I couldn't find this plant in the sticky '101 things that can harm your cat' but am just a bit concerned.

The plant Brunfelsia (aka Yesterday Today and Tomorrow) grows where I'm putting my cat enclosure.. I thought I should research it, just in case, and I found one (anecdotal only) comment about how someone's dog got sick after eating the berries.

Has anyone heard of problems with this plant?

I'm going to answer my own question... This was from the aspca toxic plants list (it's a fantastic resource.. I've bookmarked it). 

I'll definitely be removing the plants.

Brunfelsia

Additional Common Names:Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Kiss-Me-Quick, Lady-of-the-Night, Fransiscan Rain TreeScientific Name:Brunfelsia species  Family:Solanaceae  Toxicity:  Toxic to Horses,  Toxic to Cats,  Toxic to DogsToxic Principles:BrunfelsamidineClinical Signs:Tremors, seizures (for several days), diarrhea, vomiting, hypersalivation, lethargy, incoordination, coughing

I had to Google that and I don't think I've seen any growing around here - too cold! Nice looking shrub though. Always a good idea to look things up if you're not sure.

Yes... it's an American plant, but sub tropical to tropical.

They were the only plants in the cat enclosure area, so I'll dig them out and rethink the pussycat landscaping!

Any suggestions?

Oh I'm sure they'd love it if you put some catnip in! :lol3: We have a bunch of plants that self-seeded themselves in gravel, and they're amazingly hardy. They suffer through lack of water, Canadian climate, and the continual predation of all the neighbourhood kitties, yet still they survive.

If I made a cat enclosure I think I'd put in some bushy plants for the cats to hide under. Mine seem to like the spirea bushes, and they're low maintenance.
If it's a shady spot, how about ferns? Do they do well in an Australian climate though?
Maybe grow a nice vines over part of the fence. That would look nice, provide cover and possibly draw insects and birds over (not that you want them coming into the enclosure of course).
How about some of the larger grass species like pampas? You can get a couple of nice big clumps growing and the cats probably wouldn't snack on it.

Cat nip grows big and bushy. My cats use the cat nip bushes for forts.

I know there is a cat in there because I can see her string leading into it


Tolly in his very first cat nip fort. The quality of the pic is poor because it is a digital snap of a printed picture, this was taken before digital.

These are great ideas thank you.

It is only a very small area.. about 3.5metres long and only about half a metre wide (the enclosure is wider than that... that's just the garden bit).

I had thought the Brunfelsia would give the bushiness you're talking about pushylady, but it's going, obviously.

I'm thinking catnip through the ground area and something for height that doesn't take forever to grow.  If the catnip grows as high as otto's I won't need much else! (love the disappearing string pic )

I can't do vines unless I grow them on the enclosure netting, as I opted to get a free-standing one.  But maybe I can do that anyway.

I googled spirea as I'm not familiar with them, and then remembered them from my childhood in Tasmania... stunning plants, but they need a temperate climate, and we're subtropical. 

Spirea originate in temperate areas but gardeners have lots of plants growing in other climates to their native ones.  If you have garden centres go and look at what they are selling for ideas.  Also look at what is growing in your neighbours yards.  (in the UK a yard is paved and doesn't grow anything, we call them gardens if they are planted)

Not a lot to look at with my neighbours.. their dog has trampled everything! They all tend to have grass and some very pruned bits and pieces, whereas my garden is overflowing.. it's a bit like a ramshackle park. But I'm unable to make it cat-enclosed like yours, OS.

So I'm really looking for plants cats like, or that create good kitty spaces, with the consideration that it is only a thin strip of garden.

I bought a big tub of catnip today at the local nursery, only to discover they couldn't care less about it .  But I did get some ideas there.

As you've just found, not all cats are interested in catnip!  But it's a nice-looking plant.

Personally I would look for scented flowers, so long as they are cat-safe.  Grass is lovely but a small amount is a nuisance, so maybe a mix of slabs and pebbles with plants in pots.  Do remember they will need a lot of watering, and you can also kill some plants by overwatering!

Have a look at all the yards near you, take advice at the garden centre, use Messybeast as a reference for what is and is not cat-safe, and put shelves and things to climb and scratch in.  Somewhere shady as well.

Mani said:

Not a lot to look at with my neighbours.. their dog has trampled everything! They all tend to have grass and some very pruned bits and pieces, whereas my garden is overflowing.. it's a bit like a ramshackle park. But I'm unable to make it cat-enclosed like yours, OS.

So I'm really looking for plants cats like, or that create good kitty spaces, with the consideration that it is only a thin strip of garden.
I bought a big tub of catnip today at the local nursery, only to discover they couldn't care less about it .  But I did get some ideas there.

Click to expand...

Not all cat nip is created equal Cat nip is a mint and it will cross breed with other kinds of mint making it less strong. I had that problem a few years ago.

Growing your own is very different. And..even if they don't react to it, it will make a nice fort for them you KNOW without a doubt is safe for them. And you can harvest it, and send it to your friends who have cats.

otto said:

Not all cat nip is created equal

Cat nip is a mint and it will cross breed with other kinds of mint making it less strong. I had that problem a few years ago.
Growing your own is very different. And..even if they don't react to it, it will make a nice fort for them you KNOW without a doubt is safe for them. And you can harvest it, and send it to your friends who have cats.

Click to expand...

Hadn't thought of that, Otto.

I know a place that sells heirloom vegies.. I wonder if they run to Catnip? .

Still, it obviously grows into quite a bush, judging by your photos (and very contented cat ) so I'll put it in anyway.