Cats and Plants

[treyes111]

I wasn't sure if this should be listed in the pest forum, but please feel free to move the post. Thanks

I have recently moved in with my girlfriend and her kitty. For the year I lived alone with my plant and my cat there was no issues. Her cat likes to eat plants. My oldest phalaenopsis has the tooth holes to prove it. Recently as gifts, my collection has about tripled, and I have noticed a few tips of these plants have also been nibbled. Not to mention that I found one on the floor, seemingly accidentally knocked over as he was leaving the salad bar. (that was corrected by placing the smaller pots in a larger one)

I have read a few things, and tried some. I grew some grass seed in a separate pot, and that seemed to distract him a bit. Actually, I need to try that again, because the seed I picked wasn't the heartyest and seems to fade as fast as his interest. I have also diluted some pepper sauce in water and put that into a misting bottle. Seems to work a bit, but I'm not very keen on my flowers smelling like hot wings.

I've read of a product called Apple Bitter, and asked my girlfriend stop at the local petshop, but when she did, they gave her a different product. Thankfully I looked for reviews of it and found it was not safe to spray on "foliage or soft bodied plants" before I applied it to my collection.

Does anyone have any good suggestions on how I can keep the peace between my plants and my pets? Thanks

Tom

[patlee]

If you can catch him in the act of nibbling on your babies, pick him up by the scruff of the neck (like a mother cat would do), take him to the sink, and give him a good dousing with the faucet turned full blast. This took a couple of times to actually get the message across, but it makes you feel a lot better (you're venting some of that anger without really hurting the animal) and eventually the idea of "consequences" does sink in...This worked for me when a squirt gun and/or misting bottle were not enough. Good luck!!

[articuno75]

I agree with Patlee, I've done that a couple of times with a cat of mine a few years ago that just wouldn't learn. Eventually he got the hint. Another thing would be to cage your plants.

[retiredbikelady]

I keep my Orchids on sturdy wire shelving units. These are not fun for my cat to walk on. I also have a Pony Tail Palm, which she loves to play with and eat. It seems to be doing her no harm, and it is a great distractor.

[mayres]

I think the concept of another plant diversion is the best. My cats will come into the room where I have my orchids and head straight for their favorite plants to eat - green spider plants. They will do ANYTHING to get to the spider plants - including tip toe-ing through a "sea" or orchids to get there. They also love wheat grass - but spider plants are tops!

[treyes111]

Originally Posted by mayres

I think the concept of another plant diversion is the best. My cats will come into the room where I have my orchids and head straight for their favorite plants to eat - green spider plants. They will do ANYTHING to get to the spider plants - including tip toe-ing through a "sea" or orchids to get there. They also love wheat grass - but spider plants are tops!

I'll second that... my spider plant is also a mess. That is another battle I am fighting

I've read about the sprays, and even pepper or cologne/perfume on the leaves which would taste bad. Will any of these things potentially hurt the plants?

[exasperatus2002]

Theres always a super soaker so you can get it from across the room. Think of the convience, you can water the orchids & the cat at the same time. Now thats multitasking!!!

[11Orchid126]

The Gardener Guy on HGTV said that cats don't like citrus fruit. He recommends putting orange or lemon peels in the pots to deter them. He said that the peels should be refreshed periodically.

[brookn]

My cat doesn't like the taste or the smell of my cinnamon spray. She used to sit on the table with the plants (she did not ever chew them), and now after I have been spraying the plants with the cinnamon she will not even get on the table. An added bonus is that it keeps the bugs, fungus, etc.. at bay.

1 ml cinnamon extract
4 drops dishsoap
put in spray bottle, and fill with water. I add more or less cinnamon extract depending on how strong I want it (I generally like it to have a pretty strong amount but others prefer less). I spray the plants after I water them, they really are liking this stuff, and the leaves are clean and shiny.

[MariahK]

I keep a spray bottle on stream and shoot at mine when ever I catch them where they dont belong, It works very well!!!

[treyes111]

Originally Posted by brookn

My cat doesn't like the taste or the smell of my cinnamon spray. She used to sit on the table with the plants (she did not ever chew them), and now after I have been spraying the plants with the cinnamon she will not even get on the table. An added bonus is that it keeps the bugs, fungus, etc.. at bay.

1 ml cinnamon extract
4 drops dishsoap
put in spray bottle, and fill with water. I add more or less cinnamon extract depending on how strong I want it (I generally like it to have a pretty strong amount but others prefer less). I spray the plants after I water them, they really are liking this stuff, and the leaves are clean and shiny.

May I ask the purpose of the dish soap? I'm guessing it will not harm the plants?

Thanks everyone. I have been using the sprayer the past few days, and I think he is getting the hint. But ya know, as soon as I turn my back......

[11Orchid126]

Dish liquid acts as a spreader/sticker. It will not harm the plant, but it will keep bugs away and the leaves clean.

[rmt135]

Thanks for the tip. There are many black ants not only at the orchids but other plants that i have. Hope this can shoo shoo them away.

[patticake]

This is great! I too, bought some kittie grass which they liked but, faded fast. I'm going to try some different grass seed. My 2 cats also love the spider plant, but I don't care. it's up high where they can only chew on some babies, so the plant still looks good. The other day one of them chewed one of my african violets! He's never done that in 14 years! They used to go outside some- but we recently moved and that's not an option here!
I'm going back to the grass, since it kept them happy while I had it. So far, they haven't discovered the orchids. God help them if they do! I use a spray bottle if they scratch the furniture, but they don't do that often- they have a really nice, sturdy scratching post and actually use it! Good luck!

[Hummer344]

I keep a pressureized bottle on stream to hit the cats when I catch them in the act. That has worked very well. You have to keep the pressure up all the time because, they will soon learn the sound of you pumping up the bottle and scoot away before you can get them