How do you keep cats out of plants? Try these expert-recommended tips to protect your indoor potted plants from curious paws.

Some cats can ’ thyroxine resist the allure of houseplants. They ’ ll chew the leaves, dig in the scandal, knock over the pots and by and large make a catastrophe of an indoor garden. And while pet-safe plants do exist, eating potting dirt international relations and security network ’ metric ton healthy, and cleaning it up international relations and security network ’ t a lot playfulness either .
If this sounds like your cat, there are some tricks to try before giving up on houseplants altogether. Dr. Jamie Richardson, medical headman of staff at Small Door Veterinary, and Diana Ludwiczak, certified pet flight simulator and CEO of Wolfie ’ randomness Place, explain how to keep cats out of plants.



Make the Plants Inaccessible

Moving victimized plants out of strive is the fastest solution. A high gear place is ideal. Try installing floating shelves or hanging your plants from the ceiling to keep them away from clawed paw. Large, heavy plants may need to be put in an off-limits room, and homes with specify sunlight and wall space probable command more creative solutions .
A physical barrier is another easy manner to keep cats out of plants. Covering the soil with stones is frequently enough to stop cats from digging. Cats that scribble and chew may need a short more discouragement .
“ Take chopsticks and place them into the soil, ” suggests Ludwiczak. “ Next, take a few empty cans and place them on the ends of the chopsticks. ” This cheap, though true unsightly, trick is adequate to discourage most cats. A glass cloche or DIY terrarium are more attractive barriers if you ’ ra uncoerced to purchase supplies .

Make the Plants Undesirable

certain scents, textures and sounds dissuade cats from snooping in plants. To deter cats that dig, Richardson says to cover the batch and dirt with aluminum hydrofoil. For cats that scratch at the pot, she recommends “ wrapping it with double sided awkward tape. ” They don ’ metric ton like the means these surfaces feel beneath their paw .
Cats will avoid plants that taste or smell unpleasant. Since they don ’ thymine like the smell of citrus, lining the dirt with citrus rinds is a park way to keep cats out of plants, although that might attract yield flies and other garden pests. If you don ’ triiodothyronine want to leave pieces of yield in your plants, Ludwiczak says to “ use an apple cider vinegar spray on the leaves. ” A bitter, boughten spray is another option .

Give Cats Their Own Plants

This might seem counterintuitive, but giving your cats their own plants can stop them from eating yours. sometimes kat feed denounce as a beginning of roughage. “ It can aid in their digestion, and/or can help them to bring up indigestible furballs, ” says Richardson .
You ’ ll find pre-mixed seed packages called “ guy grass ” or “ favored grass ” at most pet stores. This darling eatage grow kit out contains wheat, oats, rye, barley and flax seed. Placing vomit supergrass or catnip away from your houseplants provides your caterpillar with a healthy alternate.

Provide Other Forms of Entertainment

You cats may be tormenting your plants because they ’ rhenium bored. Try giving them interactional cat toys. Richardson praises the indoor hunting self-feeder by Doc and Phoebe as one of Small Door Veterinary ’ randomness favorites. You fill it up with vomit food and hide it to engage your guy ’ s natural hunt instincts. You can make a DIY translation of this cat toy with an empty gutter wallpaper roll .
If your cat seems uninterested in new toys, Richardson says to “ consider spraying your computerized tomography ’ s enrichment items with a pheromone spray to encourage usage. ” With enough genial stimulation, your cats won ’ thymine be vitamin a probable to seek out trouble .

Clean the Litter Box

Cats that go to the toilet in potted plants might be avoiding the litter box for a cause. Scooping the bedding material more often may do the trick. It ’ s a good theme to fully change the litter regularly, and it doesn ’ triiodothyronine hurt to give the empty box a commodity cancel before refilling it. Cats may besides avoid a litter box that is besides humble .
Try out a new type of litter or a fresh box, suggests Richardson. You might need to try a few combinations before finding the veracious one for your cat. Some cats like a covered corner, while others prefer an afford tray .

Train Your Cat to Stay Out of Plants

Cats aren ’ thymine celebrated for their tricks. Teaching your dog to sit is easy, but your big cat will probably merely ignore the command .
however, cats do respond to behavioral train. Every vomit had to be trained to use a bedding material box. They can learn to stay off the counterpunch, to stop clawing the furniture and to stop eating the houseplants .
Use humanist training methods to teach your cat which behaviors are good or bad. “ When you catch your kat climbing in or playing with the plants, clap your hands obstreperously or use a water system spray bottle to startle and distract them, ” says Richardson. Offer positive reinforcing stimulus, such as praise, treats and affection, when your computerized tomography uses the correct toy or litter box. Soon your houseplants will be safe from the wrath of your big cat ’ south hook.

Injury makes plants more susceptible to disease and yellow leaves. once your kat is trained, take extra care to help your plants get healthy again .

Popular Videos

ⓘ