How to Keep Cats Away from Plants: Effective Methods and Tips

06/30/2024 Nature Preserve HUB

How to Keep Cats Away from Plants – Our feline friends, as much as we love them, can cause problems for our plants. They are very curious by nature. Their strong sense of smell makes them notice plants easily¹. Plus, cats see colors like green and yellow well¹.

The trouble starts when cats start scratching, chewing, or using the plants as their litter box. This can be very upsetting for those who love both cats and plants. Luckily, there are ways to protect our plants from our curious cats.

Understand Why Cats Love Plants

We often wonder why our cats are so drawn to house plants. They chew on leaves and play in the soil. But what makes these plants so attractive to them? Understanding this helps us find ways to protect our plants and keep our cats happy and healthy.

Smell, Instincts, and Visual Appeal

Cats have a great sense of smell, much better than ours. They can smell things up to 14 times better than we can². So, plants like citronella, lavender, and peppermint are irresistible to them. Cats are also natural hunters. This makes them play with plants, looking for excitement and new places to hide³. The movement of green leaves can catch their eyes, making them want to play.

Not only that, but cats might eat plants for health reasons. Some studies show that they might eat grass for the fiber and other nutrients it provides³. Also, they might use the soil in pots as a makeshift litter box. This could mean they need their real litter box taken care of³.

Knowing why cats love plants can help us. It means we can protect our plants better. Whether it’s the smell, their instincts, or the look of plants, we can find a way to live in harmony²³⁴.

Train Your Cat to Leave Plants Alone

Cats are naturally curious, but we can train them to steer clear of household plants⁵. Training involves rewarding good behavior and redirecting their attention to appropriate playthings. This helps them stay away from the fragile greenery.

To successfully teach cats plant-avoidance, you need patience and consistency⁵. When they avoid plants, reward them with treats or praise. And always redirect their focus when plants catch their eye. If you need extra help, cat behavior specialists are available for virtual consultations⁵.

Using positive reinforcement alongside engaging toys is a great way to beat plant-chewing boredom⁶. These strategies offer mental stimulation and channel your cat’s energy toward less destructive activities. This can reduce their interest in your indoor garden.

Know what plants your cat likes and avoid buying those. If your cat is into plants with strong scents or textures, don’t bring them home⁶. Instead, use “bait” plants like catnip or cat grass. Placing these in strategic spots draws your cat away from your favorite plants⁶.

Consistency and patience make all the difference in training cats⁵. With a steady hand, our beloved pets can learn to keep their distance from our beloved houseplants⁵.

how to keep cats away from plants

It’s hard but not impossible to keep cats away from plants. Use gadgets like ones that make a soft sound when they come close⁷. And we shouldn’t forget about treats and praise for our feline friends when they behave well⁷.

Being patient is key when trying these methods. We can teach cats to stay away from our plants with a gentle approach and lots of reward⁷. Thus, we protect our greenery and improve our connection with them⁷.

Remote Correction and Positive Reinforcement

Air-puff and ultrasonic gadgets work well to stop cats from getting too close to plants⁷. They provide a mild, but surprising, signal to the cat. This is usually enough to keep them from coming back⁷. Add in some treats or cuddles when they listen, and they quickly learn the right behavior⁷.

Mixing these gadgets with rewards makes for a solid training combo⁷. It helps prevent bad actions and promotes good ones. This way, we not only protect our plants but also make our bond with our pets stronger⁷.

Sticking to the plan is crucial for its success⁷. It will take time and effort, but the result is worth it. A life where cats and plants can live together happily⁷.

Make Plants Unappealing

Want to keep cats away? Making plants less inviting to them is smart. Simple ways like using aluminum foil or bitter sprays work well. These methods make cats stay away from your green friends gently.

Aluminum Foil

Cats do not like the feel or sound of walking on aluminum foil. Place it around plants or on the leaves to keep them away. The shiny and noisy foil deters cats from exploring your garden⁸.

Bitter Repellents

Making plants taste bad to cats is another good trick. Use homemade or store-bought bitter sprays on the leaves and soil. Cayenne pepper, citrus, or special sprays are options. These make cats not want to touch your plants⁸⁹.

Always test sprays on a small spot first to check for plant safety. And remember, keep them away from pets and kids.

With foil and sprays, you can keep your plants safe from curious cats. This lets you enjoy peace between your plants and pets⁸⁹¹⁰.

Provide Safe Alternatives

As responsible cat owners, keeping our cats safe is key. We need to find safe ways for them to chew and play. This keeps them from our plants. We can do this by offering cat-safe plants, cat grass, and special toys¹¹.

Cats love to chew on plants, making it a challenge. Yet, we can find plants that are safe for them to chew on. Catnip, cat grass, and lemon-scented herbs are great choices¹². These keep our cats happy and away from dangerous plants.

