Cats are carnivorous, but you might sometimes see them eating houseplants. This can be really dangerous for your pet, especially if the plants in question are poisonous for cats. Therefore, you need to know how to keep cats from eating houseplants. Below are nine steps that are worth considering whenever you are trying to get your furry friend to quit munching on leaves and twigs.
1. See a Veterinarian
Stomach discomforts are quite a common reason why cats eat houseplants. Therefore, it’s important to know if your cat is suffering from one before you can proceed with other steps. For this, you need to see a veterinarian and check if your pet is sick. Plants are good in such conditions, as they might ease constipation and help animals vomit. However, it’s important to know of the disease and get professional advice on how to combat it.
Also, a visit to the veterinarian is a good idea for other reasons as well. If your cat has no stomach problems, they may give you advice on how to keep cats from eating houseplants. Their diet might be a problem, so a veterinarian can tell you what you should change in your cat’s feeding pattern.
2. Apply White Vinegar plus Water Mixture around the Pots
If you have ruled out the stomach problem scenario, it may take some time before you figure out what is bothering your cat. In the meantime, you still need to know how to keep cats from eating houseplants, like – practically.
One good method is spraying a mixture of water and vinegar on the pots. Such a mixture has a sour taste and a repelling smell that cats do not enjoy, so it should keep them away. However, there is a downside. The components in vinegar can kill plants, so be careful when you use this method. Make sure you only spray the pots and not the roots or leaves.
3. It’s Time to Purchase a Chew Repellent
If you find the vinegar method too risky, chew repellents are a great strategy. They are specifically designed to be harmless both to pets and to plants. They are also non-toxic for humans and do not leave stains or traces. You can try some chew repellents that have been recommended as safe for everyone, such as the one above.
4. Get Creative as You Hide the Plants
If you have kittens, you probably have struggled with your pets being too playful. Therefore, having plants in a place they can reach won’t keep anyone safe. Learning how to keep cats from eating houseplants also means learning to hide the plants.
High and hardly accessible furniture is a good idea, but make sure there’s nothing low around to help cats climb to the plants. If you want something creative that also looks nice, you can also hang the pots on the walls or down from the ceiling. This works great against cats and gives a chic look to your home. Carefully consider the spot though. If it’s a hanging plant – it’s a no-brainer that you SHOULDN’T place it somewhere easy-to-reach.
5. Resort to Cactus Plants
If you cannot hang your plants, you can keep your cats away by using NATURE (i.e. the plants’ own defensive mechanisms). Using cacti to wall-in your other plants is a good and decorative way to keep cats away. The thorns will do the job for you, while they also look great. Plus you can still keep other plants in the house.
6. Create a Playground for Your Cat
Another answer to how to keep cats from eating houseplants is to make room for them. Create special playgrounds for them and keep them busy, either indoors or in your garden. To do it, you can get special toys and materials that will give your cats something to do. Boredom is another reason why they start eating houseplants, so these tricks should be successful.
7. Consider Changing Your Cat’s Feeding Habits
Learning how to keep cats from eating houseplants may not be an easy task. Finding the real issue is difficult, but an improper diet might be a reason for your cat’s chaotic behavior. If your cat lacks certain nutrients, it will try and get them from plants and other sources. Make sure you know all the nutrients your pet needs and check its food for all these substances. If you find it too difficult, you can also ask a veterinarian for advice.
Find out what dry food is most suitable for your kitten!
8. Provide Plant Options for The Nutrients
Building a proper diet for a cat is as hard as it is for humans. It’s easy to miss important details and mess things up. Therefore, you can provide the ideal nutrients for your cats through plants as well. If you cannot find out how to keep cats from eating houseplants, you can decorate your home with things that are not toxic for them. Also, you get to improve their diet at the same time and offer them the nutrients they cannot find in regular cat food.
9. Give Training a Shot
In the end, there’s one last way to get your cat to stay away from houseplants. Training is an effective method but, unfortunately, it takes a lot of time to do it properly. However, once you complete the process, the chances of success are really high.
Training your cat takes a lot of time and effort, but if you are unable to do it on your own, you can always hire someone to do it. A vet can also help with valuable advice.
Conclusion
Learning how to keep cats from eating houseplants could be difficult, you only need to know a few things. First of all, you need to make sure your cat is not ill by taking a trip to the veterinarian. Then, you can try out a few other steps that should help you keep both your cat and your plants safe. If you have used a different method that worked, make sure you share it with us through the comment section.
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