How to keep cats from eating houseplants?

We have tried giving them other plants to chew on so they'd leave the houseplants alone, which they enjoyed immensely, but they have an insatiable appetite and still eat all plants within reach. Especially the toxic ones that make them puke, like poinsettia... The plants we gave them they destroyed entirely, ripping them out by the roots and dragging leaves and soil all over the floor. The cats are two older siamese ladies.

How to keep cats from eating houseplants?
There are many varieties of houseplant which are poisonous to cats, so to be safe it is best to avoid an expensive %26amp; traumatic trip to the vet by preventing your cat eating the plants in the first place. Below are some suggestions on how to stop cats eating your houseplants.



If at all possible, keep the plants in a difficult to reach location. This is easier said than done as cats are great climbers %26amp; jumpers. Place them in hanging baskets or hard to reach spots such as the top of bookshelves.



Provide your cat with a safe alternative in the form of a planter with cat grass or catnip for your cat to chew on.



Spray the plants you don't want your cat to chew with an unpleasant solution such as bitter apple. Some people recommend Tabasco sauce, however there is a small risk that your cat will get some onto it's fur %26amp; possibly transfer it to the eyes.



Provide your cat with plenty of toys to prevent it becoming bored.



If the above methods fail, you may have to keep any toxic plants in an area your cat has no access to.



Place upside down mouse traps either in the planter or around the planter. These won't hurt the cat but will act as a deterrent.



For a further information, please read our page on toxic %26amp; non toxic plants.
Reply:My cat would constantly eat my ferns and would get sick, I tried spraying, pepper ( turns out she likes the flavor of pepper, it was just an extra spice for her salad), I gave up. I took the ferns outside, I bought some cat grass seeds and I keep several bouquets around the house, she loves it and it's good for her.
Reply:You can buy a product call "Bitter Apple" and spray on the leaves of the plant. Cats hate it. You can also try a weak solution of water and hot sauce to spray the plants but it doesn't seem to last as long as the bitter apple. Otherwise, just move the plants. They know they get attention from you when they chew the plants, so doing nothing or spraying the cats with water will only cause them to continue their bad behavior in order to get your attention.
Reply:The water bottle thing will only work so well. When you aren't there or are asleep the cats will know that they can massacre the plants with impunity and will do so. You can punish them later but they won't realise why so it's pretty much useless.



Also you have to spray them just as or immediately after the offence in order for them to learn.



Cats aren't like dogs. They aren't eager to please their owners (heck, they're better at training us than we are them!)and will learn to avoid punishment while learning how to get around it.



I suggest having only plants that aren't harmful for cats to eat. Plants are nice but are they worth a risk to your cats' health?
Reply:Siamese cats are knows for being mischievous. As much as it sucks, I think the only way to stop it is to get the plants out of reach.

You can try the water gun or the penny in a soda can method, but I'm not sure that it would work that well with Siamese cats.
Reply:I agree with Samantha. Every time you catch them eating a plant you don't want them to eat, spray them with a water bottle of a water gun or something, just as long as they get wet. They will not like it, but it will get them the message in a real hurry.
Reply:Honestly, the only way to stop them from doing that is to move the plants out of reach. You can spray those cats all day long and say no until you're blue in the face, but they will keep coming back.
Reply:Everytime you catch them doing it, spray them with water and say "NO!"

They will hate it.

but will learn quickly.
Reply:safe guards !!!
Reply:Mine has done this her whole life....I spray Bitter Apple on the plants once or twice a week to keep her off of them. You get it at the pet supply store. It's a taste deterrent for birds, white bottle with green letters on it. It doesn't hurt the plants at all and has no odor, but it tastes just awful.
Reply:I'm sorry, hon... but f I were you and if I had cats like yours, I'd quit having live plants inside the house. In fact... I just did! hee hee hee ... one of my favorite principles is "Better safe than sorry." Says it all I think.
Reply:You can buy bitter sprays at pet stores, and if those don't work, I think that you will just have to move those plants.
Reply:Rubbing moistened black pepper onto the leaves and placing stones on top of the dirt will dissuade Kitty from tasting or digging in the plant.This habit can prove dangerous. While not a complete list, the following plants and their relatives can cause everything from mild gastric distress to death: aloe vera, amaryllis, members of the lily family, asparagus fern, azalea, corn plant, dieffenbachia, dumb cane, many ivies, philodendron and the holiday favorites, holly and mistletoe.
Reply:Make sure they are not poisonous.

Cover with something and don't forget the top as well.

Good luck!!!