If you have cats in your house, more than one plant will surely have suffered the consequences. We don’t know why but cats are attracted to them. The problem is that if they bite them and these plants are poisonous to them, they can cause serious problems. Given that, how about some tricks to prevent cats from breaking plants?
By applying what we are about to tell you, you will minimize the risk of your cats breaking the plants, eating them or destroying them. Do you want to know how?
pet repellents
One of the first tricks to keep cats from breaking plants is “chemical.” In the sense that you will find a selection of pet training liquids on the market. In fact, they are products that give off a strong enough odor to prevent animals from urinating or defecating where they shouldn’t.
In the case of cats, it is used to throw it on the plants, or around them and thus prevent the cat from approaching. And before you wonder, no, it doesn’t smell, or at least humans don’t usually smell this product (which animals do).
Put the citrus fruits in the jars
This can be splitting a lemon in half and placing it in the pot, or grating the zest and throwing it on the soil of the plant.
The point is that these citrus fruits (which are not only lemon, but also orange) act as a barrier for cats as they generally don’t like the smell too much.
Besides, It has one more advantage, in this case for your plants, since the grated skin can be used as fertilizer for the plants.in addition to a beautiful decoration at the base of the pot.
bitter apple spray
This option is another one of the tricks to prevent cats from breaking plants. You can find it in stores, but if not, you can also make it yourself at home.
Once you have it, spray the whole plant with it. It will leave a curious smell and when the cat approaches and smells it or even tastes it, it will end up running away because it won’t like anything at all.
Plants that keep cats away
That cats are attracted to plants is a fact. But not for just any plant. And that’s what you can use to your advantage.
You see, there are plants like lavender, thyme, basil… that cats don’t tolerate. That way, if you place them where the plants that your cat has become obsessed with are, he won’t come near them.
The smell, as well as the presence of those he does not support will be enough to keep him away from others.
Pepper
In the kitchen you surely have black pepper, ground or whole. Bring water to a boil and add two tablespoons of black pepper. Once cooled, pour the water into a spray bottle and apply it to the plants and soil. The smell it will give off, sometimes impossible for humans to detect, will prevent cats from approaching this area.
Another possibility, especially with whole black pepper, is to put it at the base of the earth. If possible, because it is more effective, crush it a little so that it gives off an odor; otherwise it will be more difficult for him to work quickly.
Use tea or coffee bags
If you drink tea bags, surely when you’re done, you throw them away. If you make coffee in a machine (other than capsules), you will also have residue which is great for plants, as it is an organic fertilizer, and that drives cats to despair.
In fact, it’s not usual for a cat to approach you when you’re drinking coffee or making it, because its smell repels it. Of course, there will be exceptions.
But if you have a cat that doesn’t like the smell of tea or coffee, you can try leaving the tea or coffee leaves on the floor to act as a barrier.
the tobacco
In this case, you may have an ashtray with water where you put cigarette butts and ashes, but if you also add a cigarette or two, and you wait a few days for it to rest, this liquid can be perfect for you as a natural insecticide for plants (you avoid pests).
Moreover, it is one of the remedies that you can use to keep cats away from your plants, as they don’t like the smell of tobacco at all.
Clove oil
We continue with more tricks to prevent cats from breaking plants. In this case, he hit the nail on the head. Or more specifically, clove oil. And that’s it, If you take some cotton, soak it in this oil and put it on the plants, your cat won’t want to go near it.
If you have plants with large, tall leaves, you can also rub the cotton ball over the leaves so your cat won’t think to go there (instead of the base).
wire mesh
We know that for indoor plants placing wire mesh or fabric or similar is not the best, because in the end that corner becomes ugly. But you might see it as a temporary situation. Sometimes cats, for reasons of novelty, approach plants, smell them, bite them… because for them it is something curious.
But over time they get used to being there and as long as they are not attracted to these plants, the netting can help educate the cats and protect the plants.
In fact, if they’re approaching and you’re nearby, it’s best to have a stream of water handy to teach them not to be there.
And if nothing works…
It can happen that despite all the tricks to prevent cats from breaking plants, your cat ignores them and continues to do its thing. In these cases, the only solution you may have is to remove the plants and place them in areas that are difficult for your cat to reach. We know it’s complicated, but it’s the only option you have left to continue enjoying plants and not endangering your cat’s health.
Do you know any other tricks to prevent cats from breaking plants?