Cats and plants

[ladywhipple02]

I've never had plants in the house due various reasons, but mostly because I never had the space, and I have a cat I'm afraid would chew on them or dig them up.

Well, now the space issue is gone and I have plenty of room... and I'd like to get a few plants. My mother actually went out and bought me a huge Peace plant today, so I'd like some advice before taking it home: how do I keep the cat out of the plants?

Any and all advice appreciated!

[OhBalls]

Get the kitty her very own plant....they sell kitty grass at your local pet store. They love it and should leave the other plants alone.
Hope this helps

[ladywhipple02]

She has her own little grass plot which she chews like crazy, lol... thus the reason I'm afraid she'll chew my plants.

I read online that you can put chili powder or cayenne powder on the plants and it deters cats. I'm trying it... and so far so good...

[OhBalls]

She has her own little grass plot which she chews like crazy, lol... thus the reason I'm afraid she'll chew my plants.

I read online that you can put chili powder or cayenne powder on the plants and it deters cats. I'm trying it... and so far so good...

That would stop me from chewing your plants too

[Elvyra's Keeper]

A good idea is to put a whole bunch of toothpicks sticking up out of the soil in the plant, (preferably the rounded ones) The rounds ones will be uncomfortable, but not damaging when the cat jumps in the plant.

[Entropy]

I 'HAD' lucky bamboo when we moved in. Cooper made short work of that even going so far as to jump onto the fridge to eat it. So, since I don't have much of a green thumb anyway he's got to be content with looking wistfully at the aquarium plants that the goldfish get to nibble on.

[slartibartfast]

If by "Peace plant" you mean a Peace Lily, do not allow it around the cat period. All lillies are somewhat toxic to cats.

I gave up trying to have plants around cats...if my boyfriend gets me flowers, they go in the bathroom with the door closed or they get eaten.

You could try having succulents/cacti, or maybe decorative hot peppers? Some of the purple hots are really cute! Poinsettias are actually safe, but contain an oral irritant that makes them froth at the mouth, so that might be an option. Other things you might try are marigolds or geraniums which are safe if kitty does eat them, but are pretty strongly scented and may be repellant to some cats. Whatever you bring into the house should be non-toxic, in case of accidents.

Edit: I looked up "peace plant" and it looks like it is not as toxic as a true lily but causes oral irritation due to calcium oxalate crystals in the tissues. Drooling and foaming at the mouth are common signs, but it is not life-threatening.

[ladywhipple02]

Jess, it is a Peace Lily... per your advice, I've put it in the snake room with the door tightly shut. I don't let her in there. Guess I'll have a nice decorative plant for the scale-kids, lol.

I love geraniums, maybe I'll get some of them

Thanks everyone!

EDIT: Jess, you're the best! Thanks again for the info!

[Ginevive]

I have no real soultions, save for isolating the plant from the cat. I have Spider plants that my cat would devour if he could reach them. I have them up on my kitchen windowsill where they are impossible for him to reach.

[fishmommy]

my cats will chew just about any plant right down to a stub. I found that out the hard way.

so, I got into planted aquariums and terrariums. plants under glass are my solution