Since cats are sensitive to smell, you might also be able to deter it by spraying your plants with pine, lemon, or eucalyptus oil. Cat-Friendly Garden Ideas: Tips For Creating A Cat-Friendly Garden, Indoor Plants Cats Avoid: Houseplants Cats Won't Chew On Or Potty In, Curry Plant Information: How To Grow Helichrysum Curry Plants, Madonna Lily Flower: How To Care For Madonna Lily Bulbs, Ice Suncatcher Ideas – Making Frozen Suncatcher Ornaments, DIY Christmas Bows: How To Make A Holiday Bow For Plant Crafts, Low Growing Viburnums: Can You Use Viburnum As Ground Cover, Zone 5 Deer Resistant Perennials – Perennials That Are Deer Resistant In Zone 5, Why Is My Sunflower Not Blooming: Reasons For No Blooms On Sunflower, Ornamental Bark On Trees: Choosing Trees With Showy Bark, Fresh-Cut Pine Tree Smell: Perfect Christmas Tree Memories, Norfolk Island Pine - The Perfect Christmas Tree, Winter Survival Guide: Creative Ways To Garden In Winter, Evergreen Favorite: Container Grown Olive Trees. Deterring your cats and distracting their attention can keep your plants safe from the curious paws of kitty. Keep Cats Indoors. This article has been viewed 14,691 times. Those two items will do more for your indoor garden than any fertilizer or premium potting soil. You can also try hanging your plants from the ceiling or using a tall, narrow plant stand to keep them out of your cat’s reach. Some may actually love it. Add some citrus peels . An alternative to covering the dirt with rocks is … You can find low-cost spray bottles online(link to Amazon) or at a local hardware store. These work not too badly, although they need to be replaced on a regular basis. NOTE: Citrus oil extracts like those found in insecticidal sprays, dips, shampoos, insect repellents, food additives, and fragrances are toxic to cats a… Double-sided tape is a great way to keep cats out of houseplants, it is easy to set up and you do … You can find out more about how to determine if your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat in our guide. Coleus canina – This attractive plant, also known as scaredy-cat plant, can be grown indoors or outdoors. Lv 6. Cut a piece of chicken wire or hardware cloth slightly smaller than the diameter of the container. One is to keep the cats out of specific areas by planting a few varieties they don’t like. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Pick up a cat houseplant deterrent spray at your local pet store. Put orange and lemon peels in your pots along with the plants to help deter them. If you don’t have rocks in your yard, look at a hobby shop or aquarium store. It bears repeating that the only way to keep birds and other wildlife safe from domesticated cats is to keep cats indoors.All of the other tips on this list are only going to be partially effective, and only address the symptoms, not the underlying problem of the negative ecological impact that our domesticated cats have on wildlife. Use tall, narrow plant stands if you don’t want to hang items. Citrus is supposed to be one of these scents, orange and lemon peels for example. Plant Pattern Covers are offered 10 different Pattern styles designed to fit the customer’s personal style. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Pine cones can also work well for keeping your cat out of your plants. You can decide on the size, but larger rocks may work better than smaller ones your cat can move aside with its paw. Use Plant Pattern Covers on your Kitchen and Bathroom Trashcans to stop your cats and dogs from making a mess. To safeguard your plants from your cat, move them to an area that your cat can’t reach, like high shelves, a balcony, or a sun porch. Arrange a few large rocks in pots, with the rough edges facing up. The rocks add interest and actually help keep moisture in the soil, but kitties don’t like the feel of rough stuff on their paws. Keeping Your Kitty Safe. In addition to the safe plants, we’ve also included a short list of common indoor plants that are toxic to cats for easy reference. Midwest Gardener 1,905 views. In most cases, cats tend to avoid the following plants: Rosemary – Most cats hate it, but felines are unpredictable. Buy cat-safe deterrents at a large retailer or pet store. Cut a piece of chicken wire or hardware cloth slightly smaller than the diameter of the container. Cats tend to like these and there are perfectly safe to be chewed occasionally. Play with your kitty every day. When choosing plants, pick ones that are not sprayed with chemicals. Another option is spraying the leaves directly with diluted lemon juice or orange oil. They can hurt your cat. I saw [this]... jump to content. If your cat likes to dig in your plants, put a layer of rocks over the soil to keep your cat’s paws out. This article has been viewed 14,691 times. Chunks of citrus peels on the surface of the soil are often effective houseplant cat deterrents. While simple, this technique only works if you are home most of the time and can keep a personal eye on your plants. You can … Stunning patterns and wide leaves are a defining feature of calathea (Calathea spp.) Ask an employee if you’re not sure. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Though they are generally easy to care for, they typically prefer more humidity compared to other indoor plants. Favorite Answer. Cover the wire with a thin layer of potting soil topped with colorful stones or pea gravel. Bitter apple tends to be very effective. Wall shelves that are fitted off and away from furniture, high enough to keep cats from being able to jump onto them, are a viable way to cat proof your house plant collection. Some plants are potentially toxic to cats, and cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. By: Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Defender Spikes can be placed in the pot to deter cats from entering. plants. Plant Pattern Covers can be used for Indoor Plants as well as Patio and Outdoor Plants. Felines are innately curious, which means that protecting houseplants from cats can be a major challenge. For extra protection, hang the cage from a hook or curtain rod. But these habits may become annoying to you and could kill your plants. Adding some citrus peels right at the base of the soil will … popular-all-random-users | news-AskReddit-worldnews-videos-funny-todayilearned-pics-aww-gifs-gaming-tifu-Jokes-explainlikeimfive-mildlyinteresting-Showerthoughts-IAmA -movies-Futurology-science-askscience-television-sports … For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to teach your cat to leave your plants alone, keep reading! edit subscriptions. Most cats aren’t crazy about the aroma of citrus. Safe houseplant cat deterrents include pine cones nestled into the top of the soil. Plants provide cats with dietary fiber, which acts as a laxative or an emetic to relieve hairballs. If you have smaller plants that your cat loves to knock off window sills and shelves, try putting them in decorative bird cages. Curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) – Don’t confuse this herb with real curry (Murraya koenigii). www.spokesman.com. Read more articles about General Houseplant Care. Poke the screening you choose down in the plant dirt. However, they’re worth a try, and they may just be successful! Cats eventually understand that, “No!” means you don’t like her behavior. Keep cats away from chewing on indoor plants by providing them with some plants of their own. Find rocks in your yard or local beach or buy them at a pet store. Many deterrents come in scents and tastes cats don’t like. The cat may be so delighted that it will leave your other plants alone. They allow the plant to grow through lets air and water run through easily. You can also put your plants in a room that your pets aren't allowed in, such as a sunroom or enclosed patio. (If your cat nibbles before then, he could kill the plants.) Many cats see plants as a source of food and fun. calathea. Cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels. Protecting Plants From Cats With Plastic Forks - And Morning Glories. Sprinkle cayenne pepper around the leaves of houseplants and your cat will back away pretty quickly. Thus, you need tips and tricks that are safe both for plants and cats. Read the usage instructions and spray the product on your plant. Some scents are offensive to cats and if the plants are sprayed with these scents, technically the cats won't go near them. Keep the edible plants watered and maintained, and monitor your cat’s access, if necessary. Close any doors or use a gate to keep the cat out of the space. 4. By covering up the tempting soil inside the pots, you'll naturally deter your cat from doing his business inside them. Put plants on shelves that are too high for a jumping cat. Fans and plant grow lights. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Install hanging planters near a sunny window that is far enough to keep the leaves from tempting your cat’s paws. To many cat lovers, the idea of a cat household with plants is an oxymoron. 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