Cat Advice?

[derekkj 0]

So, it's that time of year when the houseplants come back indoors off of our balcony and my poor geraniums and Wandering Jew hadn't been inside more than a few days when Calvin decided they were tasty. My last cat, Jenny, was able to go outdoors some to get her grass fix and never bothered the houseplants when they came inside for the winter so I am at a bit of a loss on how to deter him.

I have tried spraying a bit of tabasco sauce on the leaves, but that didn't seem to phase him much and I was afraid if I put too much it might burn the leaves. I am also going to run out today and get him his own grass to chew on so that he has something else to nibble on besides my plants. Has anyone tried Grannick's Bitter Apple Spray or have any other ideas for ways to get him stop eating my bloody plants?!

[Otto 83]

So, it's that time of year when the houseplants come back indoors off of our balcony and my poor geraniums and Wandering Jew hadn't been inside more than a few days when Calvin decided they were tasty. My last cat, Jenny, was able to go outdoors some to get her grass fix and never bothered the houseplants when they came inside for the winter so I am at a bit of a loss on how to deter him.

I have tried spraying a bit of tabasco sauce on the leaves, but that didn't seem to phase him much and I was afraid if I put too much it might burn the leaves. I am also going to run out today and get him his own grass to chew on so that he has something else to nibble on besides my plants. Has anyone tried Grannick's Bitter Apple Spray or have any other ideas for ways to get him stop eating my bloody plants?!

you mean besides putting them up and out of his reach?

Cats eat grass (or other green/growing things) for two reasons -

1) To help digest something or

2) To make themselves puke (hairballs usually)

So you might want to look at his diet...

[Minya's wife 24]

So, it's that time of year when the houseplants come back indoors off of our balcony and my poor geraniums and Wandering Jew hadn't been inside more than a few days when Calvin decided they were tasty. My last cat, Jenny, was able to go outdoors some to get her grass fix and never bothered the houseplants when they came inside for the winter so I am at a bit of a loss on how to deter him.

I have tried spraying a bit of tabasco sauce on the leaves, but that didn't seem to phase him much and I was afraid if I put too much it might burn the leaves. I am also going to run out today and get him his own grass to chew on so that he has something else to nibble on besides my plants. Has anyone tried Grannick's Bitter Apple Spray or have any other ideas for ways to get him stop eating my bloody plants?!

At the store (Wal-Mart or the like) I've seen these little plastic rectangular containers that contain grass specifically for cats to 'nibble on" with the idea that they would then leave the house-plants alone. It was in the pet section of the store, perhaps you can try that? Or give the cat more liberal amounts of catnip? It very rarely gets cold enough here for me to bring my plants in....and the ones I have in the house are Ivys....hanging off the bookshelves where my maniac of a cat can't get to them.

-P

Edited November 14, 2007 by Paula&Minya

[almaty 19]

kick him

[Mags 112]

I tend to just keep plants out of the way to be honest. You could buy some kitty grass, you can get that from most good retailers. Put the seeds in a pot and wait for them to sprout. Me? I did start the kitty grass idea, but then one of my cats ate so much of it the whole lot was gone within an hour, seeds and all!

So now I go outside and bring in a handful and hold it for them to eat. They seem to prefer it when it is held up right in your fist (rather than put in a bowl) with the fronds all sticking upwards out of there, as it is more "grasslike" then. I tend to do this once a day for them and they love it.

Edit: Be wary of the plants you have brought in and double check they are not poisonous for cats. ALL lilies, including peace lilys, are extremely deadly for cats and can cause almost instantaneous kidney failure of which there is no cure nor hope of a recovery.

Edited November 14, 2007 by Mags

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

get one of these plants. problem solved.

[Mags 112]

get one of these plants. problem solved.

That's just another mouth to feed...unless you're implying it would eat the cat? You wouldn't be implyzerising that, would you, Charles? Not da poor puddy tat...

[ajames79 0]

I thought (trying to remember who told me) that Wandering Jew was poisonous for cats. Humm

I am unsure. My wandering is up high....

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

get one of these plants. problem solved.

That's just another mouth to feed...unless you're implying it would eat the cat? You wouldn't be implyzerising that, would you, Charles? Not da poor puddy tat...

[NavarreMan 10]

I sprayed around my plants and christmas tree with a spray called "Kitty NO!" It smells somewhat like a dusky basement but then the smell goes away for us humans. My cats avoid areas sprayed with this stuff like the plague. Have to respray every few days but they finally get the message.

[derekkj 0]

Thanks guys! Yeah, I wish I could completely put them out of his reach, but we live in a small apartment and he is a great jumper and can access even the top of our bookcases which are the highest point we have. Right now I have them in our bedroom which is closed during the day so they are safe and happy then. But I heard him munching during the night and even though he stopped when I scolded him, the temptation is too much and I know he will come back for more when I am not looking.

As I said, I lived in a house with my last cat, Jenny, and was able to let her go out in the back yard and graze, so I am familiar with their love of grass. Just hadn't really considered that poor Calvin has no access in our 4th floor apartment, duh. So, my plans for lunch now include running out and getting some grass to grow for him. And hope that he doesn't eat as much of it as Mags's cat did!

As for being poisonous, I have 2 geraniums and 1 Wandering Jew and have gotten some conflicting answers from the web. He has not gotten sick from what he has ingested so far, but I would rather not find out the hard way! And if it comes down to having potentially poisonous plants that I can't get him to leave alone or having a green apartment but jeopardizing his health, then buh-bye plants!

[almaty 19]

I thought (trying to remember who told me) that Wandering Jew was poisonous for cats. Humm

I am unsure. My wandering is up high....

that is it...always picking on the Jew

Edited November 14, 2007 by almaty

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

kick him

twice