Why And How Can I Stop My Cat From Digging in Potted Plants?

Question

My two year old cat digs in a potted plant in the house and sends dirt all over the place. Why does she do this and how can I get her to stop?

Answer 1

Hang what you can...put the rest out of reach....

Answer 2

Cats naturally do a lot of digging about. If your cat is an indoor cat, digging in potted plants can be an especially big problem. Try spraying the soil surface with a solution of lemon juice or put some crushed chillis in a spray bottle and spray that onto the soil. They tend to work. PS. Brits call potted plants pot plants (this is not a drug reference)

Answer 3

Cats dig because of the instinct to bury their waste. Just put a layer of pebbles or marbles on top of the dirt. It looks nice, helps keep moisture from evaporating, and stops the cat from digging in the pots.

Answer 4

I have two suggestions. One is that you stick toothpicks into the dirt. Use quite a few. Cats don't like digging around toothpicks and poking their feet, so she might stop. The second suggestion is to get a type of spray they sell at the pet store. They have specific stuff to keep cats away and it works great. Good luck!

Answer 5

I have 7 cats and numerous potted plants- I cover the top of the pot with tin foil- snugging down around the rim and around the base of the plant, then sprinkle orange oil on the foil- cats do not like citrus as a rule. just peel back a corner when ya want to water. seems to work for mine- if you find it too ugly you can always put small river rocks or pebbles on top of the foil

Answer 6

natural for cats to dig in dirt as this is how they hide their food in the wild and how they hide their feces.

only way to stop it is to put wire mesh like material, netting of some sort around the base of the plant covering the dirt. allowing air and water to go through but not a paw.

I gave up attempting to keep plants around as most cats dig in them, eat the leaves, etc.

Answer 7

Sounds funny, but I got some round box tops like you would get from a craft store. I cut a hole in the middle, and one straight line down to the center from the edge, like a radius, and then put it over the dirt part. It keeps my cat out of the plant. Kinda ugly, but helps out alot.

Answer 8

good luck on that one............. my daughters cat eats my house plants and digs up the dirts all day long.................. I have tried everything possible and nothing seems to work. I even made her own plant with lots of dirt for only her and she still wants to dig and eat everywhere............ I dont have a clue.

Answer 9

Its instinct. you cannot really stop it however you can discourage it. Spray vinegar in the plant and it will repel the cat. You can as well (if you have the heart) spray the cat with water when you c the cat doing this action to make the plant a neagtive spot

Answer 10

Cover the exposed dirt with aluminum foil and the cat will leave it alone. A cat will dig in any exposed dirt so you could cover exposed dirt with stones also.

Answer 11

Cats just love to dig and there are a couple of things you can try to change this. You can put large rocks or chicken wire on top of the soil. I used orange and lemon peels on top of the soil (most cats don't like the smell of citrus) and it stopped my cats...:)

Good luck!