October 28th, 2009
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Cats love to dig in the earth in household potted plants – and much to your dismay you may find them using it as a litter box. But a more serious issue is that cats like to nibble on household plants, many of which are toxic to cats.
The “Danger List” is so long (it’s in “The Cat Bible,” if you’re curious) – and cats are naturally drawn to greenery – that the only way to be really safe is to make sure that you designate your potted plants as “off limits” to your cats. Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
and doesn’t stop. She starts meowing and then cuts it off xD
My cats have been at my Shamrock plant ever since I got them (I had the plant first!) and I tried everything, right down to spraying it with hot sauce to discourage them from eating it. I recently purchased a six foot banana tree (I know, who buys a banana tree in Ontario?) and I spoke to the horticulturalist there. He suggested I get the cats their own plant! Well, I did! Tigger and Max now have their own spider plant to munch on. Whenever they go near a “paws off” plant, I use a firm NO and place them by their spider plant and they start chewing on that (at which point I praise them). Now, they don’t bother with my foliage, they only eat their own (which is non-toxic also)
My cat,Matthew, loved one of my house plants and took a bite every chance he got. I bought him his own plant at PetCo. It is near my other plants and he loves it. Since I got it he has not gone near my other plants. The plant I got him is made for cats and it took two days to grow. Best $3 I ever spent.
A kitty-specific plant from a store like PETCO is a great idea! Buying a cat a plant of greens designed specifically for cats is the safest and most satisfying way for your cats to nibble on greens. Other plants may not be toxic but could be too tough and stringy to be ingested without possible complications. Go with kitty grass and watch your cats go to town!
I have a question regarding a Mossquito Shoo Geranium (pelargonum citrosum’van leenii’) is this plant harmfull to cats if they eat it?
My husband wants to plant them on our back porch and our concern is the cats frequent the back porch which is screened in for them. We don’t want to plant something that will harm them.