Plants work to deter cats in two ways. Here are some tips for keeping cats out of your garden: Garden Netting or Chicken Wire Place the netting under a light layer of soil or mulch so it’ll be uncomfortable for outdoor cats to effectively dig in the garden. You can … Good luck . You can also cat-proof houseplants by making them smell bad. References. Cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels. Most cats aren’t crazy about the aroma of citrus. Make sure the stand doesn’t having enough space for even an athletic cat to land. Safe houseplant cat deterrents include pine cones nestled into the top of the soil. How do I protect my indoor plants from my cats? This will protect them and reduce the risk of them getting lost. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. An alternative to covering the dirt with rocks is to place a plastic or wire screen around your plant. Spritz this on the plant’s leaves or around the pot every day for a couple of weeks. If you have larger animals, you may need to move your plants higher up, like on window ledges or in hanging baskets. Also, make sure you’re buying the right variety. Hang indoor potted plants from the ceiling with plant hooks to keep them out of reach of cats. Give kitty his/her own pot of catnip or catmint. Relevance. Ensure your cats and dogs are safe with these non-toxic plants. Drill a hole slightly smaller than the threaded end of a plant hanger hook into a ceiling joist. Deterring your cats and distracting their attention can keep your plants safe from the curious paws of kitty. If your kitty's using your potted plants as a litter box, your house or patio probably stinks of urine and your plants are likely dying. Thus, you need tips and tricks that are safe both for plants and cats. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. This can teach your cat to stay away from the plant. Bitter apple tends to be very effective. 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. I have always loved the idea of having part of the outdoors, indoors. An alternative to covering the dirt with rocks is … Cats hate the smell, so placing them in or around your plants and flowers will keep the kitties away. Pine cones can also work well for keeping your cat out of your plants. Cats tend to like these and there are perfectly safe to be chewed occasionally. $15 for a box of 20 strips. 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. Double-sided tape is a great way to keep cats out of houseplants, it is easy to set up and you do … Sep 7, 2018 - Luckily, with this article, you will solve the problems. 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. Some plants are potentially toxic to cats, and cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. Keep reading and see the best natural solutions for you to protect indoor plants from cats. Don't use mothballs. 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. Use Plant Pattern Covers on your Kitchen and Bathroom Trashcans to stop your cats and dogs from making a mess. Cover the wire with a thin layer of potting soil topped with colorful stones or pea gravel. Cats also hate the smell of citrus. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. edit subscriptions. Cats usually don’t appreciate the feel or the smell. calathea. When you are trying to keep the cats away, it is very important to not harm them in the process. Citrus is supposed to be one of these scents, orange and lemon peels for example. Some may even consider plants a litter box. Put orange and lemon peels in your pots along with the plants to help deter them. Have a spray bottle of water handy, and give your cat a spritz when they get near your plants. Fans help mimic the natural breeze outdoor plants usually get, and the plant light is essential for dreary fall and winter weather. Give them catnip or cat grass (oat and barley grass), a pot of mint or thyme which they can chew on. Read more articles about General Houseplant Care. Plant Pattern Covers are offered 10 different Pattern styles designed to fit the customer’s personal style. Houseplants and cats: sometimes the two just don’t mix! There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. my subreddits. Offer the plants to your cat when the shoots have grown to about 4 inches tall. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Be safe and don't have poisonous plants they may eat. % of people told us that this article helped them. They are not 100 percent guaranteed to repel a cat, but they do have cat-repelling properties. Stay consistent in your scolding. - Duration: 2:05. While simple, this technique only works if you are home most of the time and can keep a personal eye on your plants. 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.). www.spokesman.com. Many deterrents come in scents and tastes cats don’t like. Use seashells or dried wood pieces instead of rocks if you want a more decorative touch. To many cat lovers, the idea of a cat household with plants is an oxymoron. Will planting peppermint, lavender or lemongrass keep cats away from a greenhouse? Line pine cones around the bottom of your plant. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. 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 … Plant the seeds in a heavy, shallow container that your cat is unlikely to knock over. These are all normal behaviors for cats, especially if they are always indoors. Read the usage instructions and spray the product on your plant. Defender Spikes can be placed in the pot to deter cats from entering. Read on for helpful tips on how to protect indoor plants from cats, as well as a list of houseplants cats will leave alone (probably!). You can also try pine cones, the scent and feel of which can also keep a cat from the plant. 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. Protecting houseplants from cats is largely a matter of trial and error, and the following tips may or may not work for you and your kitty. But these habits may become annoying to you and could kill your plants. Lv 6. Cover Soil With Pebbles. Plants provide cats with dietary fiber, which acts as a laxative or an emetic to relieve hairballs. When choosing plants, pick ones that are not sprayed with chemicals. This article has been viewed 14,691 times. You can make cat repellent by mixing peppermint, eucalyptus oil, or lemon juice with water (one part juice, three parts water) and spraying the mixture on the dirt around the base of your plant. Favorite Answer. Cover the wire with a thin layer of potting soil topped with colorful stones or pea gravel. Use Sticky Repellent. Cats also hate the smell of citrus. By covering up the tempting soil inside the pots, you'll naturally deter your cat from doing his business inside them. The smell can become overwhelming after a few dozen pees. plants. If you have smaller plants that your cat loves to knock off window sills and shelves, try putting them in decorative bird cages. All you have to do is remove the top of the cage from its base, arrange one or more plants inside, and latch the top back on. To protect your houseplants from your pets, place them on tall, sturdy plant stands to keep them safely out of reach. Safe houseplant cat deterrents include pine cones nestled into the top of the soil. Cat Grass is another excellent and option. Keeping Your Kitty Safe. One example is bitter apple. For extra protection, hang the cage from a hook or curtain rod. My cat doesn't bother my plants for the most part but there are a few plants that I don't want my cat to mess with. Geraniums – The aroma and the thick texture of the leaves may keep cats away. Poke the screening you choose down in the plant dirt. Find rocks in your yard or local beach or buy them at a pet store. If relocating your plants isn't an option, try spraying them with … Add some citrus peels . Keep in mind that what works for one cat might not be effective for another. Those two items will do more for your indoor garden than any fertilizer or premium potting soil. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to teach your cat to leave your plants alone, keep reading! Some other ideas to keep your plants safe from cats: Cat Scat Mats are specially designed to keep cats out of gardens. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. If you have cats, we recommend steering clear of these. Buy cat-safe deterrents at a large retailer or pet store. If your cat likes to dig in your plants, put a layer of rocks over the soil to keep your cat’s paws out. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 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 … 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. Put orange and lemon peels in your pots along with the plants to help deter them. Protecting Plants From Cats With Plastic Forks - And Morning Glories. However, some cats will prefer to stay indoors and others will need to remain indoor-only cats because of health conditions, such as FIV. Some scents are offensive to cats and if the plants are sprayed with these scents, technically the cats won't go near them. 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. You can cut the netting to fit around plants. Arrange a few large rocks in pots, with the rough edges facing up. Some may actually love it. By using our site, you agree to our, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Safeguard-Plants-from-Cats-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Safeguard-Plants-from-Cats-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Safeguard-Plants-from-Cats-Step-1.jpg\/aid8029043-v4-728px-Safeguard-Plants-from-Cats-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"