How do you have cats AND plants?!

whiteforest · Apr 28, 2008

I actually have about 15 houseplants but they are all in places where the cats can't get to them. For example, above our windows are smaller stained glass windows and a lot are in the sill of the stained glass windows. The cats would have to learn to jump 7-8 feet straight into the air to get them. For added protection they are all non-toxic plants, and we keep cat grass and catnip in pots for the cats in their window seats.

As a side note, I bought a new plant [a purple heart] two weeks ago, and that thing must have looked delicious because Ramsay leapt 5 feet across the room from the couch up onto the fireplace, up to the top of the mantel, and a few feet over to where the plant was located and gnawed up every branch.

rolling thunder · Apr 28, 2008

All the plants I have are non toxic, sometimes they do get ruined but at least I don't have to worry about the safety of the cats. I have some african violets and an orchid which are fine. Also a neanthebella plam which does get eaten sometimes!

trouts mom · Apr 28, 2008

Originally Posted by EnzoLeya

Oh my gosh!!!! Poor Trout! I can see why you don't have any plants! That's so scary!

I looked up my purple passion plant and on a "vet site" it's says my plant isn't toxic to cats.

The ones Trout ate were "nontoxic" too, but they upset her tummy to the point that she wouldn't eat..then it went downhill from there. Since she will eat anything..I can't risk having any plants with her.

emmylou · Apr 28, 2008

You certainly can have plants and cats together. I have lots, including some fancy orchids. You just have to buy Bitter Apple Spray (found in pet stores, usually in the dog aisle) and spray it on the plants once. Usually that lasts for at least six months, when I reapply.

It's also good to provide cat grass if your cat is fond of greens.

I do both these things, and have absolutely no problem with the cat and the plants. He got one taste of that bitter apple, and decided he didn't like houseplants.

momofmany · Apr 28, 2008

I have one plant that has managed to survive for about 8 years. It doesn't have stringly leaves so the cats aren't that interested in it.

I had a hanging plant once that did have stringy leaves. It was hanging by a window and the only piece of furniture next to it was a tall secretary desk, which the cats could not reach the top (so I thought) from the ground. One day Eightball figured out that if he jumped on the piano, leaped across to the file cabinet, then leaped to the top of the secretary desk, that he could then leap thru the air and land on the plant. I found him laying across the dirt, nibbling the leaves while the plant swung back and forth thru the air.

Very few plants are safe.

EnzoLeya · Apr 28, 2008

Originally Posted by emmylou

You certainly can have plants and cats together. I have lots, including some fancy orchids. You just have to buy Bitter Apple Spray (found in pet stores, usually in the dog aisle) and spray it on the plants once. Usually that lasts for at least six months, when I reapply.

It's also good to provide cat grass if your cat is fond of greens.

I do both these things, and have absolutely no problem with the cat and the plants. He got one taste of that bitter apple, and decided he didn't like houseplants.

I'll have to pick some of that up!!! It doesn't hurt your plants I take it?!

emmylou · Apr 28, 2008

No, I've never seen any reaction in the plants, and I've used it on all kinds (cactus, orchids, succulents, palm, regular plants).

It has an unpleasant smell when you first spray it (kind of sting-y and bitter), but that fades after a few minutes.

bnwalker2 · Apr 28, 2008

I've got a few cacti (cactuses?) and the cats leave those alone, I also have a bamboo plant that they don't touch... I've never tried any others but I have a feeling they would not last long around here.

enuja · Apr 28, 2008

I've seen the "unsafe" lists before, but not the "safe" ones - thanks for the links, Blaise.

Trouts mom, what were the "non-toxic" plants that Trout ate that caused serious problems?

I'd read before that "onions" were bad, but the onion genus, Allium, is huge and has lots of food plants in it. The Pawprints & Purrs "safe" list includes lots of food plants; oregano, parsley, basil (yeah!) and chives (in the genus Allium).

Plant on the "unsafe" list that makes me laugh - marijuana.

EnzoLeya · Apr 28, 2008

Originally Posted by Enuja

I've seen the "unsafe" lists before, but not the "safe" ones - thanks for the links, Blaise.

