How to Dance with Cats & Plants

Let’s face it, cats can be a**holes, especially when it comes to plants. They will pick out your best leaves and destroy them. Which, if you are a plant lover, can totally be disheartening. I have received a few messages asking me how I keep our cats (we have five) from eating our plants. It has been quite challenging, but I have had some luck using these six tips with training them. Please keep in mind that we still have instances. My cats are not angels.

1- Place your plants strategically.

For the toxic plants, I always find a high spot or hang them so there is no chance of any cat taking a bite, not for the plant’s sake but for theirs. If there are specific cat-friendly & tasty plants that they will not leave alone, for the plant's health, I will find a high spot for those as well. Think out of sight, out of mind.

2- Place rocks on top of the soil.

Our youngest cat Zoey has a fetish with digging in the dirt. When we first got her, she began using our larger planters as her own litter box! Those poor plants! For all our larger floor planters we make sure to place a layer of rocks on top of the soil & she hasn’t dug since. If you go this route, monitor your plant for a few weeks just to make sure it isn't suffering from this addition. Also, keep in mind that the rocks will help retain moisture so don't overwater! Be mindful if you have small children as the rocks could be a hazard. The next two suggestions might be a better fit for your household.

3- Citrus peels or cayenne powder on top of the soil.

Cats are sensitive to smells and they hate citrus! Placing some orange or lemon peels (or juice) on top of the soil will keep them away. Cayenne pepper also works well too. They don’t usually come back after smelling that. With that all being said, avoid any kind of essential oils in place of these. In theory, the lemon essential oil would deter them, but you shouldn’t risk any chance of them licking it because they are super toxic to cats.

4- Over the counter spray.

If the organic route doesn’t work, they do make specific deterrent sprays that are safe to use. Here is one we have used in the past. I never sprayed the actual plant or the soil because I'm sure it's not plant-safe. I would spray the area surround the pot and the actual pot itself. This stuff worked so well & if you have any other issues, like clawing the couch or peeing in specific spots it can be used for that too!

5- Grow their own plant.

I grow their own cat grass and keep it by their water dish, so they always have their own safe plant to eat. They love it and cat grass is super nutritious for indoor cats and gentle on their stomach. It helps aid in the digestion of furballs and is packed with Vitamin A & D. Cat grass (wheatgrass) is completely different than the grass in our lawns. You can get it from your local pet store, or you can grow from seed which is my preference. If you are interested in learning how to grow your own cat grass for your feline friend or yourself, let me know.

6- When all else fails have a small spray bottle of water ready.

Sometimes one mist is all they need. I haven’t had to use a spray bottle in years because they hate it so much. Towards the end of use, I would just have to pick up the bottle and they would jump down and run away. They learn quickly. You should only use the spray bottle if they are caught in the act & try to avoid their eyes.

If you use any of these tips or want to add anything, I would love to hear from you. I hope you get to enjoy the best of both worlds (cats & plants) with these tips.

Always,

Erikka