Cats are curious by nature so it's not a surprise that your cat wants to eat all your house plants! Unfortunately, this is an annoying and possibly dangerous habit for your cat.
Many common house plants are poisonous to your feline friend so it is important to know how to stop your cats from eating your plants. It may seem like an impossible task but there are ways to prevent it. Try your best to keep an eye on your cat so they don't accidentally eat something they shouldn't.
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Research and Remove Poisonous Plants
Since every home needs a little greenery, it is important to know what plants are going to be dangerous for your pets. The easiest way to determine what plants are non-toxic is research! You can research non-toxic house plants for cats or speak with someone who works at your local greenhouse with knowledge of house plants.
If you're looking for a pop of color, check out orchids and ferns, they tend to be non-toxic to cats.
The most common poisonous house plants you should avoid are:
- Philodendron
- Pothos
- Arrowhead
- Lily
- Peace Lily
- Dieffenbachia
- Oleander
- Caladium
- Ivy
- Mothers-in-Tongue
Add Cat Grass to Your Home Garden
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If you have a feline friend who just can't help themselves, look into Cat grass. This plant is a great addition to any home and is completely safe for your cats to eat.
Cat grass is specifically grown inside the home for your cat (and other pets) to enjoy. It is generally a "seed" mixture of oats, rye, wheat, or barley. It may not be a solution to getting your cat to stop eating your plants but it is a safe solution for your cat while allowing you to have some nice greenery in your home.
Make Your Plants Unappealing to Your Cat
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There are a few ways to make your house plants unappealing so your cats won't even bother!
Placement: Where you place your plants is an important part of keeping your cat at a distance. But, where can you put them where light is abundant and also out of reach? It's hard to pick the perfect place because cats can and do climb up to high places. So, placing your plants on a high shelf is not always the answer.
Hanging baskets are always a safe bet when placing your plants. They are high enough and not stable enough for your cat to get onto them. Hopefully your cat will loose their balance before they get the chance to eat the plants.
Place hanging baskets high up with nothing around for your cat to climb on to reach them. This includes bookshelves, wall shelves, desks etc. You may see your cat sitting underneath the plant, looking longingly at the leaves and vines trying to find a way onto it but, without a way to climb up, your plants will be safely out of your cat's mouth.
Smell: Cats are very sensitive to smell so if you want an easy way to deter them, all you need to do is to make it smell unappealing. You can make your plants odor bad (but possibly good to you) by adding citrus to the soil. You can add lemon or orange peels to the soil mix but cayenne pepper also works - Just sprinkle it all over the soil.
Surrounding: Another easy way to keep your cat from eating your plants is to surround your plant with something that will stop your cat from coming too close. You can lay tin foil around the plant and this should keep your cat from wanting to walk near your plant. When aluminum foil is crinkled it creates a high pitch sound that is bothersome to cats.
Sprays: Many different over-the-counter sprays are available, and they are designed to keep your cat from eating your plants. Follow the directions on the label and watch these all-natural products in action! It will not hurt your plant or your pets.
You can always make your sprays at home. Your spray can be as simple as mixing vinegar and water in a spray bottle using three parts water and one part vinegar. Spraying the leaves with this solution does not replace watering your plant.
Choose Plants Your Cats Hate: There are many house plants that you can buy that your cat just does not like to eat. Some plants that cats are known for disliking include roses or cacti. Your cat will not like anything with a lot of spikes or prickly plants.
Test It Out!
We all love our pets and want to make sure they are healthy and safe inside our homes, so it's important to know what plants can harm your cat and the ways to stop your cat from eating your house plants. There are many different ways to prevent your cat from chowing down including, sprays, placement, surroundings, smells, and hanging baskets. If you want to treat your cat, buy some cat grass for your home so your pets can enjoy it guilt free.
Did any of these tricks work for you? Let us know in the comments below!