Keeping Cats Away

[Leafmite]

Perhaps keeping all the plants in a cage, reptile habitat (the type with the screens on the sides), wardian case, terrarium, etc. might be the easiest solution.

I have a very well-behaved, well-trained pup who, maybe once a year, twice at most, would go on a small orchid-destroying rampage. I lost a few very good, irreplaceable orchids. Now I keep the orchids on a shelf she cannot reach and, when they are outside for the summer, I accompany her outside. Most of the time, she left them alone so it did take me a little time to take action to keep them out of her reach.

---------- Post added at 02:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 AM ----------

If you want to deter the cat from eating plants with plants...Rue is one of the most bitter herbs and it can grow in a small pot as long as it is kept watered. When we had wild critters eating plants, I planted that and wormwood in the garden and it ended the problem.

[GrandpaUtz]

Whew thanks for all the replies! I got totally tied up at work and forgot to check back in.

After reading all this, I think I'll bring in the orchid and see how it goes. I have 2 cats, and only 1 is really interested in eating plants (I have a wandering jew and some shamrocks that he loves to chew on) - but from reading the replies I'm hopeful that he just doesn't give a care to the orchid. That's why I'm just starting back up with a big box store phal and not something rare/expensive/difficult.

I've tried the spray bottle before, but unfortunately for me, one of my cats is a Maine Coon and he loves the water and thinks it's a reward, and taught the other one not to fear the bottle lol

My house is very small (under 1000 sqft), so unfortunately there is nowhere that our cats can't reach/go - and this is the only window in the entire house that gets acceptable light that I can use! And there's absolutely no space for a grow light setup! lol - hope to someday build a greenhouse and keep my orchids out there, but for now I'm hoping I can get my hobby restarted just with my one little shelf under my window.

---------- Post added at 08:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:59 AM ----------

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Interestingly - not all cats eat or damage plants and orchids. I have a cat at my place that sleeps on one of my orchids hehe ------ can see at (This was your URL that apparently I'm too new to post). That was really lucky that this one doesn't eat or chew orchids. Otherwise - I would have likely needed to try the 'spray bottle method'.

This is totally hilarious, and 100% something my cat would do. In fact, he almost killed my wandering jew when I brought it in for the winter doing exactly this! No vanilla orchids for me I guess!

[Dollythehun]

What about setting up a mini greenhouse on the table if you only have a few orchids. IKEA has one, and I'm sure you could improvise.

Be glad for your Maine Coon. I lost mine last October, one of the saddest days of my life. I'd trade all my orchids for another day with him.