Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Avoid behavior that damages plants
• Method 2 of 3: Provide your cat with alternative means of play
• Method 3 of 3: Choosing your plants
• Warnings
• Necessities

Cats are curious animals by nature, and some of your plants have a great attraction for your little friend. Cats love to play with and even eat the leaves of plants. They also like to dig in the soil around the plant. Never put plants in your home that are poisonous to cat lilies are very poisonous plants for cats, for example. However, even if the plant is safe for your cat, your cat's behavior can damage or kill the plant. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to minimize the damage.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Avoid behavior that damages plants

1. Hang your plants from the ceiling. You can buy hanging flower pots with matching hooks at any garden center and hardware store. Hanging plants not only look pretty, but your cat can't get close to them either.
2. Spray a repellent spray on your plants. You can buy repellent sprays from the pet store that will not damage your plant, but will discourage your cat from touching it with its paws. A good example of a safe product is "Get Off", but always make sure you read the label before buying a repellent. Some of these sprays can be bad for your plants.
   • You can also make your own repellent spray at home. Make a mixture of one part vinegar and three parts water and spray it on the leaves of your plant. Cats don't like this scent and this mixture will not harm your plant.
3. Train your cat to leave plants alone. This is best done with the help of "remote punishment". The idea is to get your cat to associate the plant with something bad, like water being sprayed on its snout. However, you don't want the cat to take the punishment you associates. Your cat must think the punishment came out of nowhere.
   • Make a trap near the plant by placing a can of compressed air next to it that is activated by a motion sensor. You can buy these pet training aids at the pet store or on the internet.
   • When your cat approaches the plant, it will feel a burst of compressed air. This won't hurt him, but he will think twice about walking up to the plant again.
4. Don't punish your cat yourself. For example, if you spray water on your cat or yell at him, the cat will associate the punishment with you. It may stop feeding on the plant when you are around, but it will probably continue to eat it when you are out of the room. If you punish the cat yourself, it will become more devious. He may also get a little scared of you, and of course this is not what you want the relationship between you and your cat to be like.
5. Surround the plant with something unpleasant to the touch. Place aluminum foil around the plant or a plastic carpet protector with the studs facing up. Your cat may not want to walk on a surface that feels uncomfortable to reach your plants.
6. Use sound to repel your cat. Collect and clean old cans. You can use soda cans or cans that contain vegetables. Line them up along the edge of the table where you have your plants, and line up more rows of cans on top to create a wall. When your cat jumps up and knocks over the cans, it will be very startled by the noise and run away. After he is shocked enough, he will think twice about walking to the plants again.
7. Sprinkle agents containing lion poo into the soil in the flower pot. This may sound strange, but there are repellants that contain lion feces. You won't be able to smell it yourself, but your cat can. He will understand that a strong stranger has already marked the plant as part of his territory.

Method 2 of 3: Provide your cat with alternative means of play

1. Understand why your cat may be damaging your plants. Your cat may be bored to death in your house. If moving leaves in its environment most closely resemble a toy or prey, then it should come as no surprise that your cat is attracted to it. To best prevent your cat from damaging your plants, you need to offer it healthier alternatives.
2. Play with your cat regularly for a while. Some cat breeds are much more active than others, so it's best to estimate how much your cat wants to play. In general, however, it is best to play with your cat at least twice a day for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Use toys that get your cat moving. Either way, your cat will enjoy getting attention, but don't cuddle and pet your cat when you play with him. You need to excite and tease your cat to keep it from eating your plants.
   • Use toys with a long rope attached so you can let your cat run from one side of the room to the other without getting tired yourself.
   • Not all cats respond to a laser pointer, but you're lucky if your cat does. You can sit on the couch and enjoy a snack while your cat runs around the room trying to catch the little red dot.
4. Leave toys for him when you leave. Your cat may be particularly bored if no one is home to keep him company. Leaving toys in front of him when he's alone can help him express his boredom in a better way than chewing your plants.
   • Keep putting out different toys so that he doesn't get bored of having the same toys every day. Your cat will ignore a toy if it knows it too well.
   • If the toy comes back after a long absence, he will be very interested in it again.

Method 3 of 3: Choosing your plants

1. See which plants your cat prefers. Pay close attention to which plants catch his eye and do not buy these plants again.
   • For example, your cat may like clumps of hanging leaves that flutter in the wind.
   • In that case, buy plants with large, heavy leaves that don't look like you can play with them.
2. Don't buy plants that attract cats like a magnet. Yuccas, for example, seem to be especially irresistible, and your cat will chew them undisturbed. Zinnias and marigolds are other examples of plants that attract cats like magnets. Avoid these plants too.
   • If you already have a plant in your home that is irresistible to your cat, place the plant on a high shelf where the cat cannot reach it. Make sure your cat really can't get to the shelf, or your lithe pet will just jump on it.
3. Place plants around the house that will serve as "bait". You can use your cat's interest in certain plant species to your advantage. Place pots of catnip or grass in front of your cat in the house. Nibbling on these plants will fill his need to chew, hopefully distracting him so he won't eat your prettier plants.
4. Buy plants your cat doesn't like. There are also some plant species that cats just don't like. These plants often have a strong scent, such as lavender, rosemary or citrus plants. You can enjoy the nice scent of these plants yourself, but the same scent will discourage your cat from eating them.
   • You can also buy plants with very high leaves that cats cannot reach, such as small trees.

Warnings

• Never spray a substance on your plant or soil that is harmful to your cat, such as hot sauce. It may repel your cat, but it can also get into its eyes and coat. It can cause damage and even cause your cat to go blind.
• For your cat's safety, only use products approved by veterinarians. Always spray the agent on a small spot on the plant before spraying it on the entire plant. This way you can be sure that your plant will not be damaged by it.
• Look up a list of poisonous plants (you can find these on the internet) and make sure you don't have any of these plants in your house as houseplants, even if they are in a place where your cat cannot reach them. Cats are very good at jumping on things you would never expect they could get to. They can also squeeze through very narrow holes or passageways that you thought wouldn't pass. Make sure you don't accidentally poison your cat by not putting poisonous plants in your home.
• You can repel cats by putting mothballs in the flower pots. However, mothballs are poisonous and cats can get very sick or even die if they ingest the chemical. If you decide to use mothballs, make sure to put them in a perforated container. In this way, the vapor can evaporate without the cat being able to reach the mothballs themselves.

Necessities

• Hanging flower pots or high places
• Small, tree-like plants with tall leaves
• Sprays to repel cats
• Vinegar
• Mouse traps
• Mothballs
• Plants that cats don't like
• New toys, cat treats, hiding places and playtime
• Atomizer, soda can and coins