Cat attack!

[snowballsarebad]

I recently brought a strap-leaf vanda orchid back from Hawaii. Its quite young, relatively small. Our cat decided to chew the ends of almost all the leaves. Just the tips are chewed, but I'm worried this will kill off the entire plant. It still looks pretty healthy overall, like the leaves will just heal over and not grow any more. I'd rather not have it die though, is there anything I can do to help it? Thanks!
Arika

i should live, why not try some cat grass for the feline to munch instead. i hate to say this but orchid munchers can be repeat offenders. : )

your orchid should live, that is haha. i was broken up but not that bad, lol

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Get your cat some garlic chives. My cats are very particular about their grass. Cat grass and oat grass don't cut it, but they like chives.

All vanda leaf growth starts at the base of the plant, so chewed tips won't make much difference. Probably most of your plants leaves were as long as they were going to get anyway, with the top leaves only doing the growing. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[snowballsarebad]

I thought I'd update on my vanda. It did survive quite well. It's on the front porch now, gets a lot of sun and I water it almost every day. Two new roots and a new leaf in a month! I'm so proud of it...its my first orchid. Actually, my second. I had one a few years ago I bought on clearance at Lowe's or somesuch, but I left it with my mum when I left for Uni, and she killed it. This one's doing great though! Admittedly, it's in a pot a little too big for it, but with all the growing its doing I believe I'd have had to move it anyhow. I am worrying about bringing it in this fall (I live in Michigan), our house is rather dark and it will have to face the cat again. I suppose there is one good window I can keep it in, but I'll never see it because it's a room we never use. Anyhow, that's all!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

If you never use the room, good. Then you can keep the door closed and the cat out. You just need a few more orchids in this room so you will have a good excuse to visit often. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[lydia]

I am so happy my cats haven't gotten a taste for my orchids yet, knock on wood. They just chewed up the three palm plants I brought back from AL (which I think are near death). I would check petco to see if they have some type of pet repellant for cats and then ask at the local garden store (or ask here) if its safe for orchids. Then maybe you can put it somewhere you can enjoy it.