Cat ate my orchid. Can it be saved?

[butterfly_muse]

And if so, how do I go about doing so?

My husband and I spent our Christmas vacation out of state and just got home today. I came in to water my orchids and discovered my Onc. Twinkle 'Pink Profusion' upside down out of its pot. As if that wasn't distressing enough, I flipped it over to find that my cats had eaten a large chunk of it INCLUDING THE TWO FLOWER SPIKES I HAD because it looked like grass. It's the *only* orchid they decided to eat while we were gone. I am so heartbroken! Can I save it, or should I write it off as a loss? If I can save it, what do I need to do for it? I have no idea how long it has been like this. My cats are assholes. !!!!

[Raqsharqi]

The pseudobulbs look fine. I've had to cut the leaves on mine because of a suspected fungus, and the plant did fine. I am a novice, but I'd think as long as the roots and pseudobulbs are fine, the plant should rebound. Unfortunately, you lost your spikes and all you can do is patiently wait for new ones.

[Plodde]

same thing happened to my twinkle. yours will be fine!

[euplusia]

Not pretty, but after all not a serious damage.

[gngrhill]

I agree, important parts look fine. If you want to improve looks, you could trim up the rough edges of the leaves and treat with cinnamon on Listerine. It will grow more PBs and leaves as time goes on.

[Orchidgirl83]

Yeah, my cats have done the same to mine. The plants leaves will look kinda funky for a while, but it will live.

[silken]

I agree, just trim up the shredded ends. I have a cat that does this to every Onc. I bring into the house. I rub olive oil on the tips of the leaves and then dip them into a bag of cayenne so that the tips have a dusting of it. This prevents any damage and after the plant is done blooming, I clean the leaf tips off and return it to the greenhouse.

[butterfly_muse]

Thanks for the tips, I'll cut the shredded ends off of it and dab them in cinnamon to prevent infection. I am so bummed, it is one of my favorite orchids.

And yeah, my cats like the oncidium types because they look like grass. They generally leave my larger ones alone, but I guess this one looked like a good meal. T_______T Grrrr.

[PaphMadMan]

A vigorous hybrid like Twinkle will hardly even be set back by this. Trim to neaten things up if you want but I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.

I used to have one cat that ate grassy leaves and one that preferred thick tough leaves. A price we pay for feline companionship.

[Atzau]

Don't worry, I've had this happen multiple times... I baby sit my sister's cats when she is on vacation and put my orchids in a room, close and baracade the door and still they are able to get to them. So cut off the leaves where they were bitten and shredded and it will do fine. My miltassia royal robe was chomped down
To almost just pseudobulbs and had since bounced back to grow two new little shoots. Wish i could post some pics too show you but I'm having trouble attaching them for some reason...