Comments on: How to Keep Your Cats From Eating Your Plants http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/ Gardening Tips for Apartment and Condo Dwellers Mon, 21 May 2012 20:47:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sara http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-13116 Sara Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:31:54 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-13116 If your cat likes to use your plants for a litter box, lightly sprinkle black pepper on the soil. I also used it on the floor under the cupboards as my cat tries to open them. I have read that this is more of a polydactyl issue (cats with extra toes) but it works. If your cat likes to use your plants for a litter box, lightly sprinkle black pepper on the soil. I also used it on the floor under the cupboards as my cat tries to open them. I have read that this is more of a polydactyl issue (cats with extra toes) but it works.

]]> By: Fern http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-12595 Fern Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:08:46 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-12595 I don't think anyone recommended giving their pets gum/candy/mints...? I don’t think anyone recommended giving their pets gum/candy/mints…?

]]> By: Emily http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-12594 Emily Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:20:03 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-12594 NEVER give cats (or dogs) gum, mints, or any candy with the ingredient XYLITOL!!!! This ingredient is highly toxic and potentially fatal to animals. Be safe and only give your pet approved treats!!!!! NEVER give cats (or dogs) gum, mints, or any candy with the ingredient XYLITOL!!!! This ingredient is highly toxic and potentially fatal to animals. Be safe and only give your pet approved treats!!!!!

]]> By: Scott http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-12114 Scott Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:53:04 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-12114 I know this is an old post, and thus unlikely to be read -- it came up as one of the first on a Google search of "inedible plants for cats;" but every kitty I've had who will eat just about any plant grown organically, poisonous or not, will eat just about every plant they can get hold of weather it makes them sick or not. I'm not saying they all will, but for those that do: They won't learn! They will go back to it over and over. And you will have to clean that up over and over! :( Yet they WILL NOT eat Rosemary, no matter how it's grown. Nor will they go anywhere near anything that smells like it: Even if it's on my hands. It's like an anti-kitty shield to them -- I use it for cooking all the time so they don't like me a lot of the time. :( Sux 2 b me. ;) I'm not saying this is a solution to anything! Keep in mind, I've only had 5 cats, not an infestation of them. :) So that's just my personal observance, and not a compressive study or anything. YMMV! Hope that helps someone. Enjoy! :) I know this is an old post, and thus unlikely to be read — it came up as one of the first on a Google search of “inedible plants for cats;” but every kitty I’ve had who will eat just about any plant grown organically, poisonous or not, will eat just about every plant they can get hold of weather it makes them sick or not.

I’m not saying they all will, but for those that do: They won’t learn! They will go back to it over and over. And you will have to clean that up over and over! :(

Yet they WILL NOT eat Rosemary, no matter how it’s grown. Nor will they go anywhere near anything that smells like it: Even if it’s on my hands. It’s like an anti-kitty shield to them — I use it for cooking all the time so they don’t like me a lot of the time. :( Sux 2 b me. ;)

I’m not saying this is a solution to anything!

Keep in mind, I’ve only had 5 cats, not an infestation of them. :) So that’s just my personal observance, and not a compressive study or anything. YMMV!

Hope that helps someone. Enjoy! :)

]]> By: Glenn http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-11798 Glenn Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:47:22 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-11798 I have a majesty palm in the house and my two cats love to try to chew the leaves and I put a stop to that as I placed aluminum foil around the pot loosely . My cats are afraid of the crackling sound I have a majesty palm in the house and my two cats love to try to chew the leaves and I put a stop to that as I placed aluminum foil around the pot loosely . My cats are afraid of the crackling sound

]]> By: ROXANNE http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-10335 ROXANNE Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:04:37 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-10335 TY KURT, I was reading about the mint as well, and thought that was strange, seeing my cat loves mint...if I have mint gum in my purse, he will find a way to get at it....so thank you for clearing that up TY KURT,

I was reading about the mint as well, and thought that was strange, seeing my cat loves mint…if I have mint gum in my purse, he will find a way to get at it….so thank you for clearing that up

]]> By: Fern http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-9669 Fern Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:55:33 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-9669 Interesting tip Lissa. Thanks for sharing! Interesting tip Lissa. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: lissa http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-9661 lissa Thu, 24 Mar 2011 01:02:53 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-9661 I know I am way late but works for me is to take a lemon and grate it around the plants. My cats love mint I have a peppermint the kitten has taken a shine 2 but I don't mind as mint is impossible to kill. I brought it inside so it could get a early start. I know I am way late but works for me is to take a lemon and grate it around the plants. My cats love mint I have a peppermint the kitten has taken a shine 2 but I don’t mind as mint is impossible to kill. I brought it inside so it could get a early start.

]]> By: Amber http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-7372 Amber Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:22:31 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-7372 I thought I would add my 2 cents here too since I am looking for a way to keep my kitties from using my back patio raised flower beds as litter boxes. I am going to try the citrus method as I know they hate the smell. And note on mint: Catnip is part of the mint family so I can see some cats love it & some hate it. I have used the sticky tape method on counters & such. I didn't have any sticky tape, so used duck tape with the sticky side up. Then I always knew if they were up on the surface because the tape was gone. It does stick to them but they pull it off. AND the ALWAYS learn the lesson cuz they hate the feel of the tape & have to pull it off too. It seemed to cure them within 4-7 days with this method. Keeping kitty grass (which is just oat seed u can get from any farm/garden place) helps keep kitties from eating your plants. And avoid plants that look like grass (ie Spider plants) cuz it is just too much temptation for a kitty. Bitter Apple product does work but u must reapply it so often. I have had more luck with that on dogs than cats. At least it is non-toxic to both aninal & plant. I thought I would add my 2 cents here too since I am looking for a way to keep my kitties from using my back patio raised flower beds as litter boxes. I am going to try the citrus method as I know they hate the smell. And note on mint: Catnip is part of the mint family so I can see some cats love it & some hate it.

I have used the sticky tape method on counters & such. I didn’t have any sticky tape, so used duck tape with the sticky side up. Then I always knew if they were up on the surface because the tape was gone. It does stick to them but they pull it off. AND the ALWAYS learn the lesson cuz they hate the feel of the tape & have to pull it off too. It seemed to cure them within 4-7 days with this method.

Keeping kitty grass (which is just oat seed u can get from any farm/garden place) helps keep kitties from eating your plants. And avoid plants that look like grass (ie Spider plants) cuz it is just too much temptation for a kitty. Bitter Apple product does work but u must reapply it so often. I have had more luck with that on dogs than cats. At least it is non-toxic to both aninal & plant.

]]> By: crystal http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-keep-your-cats-from-eating-your-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-7132 crystal Mon, 10 May 2010 22:41:21 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=109#comment-7132 Um, almost every cat I've ever had loves mint. I've had them try to stick their head in my mouth when shewing gum, dig through garbage to get at gum/wrappers, and even try to eat toothpaste. In all honesty, I find it weird that your cats don't like it. PS-everything else here is great (with the amendment for moth balls. Apparently they are a carcinogen). I'll have to try out some of this and search out that book. Um, almost every cat I’ve ever had loves mint. I’ve had them try to stick their head in my mouth when shewing gum, dig through garbage to get at gum/wrappers, and even try to eat toothpaste. In all honesty, I find it weird that your cats don’t like it.

PS-everything else here is great (with the amendment for moth balls. Apparently they are a carcinogen). I’ll have to try out some of this and search out that book.

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