Cat Question

jasmineh7777 · July 2010

Is there anything I can do to keep my cat from digging up my plants? I only have 4, and plants in my house usually have a short life span. My aloe plant was doing nicely, and then kitty dug it up while I was at work. She also knocked my other plant off the counter, twice.
She's actually rather destructive. I've never had a cat before, so I'm a bit clueless.
Any suggestions?

katiewhompus · July 2010

Try putting rocks on top of the dirt to keep her from digging and rocks under the dirt (or bricks sometimes work) to keep from tipping.

Also Aloe can be very toxic if she eats it, so you might want to move it to a high shelf

Demon just had her plants that she hates. My mom has a sort of palm plant and Demon makes it her mission to destroy it. From the second she wakes up until she falls back asleep her time is spent destroying that thing.

jasmineh7777 · July 2010

Thanks Katie. I thought they wouldn't eat it, because it tastes so bitter? It's dead now either way. I can't fault her though, sounds like it was self defense.
The other one she knocked over is a weird palm plant/tree like thing. Maybe it's some old cat vendetta against palms.

vegasgroom · July 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:4279e547-8064-4067-aaa7-6ffc41edf174Post:5538ec5e-f375-49a4-8bb1-4d663cb5e8ed">Re: Cat Question</a>:
[QUOTE]Also Aloe can be very toxic if she eats it, so you might want to move it to a high shelf ;)
Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]

I'm buying an aloe plant, don't tell my FI.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · July 2010

My cat pooped in my basil plant once. While my friend was cat sitting him. Not sure if he was pissed that I was gone or what. Anyway, I no longer hae a basil plant. I'm no help.

[Deleted User] · July 2010

Ditto Katie about putting rocks in the soil, my cat hates that. I've also read that cats hate citrus scents, so maybe try spritzing the area around the plant with lemon-water. I did this on our carpets and he left them alone.

or try moving the plants. My cat is very territorial about certain areas, like this hutch in the kitchen by the window. If we put a plant there, he will knock it over because it blocks his sun.

jasmineh7777 · July 2010

My cat has decided the entire house is hers, including the dog kennells.
Are all cats this nuts? She also chewed up the vacuum cord. Luckily, it wasn't plugged in.

[Deleted User] · July 2010

How old is the cat? if she's a kitten, she'll likely calm down. Others are just like that--crazy. Sometimes rigging a certain area with a loud noise will deter cats, like filling a can with coins and rigging it to fall to the floor if she jumps on something. eventually she'll associate that with a loud scary noise. As for the cords, I think they have special products you can buy that wrap around cords to protect them from cat teeth and claws.

jasmineh7777 · July 2010

We adopted her in May, and they said we was maybe a year old? They don't really know. She was found on a ranch, half dead. She's rather fearless, and enjoys attacking our dogs.
Thanks for the heads up on the cords thing. I'm going to need to buy that.

klm03013 · July 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:4279e547-8064-4067-aaa7-6ffc41edf174Post:2e4cca2c-7448-489e-b22e-18bfd00b6b94">Re: Cat Question</a>:
[QUOTE]Cats also hate tin foil. Cut a circle that fits in the top of the planter. You can also use foil is she starts getting on the counters. Lay foil on them and she'll learn after she jumps up there a couple of times.
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, my cats love tin foil. Last time I put it down to try to discourage them from going somewhere, one of them ran around with it on his back like a cape and then crumpled it up and played with it.

I have a weird suggestion-- we noticed our cats hated the smell of our Yankee candles and wouldn't go anywhere near them. They would scrunch up their faces and run when presented with one. When they started digging up our plants, we circled them with tea light candles for about a week. Eventually, they stayed away from the area altogether even when we moved the candles. Other strong smelling things like air fresheners might work, too.

jasmineh7777 · July 2010

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Deleted User] · July 2010

I was also going to say to watch her the first couple times if you try tin foil. A lot of cats hate it, mine loves it. If it crinkles and makes noise when he walks on it or bites it, guaranteed he's going to play with it. And you don't want your cat eating foil.

shoegal715 · July 2010

We squeezed some orange juice into the plants. Worked like a charm. Cats hate to be around citrus.

hrerickson · July 2010

Maybe she's bored? If she was found on a farm she might be used to running around and chasing mice.
My parents have a cat that needs to be outside or he drives them nuts and whines when he's inside!
Maybe get her a scratch post or catnip toys???

katiewhompus · July 2010

1-2 is a "fun" year with cats. They still have the energy and destructive tendencies of a kitten but the muscle and size to create absolutely chaos.

I just got to give my cat a bath...always fun

sketne25 · July 2010

My mom and I used those plastic sheets with the grippy teeth that you put on carpet so you can use a rolling desk chair on carpet. Just invert them so the teeth are facing up and put them where the cat is knocking down your plants.

Anysunrise · July 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:4279e547-8064-4067-aaa7-6ffc41edf174Post:5538ec5e-f375-49a4-8bb1-4d663cb5e8ed">Re: Cat Question</a>:
[QUOTE] Also Aloe can be very toxic if she eats it, so you might want to move it to a high shelf
Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]
'
Really? I should tell FI. Apparently, since he was sunburnt this weekend, he's been slathering himself with the aloe burn relief stuff, and our crazy shortround decided she loved it. She waits til he's pre-occupied with something and then walks up and starts licking him.

Our cat is a weirdo.

K Byte · July 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:4279e547-8064-4067-aaa7-6ffc41edf174Post:fee4f2a7-8f29-4b02-b838-411ffefecbce">Re: Cat Question</a>:
[QUOTE]1-2 is a "fun" year with cats. They still have the energy and destructive tendencies of a kitten but the muscle and size to create absolutely chaos. I just got to give my cat a bath...always fun ;)
Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]

My cat just got out of the "terrible 2's" and I'm pretty thankful for it! He's still a jerk at times but last year/early this year was not a fun time with him. />__<

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