Hey everyone! I'm a college student who just got my cat settled in my apartment. While he adjusts, I'm keeping my plants in the living room to limit his space. However, I'm dealing with a bit of a plant-eating problem—my cat thinks my plants are a snack! He's already destroyed several in the past, and I want to prevent this. I'm considering building a plant cabinet, but honestly, I can't afford the $200 it would cost. My plants aren't anything fancy; I've got two philodendrons, a pothos, a snake plant, a big peace lily, and a small spider plant. The peace lily has sentimental value since it came from my grandfather's funeral, so I really want to keep them safe. I've got a bright spot for them that isn't in direct sun. If anyone has cheaper or clever ideas to protect my plants, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
4 Answers
We've had similar issues with our cat. The best solution I’ve found is simply not bringing home plants that are harmful. A kennel can help control the situation, but that might be tough to keep up for long. Just keep the dangerous ones out of reach or give them to someone else for safer keeping. It might be your best bet!
Watch out for that peace lily—it's toxic to cats! Even a bit of the pollen can cause some nasty issues if they end up licking it off themselves. You might want to put it somewhere really high where your cat can't get to it. As for the pothos, it’s not deadly but can irritate their mouth and tummy. A better option could be to give your cat his own plants to nibble on, like a spider plant. Just keep everything elevated and out of reach!
Why not try a little hot sauce? For outdoor plants, I mix a teaspoon of hot sauce with about 10 ounces of water and spray it on the leaves. Just be careful with the concentration! It could help keep him away without harming your plants. Just idea!
One thing you could try is cat grass! It’s supposed to satisfy their cravings and might keep your kitty away from the other plants. Plus, it’s easy to grow! Not sure how it would work, but it's worth a shot!
Good point! I’m already thinking of giving away the peace lily to a friend to keep it safe.