how to protect indoor plants from cats

An alternative to covering the dirt with rocks is to place a plastic or wire screen around your plant. Plants provide cats with dietary fiber, which acts as a laxative or an emetic to relieve hairballs. Put orange and lemon peels in your pots along with the plants to help deter them. Many cats see plants as a source of food and fun. 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. Since cats are sensitive to smell, you might also be able to deter it by spraying your plants with pine, lemon, or eucalyptus oil. Fans help mimic the natural breeze outdoor plants usually get, and the plant light is essential for dreary fall and winter weather. Answer Save. Arrange a few large rocks in pots, with the rough edges facing up. 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 … Felines are innately curious, which means that protecting houseplants from cats can be a major challenge. I saw [this]... jump to content. They are not 100 percent guaranteed to repel a cat, but they do have cat-repelling properties. Keep cats away from chewing on indoor plants by providing them with some plants of their own. Cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels. Some other ideas to keep your plants safe from cats: Cat Scat Mats are specially designed to keep cats out of gardens. Read the usage instructions and spray the product on your plant. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Fans and plant grow lights. Provide scratching posts and various toys to stimulate your kitty and prevent boredom, which is one of the reasons houseplants become attractive. This article has been viewed 14,691 times. If your cat likes to dig in your plants, put a layer of rocks over the soil to keep your cat’s paws out. Cats also tend to like barley, oatgrass, or wheatgrass (The down side is that this may simply tell your kitty that eating plants is acceptable.). If you have cats, we recommend steering clear of these. Keep reading and see the best natural solutions for you to protect indoor plants from cats. These are all normal behaviors for cats, especially if they are always indoors. Offer the plants to your cat when the shoots have grown to about 4 inches tall. 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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This is the classic cat “training” technique. (If your cat nibbles before then, he could kill the plants.) www.spokesman.com. $24 for a set of 6. Install hanging planters near a sunny window that is far enough to keep the leaves from tempting your cat’s paws. % of people told us that this article helped them. Give them catnip or cat grass (oat and barley grass), a pot of mint or thyme which they can chew on. calathea. I think they’re probably my favourite option for large collections, so long as you get the placement right. Play with your kitty every day. An alternative to covering the dirt with rocks is … Hang indoor potted plants from the ceiling with plant hooks to keep them out of reach of cats. They allow the plant to grow through lets air and water run through easily. Lemon balm – Cats don’t like the citrusy aroma or the rough texture of the foliage. Line pine cones around the bottom of your plant. For extra protection, hang the cage from a hook or curtain rod. If you don’t have rocks in your yard, look at a hobby shop or aquarium store. Cats love playing with flowers and plants, whether they scrape the soil around them or simply chew or scratch them, but this can often be dangerous for them.If you have a cat at home, it is highly recommended you keep them away from apple and peach trees, poinsettias, eucalyptus, marijuana, tulips, azaleas, begonias etc; as they are highly toxic for cats. Midwest Gardener 1,905 views. Double-sided tape is a great way to keep cats out of houseplants, it is easy to set up and you do … However, some cats will prefer to stay indoors and others will need to remain indoor-only cats because of health conditions, such as FIV. Keep reading and see the best natural solutions for you to protect indoor plants from cats. Some plants are potentially toxic to cats, and cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. If you have larger animals, you may need to move your plants higher up, like on window ledges or in hanging baskets. Find rocks in your yard or local beach or buy them at a pet store. Cats hate the smell, so placing them in or around your plants and flowers will keep the kitties away. Place pine cones in a plant. 15 Answers. Will planting peppermint, lavender or lemongrass keep cats away from a greenhouse? You can cut the netting to fit around plants. Chunks of citrus peels on the surface of the soil are often effective houseplant cat deterrents. Cover the wire with a thin layer of potting soil topped with colorful stones or pea gravel. Place your rocks or seashells around the dirt in the planter. http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/why-do-cats-knock-things-over, http://www.petsafe.net/learn/protecting-your-plants-from-your-cats, https://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-problems/cats-plants/, http://www.catscenterstage.com/kitty-houseplants.shtml, http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/preventing-and-punishing-undesirable-behavior-in-cats/5496, http://www.purrballs.com/catcare/scolding.html, http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/7-plants-your-cats-will-love-w-148323, http://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/why-do-cats-knock-things-over, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_toys.html, http://icatcare.org/advice/playing-your-cat. Protecting Plants From Cats With Plastic Forks - And Morning Glories. 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