How do I keep kittens out of house plants

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ghostuser

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All of my plants have been outside all summer, my kittens have never been introduced to them, I need to have a plan before I bring the plants in the for winter. I have heard from people that you can put pepper or vapor rub in the plants to keep the cats out of the dirt. Can you guys help me? I was not sure if there was a section on this website that could give me some kind of info in it, Also what other kind of kitty web sites are there out there that you guys recommend, I really want to get some good info~

Danka

Susanna
 

jenng

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Hi Susanna.


One of the deterants is Bitter Apple spray. It worked with my little Spike when he was little and chewing on wires.


But before you bring your plants inside, you should make sure they're not toxic to your babies. Even with precautions like the Bitter Apple spray, your cats may still eat the plants and that could be very bad, depending on the kind of plant.

Here's a link to one of the other threads on the site that lists a bunch of poisonous plants. The list is about the 3rd post down. And this is not to say those are the only poisonous ones either, but it's definitely a start.


Poisonous Plants
 

hissy

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You come home from work and notice Fluffy has also been hard at work. Dirt is flung everywhere. When you left your home, your houseplants were potted inside of pots, and now the pots are on their sides and plants are all over the carpet! Worse yet, Fluffy had the nerve to use the soil for her own personal potty! Before your temper gets the best of you, take a deep breath and relax. Getting angry never solves anything. The solution to the problem may lie below:

First off, be sure that if you have a cat, that you DONâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]T have any poisonous plants around. Follow this link to locate some excellent websites that will list for you all the poisonous and toxic plants.

http://www.meowhoo.com/Cat_Health/On...rol/index.html


Now that you have cleared out your home of toxic and poison plants, you have to figure out how to keep Fluff out of your houseplants. Here are some tips:

If the cat is nibbling plants:

• Start adding chopped (cooked) green beans to your catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s diet.
• Buy some cat grass or kitty oats and plant Fluffy her own personal indoor garden.
• At the feed store or pet store they have this spray called Bitter Apple, buy a bottle and spray your plant leaves.
• Or take lemon juice concentrate and mix it half and half with vinegar and spray the leaves.
• Move the plants up by hanging them from the ceiling so kitty canâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t reach them
• Plant catnip in a separate planter and let kitty have her own indoor nip garden.
• Understand your cat is bored, so introduce a new cat condo, or a window perch give the kitty toys to play with, get an aquarium so Fluffy can watch the fish.

If your cat is digging in the soil or eliminating in the dirt:

Add a fine layer of aquarium rocks to the top of the soil; make sure you cover the area completely.
Take netting and place it over the planter, to discourage kittyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s explorations.
Use larger rocks to put on top of the soil, large enough so the cat cannot move them easily.
Lay aluminum foil on the soil
Cut strips of thin wood and place sticky paws on the strips; lay the sticks down around the plant
Attach balloons to the outside of the planter, take a fan and blow air gently toward the balloons to cause movement.
Keep the soil moist so the kitty wonâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t be prone to dig in it.


If you find that your cat has gotten into poison plants, perhaps you had a fresh arrangement delivered to your home, and the cat ate the baby breaths- call the Poison Hotline Immediately! 1-800-548-2423 there is a charge $30.00 a call. Have the following ready: Your name, the catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s name, the age and weight of the cat, what you believe she ingested and about how much, write down the symptoms the cat is exhibiting.

Warning signs of toxic or poison in cats:

Panting, gums swollen, drooling, tongue and lips black, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, increased water intake, fever, coughing sneezing, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, third eyelid showing, eyes dilated.

Donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t hesitate; if you believe your cat has been poisoned, you call your VET, or an Emergency Clinic or the Poison Hotline. 1-800-548-2423 have your credit card ready, this is not a free call!



Time is of the essence. Your catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s life could hang in the balance and it is important that you act quickly!


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momofmany

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Great tips Hissy! I'll add two more on digging/eliminating: masking tape over the top, criss-crossing at about 1 inch intervals in a checkered pattern. I've also used chicken wire over the top, cut to shape around the plant.
 
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ghostuser

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Thanks Guys so much for all your help- Now I know what to leave outside for the winter time and what to bring in and "fix" so my babies will not mess in them.


Danke~

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