If you love your plants and at the same time have a curious kitten at home? You’ve probably come across the situation where your cat starts messing around with your plants, scratching the substrate or even picking at the leaves.
Not only is this bad because it fills your house with dirt, but it can also be dangerous for your feline’s health, as some plants can be toxic to them.
In this article, you’ll learn how to get your cat not to touch your plants and thus have a beautiful garden full of beautiful, healthy plants.
Check which plants are safe for cats
First of all, it’s important that you check which plants are safe for cats and which plants are toxic to them. Some toxic plants include lily, azalea, begonia, cyclamen, ivy, philodendron, among others.
But it’s important to remember that most cats have this notion of which plants they can interact with, and generally they don’t show any interest in them, but it doesn’t hurt for us to be careful too and always keep an eye on them.
To help identify toxic and non-toxic plants, you can check out this article I published here on the blog about safe and toxic plants for cats.
Understand the cause of your cat’s behavior
It’s important to understand why your cat is interested in climbing over plants or digging in the potting soil. When you understand this behavior, you can identify the cause and solve the problem effectively.
There are several reasons why cats might be interested in your garden plants, some of which include:
Smell: cats are animals with an extremely keen sense of smell, and can be attracted to the scent of certain plants, as they love something new and especially the smell that a new plant brings.
Scratching: cats need to scratch objects to keep their nails healthy and sharp. If there are no suitable scratching posts in the house, they may end up scratching your plants.
Location: cats like cool and cozy places, and a garden with plants has these characteristics, so they may choose it as a place to rest.
Substrate: some natural materials, such as earth and sand, often attract the attention of cats, who love to dig and explore these substrates. Sometimes they even end up using these places to go potty.
Provide suitable places for the cat
Once you understand the cause of the cat’s behavior, it’s important to provide suitable places for it to interact, which can take its attention away from your plants.
For example, if the cat is interested in scratching the plants, it’s important that you have scratching posts in the house that the cat can use to scratch its nails.
In addition, you can provide cool and cozy resting places, such as outdoor beds, so that the cat loses interest in the plants.
Offer alternative options
If, despite all these tips, your cat still insists on messing with your plants, it’s important to offer him some alternative options. You can provide a litter box with burnt clay pebbles, cat grass or even scratching posts.
Scratching posts are excellent alternatives for cats who like to scratch plants. They come in a variety of designs, sizes and textures, making it easy to please your feline.
Place the scratcher near the plant your cat usually touches and offer it treats or toys so that it can associate this place with good things.
Cat-safe plants, such as cat grass, are also a good option. As well as making your home more beautiful and pleasant, they provide healthier food for your cat.
Whenever you bring a new plant into your garden, don’t forget to bring a new plant for your cat too, even if it already has a pot with grass.
You can put the new plant in a new pot so that it smells different, simply because the leaves of the new grass are fresher. Offering the grass to your cat will help him regurgitate the hairballs and eliminate them from his intestines.
You can also bring your cat catnip, mint and rosemary so that it can smell them and distract it from forgetting about your plants in the garden.
Use natural repellents
If your cat insists on touching your plants even with the above tips, you can use natural repellents to keep him away. There are several natural repellent options that are safe for cats and can be found in specialized stores or made at home.
Some natural repellents are: orange peel, white vinegar, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, mint, among others. Simply put these ingredients in a spray bottle with water and spray them on the plants your cat usually touches.
It’s important to remember that these repellents should be used sparingly, as too much can harm the plants.
Change your cat’s focus
Know that cats are exploratory animals, so often they will only want to have this first contact because they are curious.
So don’t draw their attention or scare them. Cautiously remove them from the area and redirect them to another positive activity. This will help take their attention away from the plants and prevent unwanted behavior.
However, sometimes the cause of a cat’s interest in plants can be a way of getting your attention. Even so, it’s quite possible to have plants in a house with cats, as long as you take the necessary precautions.
Be patient and consistent
Teaching your cat not to touch your plants can be a time-consuming process that requires patience and consistency. Don’t give up at the first attempt and remember that it’s important to identify the cause of your cat’s behavior before trying to solve the problem.
In addition, it’s important to be consistent in your attitudes and continue applying the above tips even if you don’t see immediate results. Over time and with repetition, your cat will understand that messing with the plants in your garden is not cool, and will look for other alternatives for fun and food.
Conclusion
Plants and cats can coexist harmoniously, provided that the necessary measures are taken to ensure the safety of the cat and the plants.
Identifying the cause of your cat’s behavior, offering alternatives, using natural repellents and being patient and consistent are some of the tips that can help teach your cat not to mess with your plants.
Always remember to choose plants that are safe for cats and to monitor your cat’s behavior to avoid accidents. With these measures, you can ensure a healthier and happier environment for you and your feline.
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And let me know in the comments below if your cat messes with your plants a lot.
