How can I keep my housecat from bothering my houseplants - he thinks they are litter boxes!?

Question

I just brought my plants inside for the winter. Mr. Cat is 1 1/2 years old. I'm trying Hartz spray each day to deter him. Has this worked for anyone?

Answer 1

get a water bottle and spray the cat, they hate that and learn fast. some plants are poison to cats.

Answer 2

Cut out a piece of chicken wire(wire mesh) to fit the planter,cut a hole in the center for the plant and cut a slit from one edge to the hole in the center so you can slip it around the plant. Cover with just enough dirt to cover wire and the cat will soon learn that this is not a good place to dig. Hope this helps.

I have also heard about putting moth balls in plants or hanging a Cotton ball soaked with ammonia in the plant but to me both of these smell to bad outside let alone doing it inside. Ive never tried the Hartz spray .

Answer 3

Water works just as well and it's free! Spray him when he goes near the plants.
It's natural for cats to want to dig and use the bathroom. He's probably excited there's a new "bathroom" in the house!
A spray bottle will do the trick.
Good luck.

Answer 4

LOL My cat used to do the same thing. You might try putting tin foil over the dirt and wrap it around the stem and the edge of the pot so that he can't move it. He will have nothing to dig in and won't want to do his business there. Make sure that the litter box is always easily accessable. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Aren't you glad he wants to dig the dirt instead of just doing his business on the floor?

I've heard that animals don't like aluminum foil. Maybe you could place the plants on a sheet of foil in such a way that he couldn't get to the plants without stepping on the foil. I have no idea whether this would work, but you might give it a try.

Answer 6

I went thru that..and what I did was cut circles of wire mess to the circular size of the potted plant..You tigh wire little stakes to poke into the soil so they hover over the soil without pushing on it and high enough for your cat to not dig or pop in it..Sorta like a cage top so it still lets the air in.

They make green color wire mess or grids at the hardware store so its green and not tacky

Answer 7

Put lemon and orange peels or something that they don't like the smell of like jalapeno juice in a jar near the base of the plant..just make sure kitty can't step in the juice and don't get the juice on the plant or soil.

(mothballs are toxic to kitties)

Answer 8

I use a mesh potatoe bag, cut so it is open and flat, cut a slit to the center, place around stem of plant use rubberband to keep tight to the pot. Has worked for five cats and 22 years.

Answer 9

For digging or urinating, cover the dirt with aluminum foil or gravel. You can also use Sticky Paws for Plants. If the plant needs it, add some vinegar to the soil to counteract the ammonia in the urine.

Answer 10

You just have to get your plants up off the floor - they could be dangerous to your cat, too. Put them up on shelves or hang from the ceiling.