Help! Cat won't stop eating plants!

[mookie]

And I mean all plants - flowers, fake plants, real plants - CACTUS plants!!

I have gotten rid of the ones that I know can harm him. Then I tried fake plants - that didn't work either. I would hate to live in a house that has no plant life at all...anywhere in the house - real, fake or otherwise...but I just can't get him to stop!

Any advice? He's a great cat otherwise, but this is driving me crazy.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Do a Google search on "pet grass" or "wheat grass." Cats require a certain amount of fiber and some nutrients that they may not obtain through processed (wet or dry) pet foods. Cats also use grass or green plants to clean out their stomach (hairballs) -- it can help digestion and/or make them vomit. Sounds like your cat is looking for something to add to his diet. Bring in some pet grass for him to eat/chew on. It worked with our cats. (We bought some at PetSmart.)

 

[pumba]

Megara is our 18 month old Dalmatian and she ate anything that was within her mouth reach.....so up went one plant and up went the other plant and then some more went ontop of the entertainment center......I do have a few that are to big to put anyplace else........but I keep a newspaper to rattle when she goes to attack it......I have alot in the bathroom too.......have to do what I have to do.....maybe some day she will stop eating them

 

[FergieTCat]

I don't know if this is a great idea -- because I've given up on having live plants (between my brown thumb and my cats, the plant wouldn't stand a chance) -- but I remember my grandmother used to sprinkle pepper in the soil. The cats never liked it, and I don't think the humans noticed.

 

[vacanut]

I'm wondering if you spray the fake plants with an orange or citrus scented spray that would deter them.

I've pretty much given up on real plants, I just have fake but my cat doesn't seem to bother it.

 

[mainewmn]

Long time ago when we had our cat he also used to eat live plants, and other the putting some sort of electric lock on these things the cat always found a way to get to them regardless of the obstacles. Just when things seemed like they couldn’t get worse someone gave me idea to put black or red pepper on the plants, I figured it was worth a try and did as instructed. Well my cat seemed to be enjoying them even more with some pepper, he wasn’t discriminating either, he ate them in all the different colors and flavors they came in and seemed to enjoy them all equally. My solutions….. get rid of the plants

 

[eclectics]

Greens help some cats with digestion and some just crave it. I used to buy "Kitty Grass" kit from the pet store. It's a little plastic pan with soil and non toxic grass seed. It didn't take long to get a few inches high if I recall right. You just put it down and let them chow down. It will keep growing and the cats keep it "mowed"! It will give your plants a break also. aw:

 

[Tumbleweed]

I have heard that putting old-fashioned moth balls around the plant will keep your
cats away.

 

[taximomfor4]

My cat loves kitty grass. But any greenery makes her hack. I am sick of cleaning up the messes. I think my cat is bulemic.

 

[nativetxn]

I know that moth balls help keep cats away from flower beds. The only problem is that indoors, the smell might be overwhelming for you.

Katholyn

 

[ahutton]

My cat loves kitty grass. But any greenery makes her hack. I am sick of cleaning up the messes. I think my cat is bulemic.

How did my cat's sibling get to Ohio?????

To keep our cat our of our plants (she likes to sleep in the soil in the pot) we spray it with that smelly sour apple stuff that you use to keep them from coming back and tinkling on the rug. For a while DH also would squirt her with a water gun when she got close to the plant, she hates getting wet.

 

[Kimberly]

My dog used to actually do this when she was a puppy, but she actually ate bamboo trees instead of plants inside the house (we have a small bamboo growth in our backyard). The vet recommended "kitty grass" and she never went after another plant again. Funny how some pets are...

 

[Kimberle]

Spray with Perfume. I've done this for years. My cats bother nothing that's sprayed.

 

[misslissa]

This is soo funny, I have never seen/heard of kitty grass before until yesterday and lo and behold, here is this thread!

I live in Canada, so I can't recommend a store, but there was quite a sizable sized plant for $3 at our local grocery.

I guess sometimes cats 'need' the vitamins in grass and other plants... and kitty grass is the safest way to provide them with it. It would be very lucky if your kitty quit eating other plants when it discovered kitty grass. Give it a try!

 

[mookie]

Thanks everyone, for the great replies. I had never heard of Kitty Grass before, either. I'm running out today to go get it. Cross your fingers it does the trick!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

My dog does the same thing, it is so frustrating. She never does it when we are at home, but as soon as she is alone she will nibble on the plants. We were thinking she was bored, but she has so many toys around the house.

 

[SGB13]

We put cayenne pepper in a spray bottle with water and sprayed the plants. It didn't hurt the plants and the cats left them alone. Use a cheep spray bottle though. It stopped up the sprayer so we had to throw it out.
Good Luck!