There’s nothing like the aesthetic of a cat languishing in the sun near your well-tended houseplants. How terrible it is, though, when you realize that your sweet cat might be harmed if they were to chew on those plants.
A lot of house plants can harm cats, even leading to death in extreme cases. It’s still possible to have some lush greenery in your home, you just have to be a little more careful about how you handle it.
We’re going to talk about how to keep cats from eating houseplants in this article, allowing you to keep your atmosphere without hurting the kitty.
Let’s take a look.
A Guide on How to Keep Cats From Eating Houseplants
While cats are meat eaters by nature, they still have a special place for plants in their hearts. In the wild, cats chew on greenery to help their digestion. Out there, they have a sense of what’s good and what’s bad for them.
Housecats, though, don’t always have the same sensibility so they chew on whatever plant is in view. The first thing to do to protect your cat is to buy plants that you know to be safe for cats to eat.
Do a little research into the particular plant before you make the purchase. Common toxic plants are aloe vera, begonias, daffodils, lilies, and more. You can learn more about here to examine some houseplants safe for cats.
While safety is the first priority, the next thing to prioritize is the maintenance of your plants. Even though cats can eat some plants, it’s frustrating when they do.
Preventative Measures
There are some tried-and-true methods you can use to keep your kitties away from plants. The first one is to just place plants in a location where cats can’t get to them, but that’s an obvious one and it limits you a great deal.
Consider placing tinfoil around the soil and base of your plant. Cats don’t enjoy walking on tinfoil, and it’s irritating enough for them to avoid the plants altogether.
The next thing you can do is to coat the leaves of the plant in something that smells bad to cats. One great option is chili powder. Cats dislike the smell and taste of chili powder, for whatever reason, so you could start there.
There are also a lot of non-toxic pet sprays that you can use on plants to keep cats away from them. Your cat might be immune to some of the sprays, though, so be prepared to try one or two before something clicks.
As a last resort, you can try to utilize prickly plants with thorns that your cats will quickly learn to avoid.
Need More Housecat Tips?
Figuring out how to keep cats from eating houseplants can be a challenge. Once you figure that out, there are going to be more challenges that come your way.
We’re here to help you out with ideas.
Explore our site for more insight into dealing with cats, plants, and keeping your house in harmony!
