Keeping Cats out of plants... - Orchid Board

Pinkcat · #1 10-30-2007, 02:31 PM

Hello all!

I have one kitty that loves using my plants as a litter box. I can't blame him, he was born feral so dirt is a natural thing to use as a potty. Unfortuately, I brought my plants in before the freeze and he has proceeded to make my kitchen into a muddy bog. He throws the dirt all over the floor which would be sweepable, but the bananas weep and make puddles with muddy kitty footprints in them. I have tried filling the tops of the pots with gravel, but he doesn't seem to mind the gravel either. Any suggestions?

Its actually would be pretty humourous

if it wasn't going to ruin the floor at some point. I mean really, who brings 50 gallon bananas into their kitchen anyways...

gmdiaz · #2 10-30-2007, 04:35 PM

Well. . .laughing. . .

How about buy the kitty a new cat box and put some of that special cat litter in it that they make for kittens. . .it has some kind of attractant in it. It smells sort of herbal. . .but cats LOVE it.

When you see the cat hopping it into your plant, take him out and tell him that is not his and show him HIS cat box. . .dig around in it (with a scoop) and act all happy.

ROFLOLOL

Dorothy · #3 10-30-2007, 06:10 PM

Lace the litter box with catnip

caseydoll · #4 10-30-2007, 07:21 PM

Thankfully my cats have graduated from digging in the dirt of my houseplants to just chewing on the leaves.

Still not happy about it but it sure beats the mess! I have never tried this suggestion but I have read about it. Try covering the pots with aluminum foil, it won't look all that pretty but supposedly cats don't care for the sound or feeling of it. Also double sided sticky tape across the top of the pot. You wouldn't want to cover the whole thing but I'm sure a couple strips on either side would do the trick. Like I said, I'm not saying this stuff works but if your desperate you could try it. And you probably wouldn't have to keep it on forever, just until your kitty gets bored with the whole thing. (hopefully!)

Regardless of what you try, good luck!

Pinkcat · #5 10-30-2007, 08:55 PM

Thanks all!
I think I may try the sticky tape for now, it's obvious to me he knows he isn't supposed to use the plant because I never catch him in it. Only in the wee hours of the night... Thankfully he does use his litterbox sometimes. I will let you all know what works.