Keeping Cats Away

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Semantics. I know what I meant by what I said. I stand by my meaning because my experience tells me it is true. Word it any way you want, the results are the same. The behavior was modified to my satisfaction.

[estación seca]

Spray bottles can work wonders. For many years our large extended family Thanksgiving dinners always degenerated into heated political discussions. One year I announced in advance I would bring a squirt bottle. I said I would spray in the face anybody who began speaking politics. On that Thangsgiving I showed up with a heavy-duty spray bottle. As we were seated I put it next to my plate. Everybody looked at it. There were no political discussions that year, nor since. I didn't even need to use it.

[spinrah]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Spray bottles can work wonders. For many years our large extended family Thanksgiving dinners always degenerated into heated political discussions. One year I announced in advance I would bring a squirt bottle. I said I would spray in the face anybody who began speaking politics. On that Thangsgiving I showed up with a heavy-duty spray bottle. As we were seated I put it next to my plate. Everybody looked at it. There were no political discussions that year, nor since. I didn't even need to use it.

Now this method I can get behind.

[WaterWitchin]

estatión seca... I was kinda hoping your post would be about finding a hairball retching app.

And I would agree, D Old Man... part semantics and part pragmatics. Therein lies what Dolly was saying about reading text with no facial or visual clues. We live in such a more digital, text reading society now than even a couple of decades ago, and pragmatics can easily get misread or confused.

We all know the don't discuss politics, sex, money at the workplace or family dinner table... especially estatión seca's. Over years as a moderator, here and elsewhere, I've been surprised by some hot-button issues that one wouldn't think of as such, which includes training of animals. Not just dogs vs cats... you should hear the go-rounds with folks who train/break horses.

Our original poster was asking for ideas of ways to have cats and orchids share a space, and we've sort of hijacked the thread into a discussion about how to train cats vs dogs. So let's get back on focus for our OP, and if more discussion is needed, start a thread in off-topic about training methods.

[SouthPark]

Ok ........ let's take a look at the 'danger' or repulsion method again. So super hot chilli (mixed and sprayed onto orchid leaves) might be out of the question - since it was mentioned that chilli is toxic to cats.

Some other unsavoury or bad tasting substance (non-toxic) could be a substitute. The idea is based on cats being clever enough to know that if what they bite or eat has ultra bad taste, or gives them some undesirable experience ------ then they are just smart enough to stay away from whatever it is.

One thing I noticed about my cat ----- an outdoor cat ----- is ----- she stays clear of cane toads. An introduced toad species. She is not afraid of say mice, rats, lizards, geckos, and not even afraid of snakes (which is a bit of a worry - as we do have super deadly snakes here). But cane toads ------ she doesn't touch them at all. She probably had a bad experience with biting a cane toad at one stage - which has toxins - and can potentially kill animals that bite or eat the toad.

That's why I had the carolina reaper chilli spray idea (on the leaves that is) ....... a few chews on carolina reaper-laced leaves ....... could possibly mean a cat will never ever chew or bite those orchid leaves ---- ever again. A 'survival' thing.

[Dollythehun]

"Our original poster was asking for ideas of ways to have cats and orchids share a space, and we've sort of hijacked the thread into a discussion about how to train cats vs dogs. So let's get back on focus for our OP, and if more discussion is needed, start a thread in off-topic about training methods. "


I thought we laid this thread to rest. SP. 😕

[WaterWitchin]

What Dolly says SouthPark. Please review my post prior to yours.

[SouthPark]

WW ----- my post is in absolute alignment with the title of the post, and the topic. It is keeping cats away ------ and ideas for sharing orchid space.

Sure, orchid space can be shared when the cat knows that biting the orchids may result in a very undesirable taste/flavour/outcome. Not a deadly outcome. Just an outcome where a cat (or other animal) just learns by survival instinct.

I saw those recent posts. And so posted accordingly. This is my experience.

[spinrah]

I agree with SP that discussing the training of cats is completely in line with the OP's post.

By the way, please note that I am writing this in a very positive tone, in case there's any doubt.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

"Our original poster was asking for ideas of ways to have cats and orchids share a space, and we've sort of hijacked the thread into a discussion about how to train cats vs dogs. So let's get back on focus for our OP, and if more discussion is needed, start a thread in off-topic about training methods. "

I thought we laid this thread to rest. SP. 😕

Dolly - I assumed that this thread is for discussions. I provided sensible details - only mentioning a reasonable method, which doesn't involve teaching or training as such. It is just a fire-and-forget method ------- spray something onto the orchid's leaves, and then leave it up to nature and survival instincts to do the rest.