseplants). Lastly, try to keep your cat's environment as stimulating as possible, to prevent boredom, one of the main causes of improper behavior. Plus, the recipe takes just two ingredients, water and essential oil, and — most importantly — she says that it completely works. The following plants are generally recognized as safe for cats. Note: lilies with an asterisk (*) after the name are particularly dangerous; they may cause kidney failure in cats. Keep in mind that you have to employ these behavior modification measures while kitty is eating, or just about to eat, a plant; otherwise they can actually be counterproductive. Here are seven simple solutions to keep your greenery—and your feline friends—alive and healthy. Cats hate the smell, so placing them in or around your plants and flowers will keep the kitties away. For best results, you may want to situate kitty's private vegetable garden near her food and water, away from the other plants, to avoid giving mixed signals about eating plants. Keep dangerous plants out of kitty's reach. Once you've got kitty's attention, if she doesn't stop eating on her own, follow up by carrying her away from the plant and over to a suitable distraction, such as a pot of "kitty grass" (see below) or her favorite scratching post. Plant Coleus canina. Preventing Behavior that Damages Plants Hang your plants from the ceiling. You can make cat repellent by mixing peppermint, eucalyptus oil, or lemon juice with water (one part juice, three parts water) and spraying the mixture on the dirt around the base of your plant. Check out this guide on How to Keep Cats From Eating House Plants to keep your cat and your plants safe! Create a Safe Barrier. Plant them in dirt that is kept moist but not saturated. But catnip also has a decent supply of vitamins and fiber, which can aid digestion. Eating them can cause real trouble for your pupil. Keep Toxic Plants Away from Kitty In some cases, it's easiest just to give plants away to someone who doesn't live with a cat (or other animal who needs to be kept away from houseplants). Be aware that repellents have two common shortfalls. Play with her each day, provide her with an array of scratching posts and high perches, set up hiding places, keep a bird feeder stocked outside the window, and hide treats in random places throughout the house. Plants work to deter cats in two ways. If you’re dealing with cats who eat plants, you can try a few techniques to avert the behavior. To satisfy your cat's need to add some greens to her diet, you can buy "kitty grass" that comes with its own container. Is your cat eating your plants? Keep your houseplants in a different room that you can lock and keep your cat out of. Create an interesting environment, with lots of playtime, to keep your cat from being bored. 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