Sometimes it seems that the only choice is to pick between owning an array of house plants or caring for cats, especially if they are still kittens. However, a choice of one over the other doesn't have to be made, if you are prepared to both ready the plants, for resistance, and train the felines to stay clear. The first thing to remember though, is to only grow non-poisonous plants.
Plants Poisonous to Cats
While any plant, if ingested in large quantities, can prove problematic to a cat's digestive tract and internal organs, some plants are lethal. Cat owners should never have plants that are known to be poisonous to cats. Easter lilies, mistletoe, cacti and azalea, are among a wide range of poisonous plant types. These plants can cause vomiting, nervous system disorders, bleeding, organ failure and even death. It's best not to risk purchasing any of these dangerous plants, as trying to protect your cats against them will be very difficult. Just stick to plants that are either safe, as they are made for cats, like oat grass and catnip, or to plants that are less likely to cause detrimental effects, like, ferns, palms, lipstick trees and ivy.
Protecting Plants against Cats
Cats love to dig in plants. Deter them from this habit by placing stones or shells in the dirt, in floor-based plants. You can also poke sticks in the soil or wrap the top in plastic or foil. Prevent smaller plants from getting knocked down by hanging them or placing them high enough that they can't readily be tipped over when the cat leaps up. If the cat is given to eating the plant's leaves, spray the leaves in citrus juice or Tabasco sauce. With plants on ledges, covering the area around them with two-sided tape can also be effective, as cats loathe sticky paws!
Training Cats to Avoid Plants
Saying no over and over again, doesn't usually work with a cat. And extreme measures, such as, electric zaps or the use of mouse traps should always be avoided! To discipline a kitten best, simply swat them lightly on the scruff of the neck and make a growling or hissing sound as the mother cat would. Apart from this, if you see a cat head towards one of your plants with ill intent, or if you catch them in the act of uprooting a plant, munching on its leaves or urinating in the pot, spray them with a water bottle. Most cats don't like getting wet and will eventually avoid acts that create that consequence. Alternately, make sure when the cats are left at home alone, that all plants are out of reach in another room with a closed door or out on the deck.