Trouts mom, what were the "non-toxic" plants that Trout ate that caused serious problems?

I'd read before that "onions" were bad, but the onion genus, Allium, is huge and has lots of food plants in it. The Pawprints & Purrs "safe" list includes lots of food plants; oregano, parsley, basil (yeah!) and chives (in the genus Allium).

Plant on the "unsafe" list that makes me laugh - marijuana.

That's good!!! When I searched one of the sites it had catnip as a "toxic" plant. Symptoms: dizziness, dissorientation, and drowziness

No kidding!

I've been told garlic is poisonous to cats......anyone know if this is true or not?

bars · May 1, 2008

I have a lot of plants. I made some shelves on the walls, cats cannot get there and walls are not empty any more, nice and safe. I have couple hanging baskets ; also plants on the high dressers and the plant is growing around the room, I made some hooks on the walls for it, also - in the room, where cat is not allowed, and couple times cats were sprayed with the water, when I saw them hunting for the plants. So far - everybody are in a good friendship: cats and plants.

gingersmom · May 1, 2008

Originally Posted by Moz

Simple: You don't.

I disagree. I have 4 cats and more than 30 plants, and the cats leave the plants alone.

Only twice have I ever had problems with the cats bothering the plants.

1.) Ginger liked to snack on my bonzai ponytail palm when she was a kitten. Then I discovered why: it resembles cat grass. So I took the palm to my office to have it live there out of harm's way, and I started buying/growing cat grass. End of problem!

2.) When I adopted Max, he decided that my aloe plants made yummy snacks. Of course they made him violently vomit and gave him bellyaches, but that didn't stop him from munching on them!

It took 2 weeks for me to discover the cause of the vomiting. As soon as I found the source, I removed the aloe plants from my home. End of problem.

To keep the cats out of the pots, I use Scat Mats in the soil on the pot, cut to fit. End of problem.

I suggest avoiding any plants that look like cat grass, and hanging the purple passion up high is the right thing to do. They make great hanging plants anyway.

Oh, and catcus plants are great to have with cats around. They protect themselves naturally.

EnzoLeya · May 1, 2008

Originally Posted by GingersMom

I disagree. I have 4 cats and more than 30 plants, and the cats leave the plants alone.

Only twice have I ever had problems with the cats bothering the plants.

1.) Ginger liked to snack on my bonzai ponytail palm when she was a kitten. Then I discovered why: it resembles cat grass. So I took the palm to my office to have it live there out of harm's way, and I started buying/growing cat grass. End of problem!

2.) When I adopted Max, he decided that my aloe plants made yummy snacks. Of course they made him violently vomit and gave him bellyaches, but that didn't stop him from munching on them!

It took 2 weeks for me to discover the cause of the vomiting. As soon as I found the source, I removed the aloe plants from my home. End of problem.

To keep the cats out of the pots, I use Scat Mats in the soil on the pot, cut to fit. End of problem.

I suggest avoiding any plants that look like cat grass, and hanging the purple passion up high is the right thing to do. They make great hanging plants anyway.

Oh, and catcus plants are great to have with cats around. They protect themselves naturally.

Maybe that's what I need!!! Some Catcuses!!!!

abbi · Dec 25, 2014

I have plants...some that are supposed to be toxic....I've had a few before I got her and some after...She chewed or at least played with one about a week ago...then she had the runs and puked a day after, but otherwise seems fine now. I do get her cat grass but often throw it out as it gets moldy..someone said I should call the vet as it can kill her months later, is that true? I just took her to the vet recently and used up all my money becuause of a computer glitch and haven't gotten any money back as I've been sick and a stupid facial rash that keeps coming back and I have to use the bus...Like I said, she seems fine now.

How do you have cats AND plants?!

whiteforest

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rolling thunder

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trouts mom

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emmylou

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momofmany

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EnzoLeya

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emmylou

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bnwalker2

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enuja

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EnzoLeya

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bars

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gingersmom

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EnzoLeya

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