How to Keep Cats Away from Plants Naturally

Cats are curious. They like to get up close and personal when you're opening a crinkly bag in the kitchen, bringing something new into your home, or giving those leafy friends of yours attention. If curiosity has transitioned to nibbling, touching ... or terrorizing your favorite plants, it's time to take action. Let's learn several ways to protect plants from cats.

How to Keep Cats Away From Plants Naturally

First off, you might wonder why cats seek out plants. Cats instinctively explore their worlds with their acute sense of smell. After all, cats can have up to 200 million odor sensors in their cute button noses. Their sense of smell is fourteen times more sensitive than ours! So if you think that decorative tray of potted herbs in your kitchen window sill smells nice, rest assured your cat thinks it's amazing.

You can help your cat lose interest in your beloved house plants and garden goodies in a variety of ways. First, think about your cat's day. Does she get enough playtime and mental stimulation? Maybe she needs more one-on-one attention from you through pets and cuddles. Or, you can try offering some new toys to sway your feline friend to play when you're not available.

Give your cat her own plant to play with when you install a K&H EZ Mount Cat Grass Grow Station to a window. Simply mount the station to a glass window, assemble the cups with soil, seeds, and water, then watch the oat grass sprout in about two weeks. Your cat can happily chew on the protein-rich grass that's easily digestible.

If you know your cat isn't bored, has plenty of toys to play with, and gets ample attention from you — and your plants are still the object of her affection — it's time to add deterrents to your plan.

Keeping Cats Away From House Plants

It's common for cats to have an interest in your plants, whether you have one special bouquet of flowers on the table or a window filled with several types of greenery. Here are a few ways to protect your plants from your cat.

1. Make the plants less exciting. Is a fan or open window causing the leaves to sway and trigger interest? Reduce movement in the plants, and your cat may soon find the foliage boring.
2. Use a citrus spray. Cats don't like lemon, lime, or orange in the form of scents or flavors. Simply add a bit of citrus juice to plain water in a spray bottle and mist the plant leaves, soil, and pot to help repel your cat.
3. Try a deterrent mat. Most cats can't stand loud or crinkly/odd-feeling things. A deterrent mat combines the two. The K&H Pet Deterrent Mat helps keep your cat away from surfaces or things you don't want them near (including plants!), and it comes in a variety of shapes and sizes to best fit your space. Simply place the mat under your potted house plants to deter your cat.
   
4. Add a cat-friendly plant. It's time to expand your greenery collection to include a catnip plant for your feline to eagerly lick, chew, and touch. Place it near the cat's bed, toys, or cat tree, and see if he stops investigating your leafy friends.
   
5. Call an animal trainer. If you have a green thumb and plants dominate your home, you might seek expert intervention. An animal trainer can work with you and your cat to learn what's allowed and what isn't. They may suggest using calming treats or pheromones to soothe your pet. The Comfort Zone Opticalm Diffuser helps cats feel safe, calm, and happy. Just plug it into an outlet in your home, and you'll start seeing improved behavior after two weeks.
   

Deterring Cats from Your Outdoor Garden

Is your cat interested in your sprouting seedlings? Or, maybe those tomato blossoms are too good to resist. Here's how to keep your outdoor-loving cat from destroying your garden plants.

1. Add plants your cat hates. With their acute sense of smell, it's interesting to learn that some flowers and herbs will send a cat running the other way. Consider adding a perimeter of marigolds, lemon thyme, lavender, or pennyroyal to your garden.
2. Use a natural deterrent. If you need a quick solution, try sprinkling orange or lemon peels around the garden. Again, cats aren't fond of citrus, so they should keep their distance.
3. Give your cat her own garden. Redirect your pet to a corner of the yard where she can play, swat, and chew the greenery at will. Many plants are safe for cats to nibble on, including catnip, wheatgrass, parsley, thyme, and rosemary. Ask your veterinarian for more recommendations too!

Keep Your Plants and Cats Happy

It is possible for cats and plants to co-exist. Sometimes cats go after plants for attention. Pause and assess your cat's mental and emotional wellness. If he's showered in affection and has a handful of favorite toys, maybe he's flaunting his keen sense of smell and desire for adventure.

Learn more about keeping your feline friend happy in "10 Ideas for Organizing & Designing a Cat Room."