Houseplants are a great addition to any home, adding color, interest and, of course, oxygen. Unfortunately, cats seem to enjoy our houseplants just as much as we do, but for all the wrong reasons. Read on to learn how to cat-proof houseplants.
protect plants from cats
Cats commonly chew on houseplants and destroy their foliage, use them as litter boxes, or play with them until the leaves drop. this makes it difficult to successfully grow houseplants and enjoy your feline friends. while many cat owners simply stop growing houseplants, there’s no reason to. Fortunately, there are ways to protect plants from cats so you don’t have to give up your greenery or your cats.
houseplants cats won’t chew on
Growing plants indoors that cats don’t like is a great way to distract them. cats do not like some plants for their strong smell, others for their touch. here are some houseplants that cats avoid:
- Rosemary is a great houseplant that cats hate because it is so fragrant. In addition to growing without cat interference, it also provides you with fresh twigs for cooking and makes your house smell great.
- Scary Cat Plant is another plant that deters cats based on scent, hence the name.
- Plants like cacti and roses are great indoor choices, and cats will only try to play with them once because of the thorns.
- create a plant room and keep the door closed to keep cats out. Sunrooms work well for this, but sunny bedrooms or bathrooms will suffice.
- Cage the plants using wire shelving. this will help protect the plants, but really adventurous cats can still find a place to stick their paws.
- In addition to focusing on houseplants that cats avoid, why not offer some cat-safe plants as a sacrifice? cats love catnip and lemon balm. place some in unbreakable plastic pots, and place sacrificial plants in various places around the house, but not right next to your other plants. this will keep your pesky feline busy and may protect some of your other plants from disaster.
how to keep cats out of houseplants
You can also make houseplants cat-proof by making them smell bad. sprinkle cayenne pepper around the leaves of houseplants and your cat will back down pretty quickly. cats also hate the smell of citrus. Put orange and lemon peels in your pots along with the plants to help deter them. another option is to spray the leaves directly with diluted lemon juice or orange oil. note: Citrus oil extracts such as those found in insecticidal sprays, dips, shampoos, insect repellants, food additives, and fragrances are toxic to cats and should be avoided.
many people who have trouble getting their cats to use plants as a litter box will buy plants with offensive textures that will make cats think twice before going to the bathroom.
You can also cover the soil with some large pebbles or stones around the base of the plants to prevent digging. pineapples or aluminum foil, for example, placed around the pot can help keep cats away. another option is to cover the base of the plant with chicken wire, mesh or another breathable fabric.
If you still can’t keep your cats off your plants, don’t give up. there are still a few more options.