Catnip: This herb makes cats go crazy, pleasing their senses with a natural high¹².
Cat grass: A patch of oat, wheat, or barley is perfect for cats to chew and it’s healthy¹².
Lemon-scented plants: Lavender, rosemary, and citronella smell strong to cats, keeping them off other plants¹¹¹².

There are other ways to keep our cats busy and happy. Toys like scratching posts, puzzle feeders, and interactive toys are great. They help cats get the physical and mental exercise they need. This means they’ll be less interested in our plants¹³.

Non-Toxic Plants for Cats	Toxic Plants for Cats
Palms, ferns, Peperomia Obtusifolia, cat grass, bromeliad, rosemary, peperomia, spider plant, air plant, prayer plant, money tree, elegant orchid, Pilea Peperomioides, Calathea Freddie.	Onion, orange, oregano, oleander, daffodils, cannabis, tulips.

By giving cats safe and fun choices, we make a home where everyone is happy. Our plants and our pets can thrive together¹³.

Move Plants Out of Reach

Keeping your plants away from your cat can be hard but there are ways to do it. A good method is putting your plants up high. You can use shelves, plant stands, or hang them from the ceiling¹⁴. This keeps the plants out of your cat’s way and makes it less interesting for them¹⁴.

Creating obstacles is another smart way. Use platforms or pedestals to elevate your plants. This makes it hard for your cat to get to them¹⁴. You can also set up furniture like bookcases to make a path that’s difficult for your cat to walk through¹⁵. These barriers protect your plants and might even be a fun challenge for your cat.

Elevated Spaces and Obstacles

Place plants up high to keep them away from your cat¹⁴.
Use platforms to block your cat’s path to the plants¹⁴.
Set up furniture in a way that stops your cat from reaching the plants¹⁵.

Finding smart ways to keep your plants safe from your cat can make life better for both of you. Plus, you get to keep your plants looking lovely¹⁴¹⁵.

Create Barriers and Enclosed Spaces

Protecting your plants from cats often needs strong physical barriers. Luckily, many options work to keep your plants safe from curious paws¹⁶.

Chicken wire fencing is a top choice. It can surround plants or whole garden areas, keeping cats out. Use wire that is 6 feet tall and has 2×2 inch holes to make a barrier they can’t pass¹⁷.

Plant cloches are another option. These domes not only keep out cats but also protect plants from bad weather. For more serious protection, you could make a greenhouse or a terrarium for your special plants¹⁶.

Make sure your barriers are high and sturdy. This stops cats from jumping or climbing over them. Features like slanted wire or rollers can help keep your plants safe¹⁸.

By using these barriers, you make a safe space for your plants. It protects them from cats’ playful yet harmful habits¹⁶.

Take the time to try different barriers and spaces. Find what works best for your garden and cat issues¹⁷. With some creativity and effort, you can have both happy plants and cats¹⁶.

What Not to Do

To keep cats from your plants, avoid certain ways that might not work well. Don’t spray cats with water or use loud noises to scare them off. Punishing them might seem like it works but can make things worse¹⁹.

Water Sprays, Punishment, and Loud Noises

Water sprays might seem clever, but they could backfire. Your cat may actually learn to fear or distrust you¹⁹. Yelling or hitting your cat is not a good idea. It makes them more stressed, scared, and aggressive. Loud noises, like alarms, might scare them away at first. But, it can make them feel anxious and not act naturally¹⁹.

Avoid things that don’t help, like harsh discipline or unfair training. Instead, use good methods and set up your space to keep cats away from your plants. This way, you solve the problem without making it worse.

Knowing what to avoid can lead to better ways to protect your plants and care for your pets. It’s about being smarter and kinder in the way we interact with our cats.

Conclusion

We’ve learned a lot about how to protect your plants from cats in this article. It’s not easy, but with the right plan, you can keep both your plants and cats happy. Understanding why cats like plants helps us keep them away.

Training your cat with rewards and placing barriers can help a lot. You can also use smells cats don’t like to keep them away. Items like double-sided tape and aluminum foil can stop cats from messing with your plants. And don’t forget to give them their own special places to climb and scratch²⁰.

It’s all about combining what we know about cats with making changes to our home. We should use different methods to keep cats from messing with our plants. By doing this, we can have a beautiful garden and happy cats living together peacefully²¹.

FAQ

Why are cats attracted to plants?

Cats are drawn to plants because they smell strong and look like prey. Their natural instincts to hunt make them curious about plants. Also, they find the swaying leaves especially interesting.

How can we train cats to leave plants alone?

Positive methods work best. For example, you can reward your cat when they don’t touch the plants. Also, show them fun toys or non-harmful objects to chew on instead.

What are some effective techniques for keeping cats away from plants?

There are several good ways. You could use devices that give off gentle corrections from a distance. Also, put on bitter sprays on the plants or give your cat catnip or cat grass to distract them. Keep the plants up high or put barriers around them.

What should we avoid when trying to keep cats away from plants?

Stay away from methods that might scare or hurt the cat. This includes spraying them with water, punishing them, or loud noises. These can make things worse and harm your bond with your cat.