Lucky Bamboo + Cat= Poor leaves!

[MissConnie]

Last week, my lovely blokey bought me a "lucky bamboo" because I was eyeing it up in homebase.
Yesterday evening, I descovered that Kiki *one of the kitties* has been chewing and eating the leaves! *grrr* darn kitty! I have moved the bamboo onto a higher shelf...I just hope the leaves will recover...all been chewed!
What is it with cats and plant leaves? shes done it to all the plants *dont worry, thankfully not the Orchids!*...the only thing...is bamboo bad for kitties? because there was upchuck on the carpet this morning...and they arent normally sick...Im sure they were saving it for the new carpets but thats another discussion.....

*my lucky bamboo before cat got to it*

[pikevi]

I think cats just play with the leaves and biting or chewing on them is part of the play. I am not sure if they really ingest the leaves. I am also not sure if they vomit afterwards.

Is your cat(s) long haired? If he (she?) is and if you suspect he is ingesting it check the stools (faeces) for hair. Some animals have hairballs (trichobezoar) and they eat leaves to regurgitate it.

It may not be anything serious but I just mentioned it for you to be alert.

[sandra]

Connie, I believe it's the chlorophyll that your cat is attracted to. It's excellent for their digestion and helps them regurgitate and clean out their tummies....hairballs too! I don't think there's cause to worry but if kitty is still sick afterwards, it's something you may want to pay more attention to. You're lucky though. My one (of 2) cats loves orchids. I learned the hard way. They're all out-of-reach now and my kitty gets to live!

P.S. Your bamboo was beautiful. I know how you feel.....

[MissConnie]

Originally Posted by sandra

P.S. Your bamboo was beautiful. I know how you feel.....

*laughs* Kitties eh!
Kiki and Hobbes *resident kitties who think they own the place* both are short hairs. Hobbes doesnt eat plants but Kiki is a known offender to spider plants etc etc!
I think the vomit was a "normal vomit" now...I just think she was waiting for the new carpets to arrive and to then stain them! Cats do love soft things to vomit on...do they use the tiles? Did they use the bare floorboards before new carpet...no...had to wait for capets.

Im hoping the lucky bamboo...ha hope its not lost its luck now due to being chewed will recover now its higher up and out of miss Kikis way!

Ha, at least im not the only one who has had a kitty offender upset owner by chewing loved Orchids and other plants alike!
xxxx

[aqw8326]

Some plants are toxic to cats, check on a pet website, I think spider's are.

My Alex, will eat anything I bring into the house, so I made them a 'grass box'. Got a new litter box, put gravel on the bottom, for drainage, then soil, and planted kitty grass, ( don't know what it is, said so on the bag).
When the grass came up they all (4) ate to their heart's content, actually grazed, then played in the dirt, it was all over the carpet.
What's a mother to do?

[MissConnie]

Ive asked Adam, the plant we have that looks like a spider plant but like a spider plant tree...isnt the same thing and not to worry *phew* BUT I will look on a pet website for all the plants we have and make sure they arent toxic to kittycats.
Thats a good idea about the grass box! We might have to go get that! Im sure the little terrors would love a glass box with dirt to play in! oh the mess they will make!

[janet_a]

yep, my sister got me a lucky bamboo one year, complete with holes in the leaves from where her cats had sampled it. didn't seem to faze it.

[MissConnie]

ooh im glad its such a hardy plant! Makes me feel more comfortable with Kiki around it!
Thanks guys for helping me feel better about my bamboo being munched on xxxx

[Hummer344]

I let my cats out in the back yard for a few hours each day. They graze on the grass out there to their hearts content. I heard somewhere that the grass is not digested but adheres to the hair balls in their stomachs so they can pass the hair. In the same vein, they will sometimes eat the grass & then come inside and throw up on the carpet. Always a fun thing to clean up. The regurgitated matter always has grass and hair. Its not a nutritional thing. As for dystroying house plants!!!!!!! My cats learned real quick that they weren't to do that. Everytime I caught them I wouldn't say a word, just sprayed them down with water from a pressurized spray bottle. They soon learned to leave them alone or be sneakier about playing with my plants. LOL'

[MissConnie]

Originally Posted by Hummer344

Everytime I caught them I wouldn't say a word, just sprayed them down with water from a pressurized spray bottle. They soon learned to leave them alone or be sneakier about playing with my plants. LOL'

*laughs very hard*
Im normally the one sat on the sofa with the bottle next to me, as the kitties like bothering my scorpions and standing on the table, so they get a little squirt...but they still try. I only have the shake the bottle and they run off...me thinks its time to guard the plants too!
But about your kitties being sneakier about playing with the plants...they probably wait for you to go out of the room or out the house cats, sneaky animals!

[PhalPal]

I have a few water bottles strategically placed through out my house. All I have to do is say "where's the bottle" and my cats scram!!!! My husband thinks it's hilarious. (it is!)
A few pet companies sell something called cat grass; it is pre-planted in a little tub and you just add water. The 'dirt' doesn't make a big mess if they happen to get to that. Some of my cats eat it like ice cream, some ignore it completely.
Just a note - Ivy and any bulb plants are very toxic to cats. And they DO seem to love 'lucky' bamboo!!

[MissConnie]

Ive spoken to Adam and he said we shall get some cat grass for them!
its funny how they learn words! "wheres the bottle"...brilliant!
Knowing my luck though, the kitties will ignore the cat grass and still continue to hunt down my lucky bamboo! but ive been told it seems to be "safe" on the book shelf but I wouldnt put it past Kiki for in a few days to PULL down the case trying to get to little Bboo

[PhalPal]

Funny thing is, I haven't had any water in the squirt bottles for months. Just the words terrify them!! Nothing dumb about a cat, the little buggers.
Yeah.....bamboo......on a shelf.......I see trouble!

[MissConnie]

...well ive been told, so far bamboo is totally safe and that kiki hasnt even attempted to reach said plant...hmmm....I give her a few more days!
In the mean time, im gonna try to get some cat grass!

[orchid_girl]

Don't feel bad my little Zoya loves to eat up my Dracena. I have to put them up on tables to keep her away from them. My larger Dracena always has leaves that have been chewed on. I think as said earlier they used to help their digestion. As far as that cat grass...well you can try your luck but mine never even touch it....I think it is an attitude thing...LOL!!

[janet_a]

just keep all the wildlife away from dieffenbachia's--they're poisonous.

http://houseplants-care.blogspot.com...lant-care.html

[orchid_girl]

She's never attempted to. She just loves my poor dracenas

[MissConnie]

dracena...."ooh I know that name" *runs downstairs to check*...in the lounge we have one...and yep...Kiki is a regular to that plant!
The bamboo is still on the shelf and is safe! once I saw her with her paws on the shelf having a look but I soon shooed her away!

and I too have a feeling they wont touch the kitty grass! I just have a feeling hahahahaha

xxxxx

[orchid_girl]

If it's a small one put it on a shelf...if its big like my large one there's not much you can do with it. You could always try the grass (crossing fingers) Maybe it will work.

[MissConnie]

Its big one...but it doesnt seem to have taken too much of a beating from her. Makes me think though...will I just be wasting my money for some grass in a box hahahahaha