How to make friends a cat and houseplants

cat gnaws flowers

Missing half the leaves on your favorite plant is a shame. But do not rush to scold the cat! She does this not out of spite, but for one of the following reasons:

Micronutrient deficiency

The cat cannot tell you that her food lacks vitamins, but she tries to get them from plants. Some animals also chew the leaves to quench their thirst.

The need for cleansing

Many plants act on the cat’s stomach as a stimulant for vomiting. This allows the pet to get rid of hairballs and parasites.

Boredom and the need to move

If a cat is often alone, she may “designate” the plant as her playmate or desired prey. And leaves rustling in the wind or hanging shoots make even not the most active pets jump off the couch.

Anxiety

Perhaps the cat is not interested in greenery per se. The need to constantly chew something can be a sign of stress. In some cases, excessive licking and constant meowing join it.

What to do. Check if there are plants dangerous for cats in the house. If your pet has already tried any of them, contact your veterinarian immediately. Also, the doctor will help to find out the reason why the cat began to eat plants, and give recommendations – for example, introduce vitamins into the diet or choose a balanced food. If you do not want to deprive your pet of the opportunity to crunch, organize her own “plantation”. In pet stores, you can find sets of seeds of wheat, oats, rye and other herbs – most likely, they will interest the cat more than flowers. To scare an animal away from a particular plant, spray the leaves with citrus water (squeeze a lemon or orange into a bottle).

The cat is digging pots

It happens that a pet is not at all interested in plants – but as a result of “digging” from them there are no tips or roots left. Here are some tasks a cat can solve with the help of the earth:

Satisfy the instincts

Wild cats dig in the ground when hiding prey or marking territory. Such desires periodically attack pets – do not be surprised if you find something tasty in a pot.

Get minerals

Some cats are able to eat a tablespoon of soil in one go – but this is not good. So animals try to make up for the deficiency of potassium, calcium, phosphorus and sodium.

play

On the street, a cat can dig a hole to play, but at home, pots are quite suitable for this purpose. If the pet also smelled some kind of bug – be on the hunt.

What to do. Visit a veterinarian, choose a balanced diet and provide the cat with physical activity. Stones, shells or tree bark can be poured into pots on top of the ground, and circles with holes for flowers can be cut out of foam or plywood. Citrus peels placed in a pot will also help, but they will have to be updated regularly.

Cat confuses pot and litter box

This feline habit may not harm the plants, but it certainly does not please the owners. Here’s why a pet can defecate in the shade of flowers:

Associations

The soil for plants in itself resembles cat droppings, besides, it is convenient to bury “production waste” in it. If the kitten appreciates such natural conditions, it will be much more difficult to accustom him to the tray.

Inconvenience

The litter box you choose may not be the right size for your cat, or it may be in a place she would like to avoid, such as next to a noisy washing machine.

Cleanliness

Yes, yes, a cat can relieve himself next to flowers, which is why. Once you get her at the crime scene, check if the tray was clean enough?

What to do. If the cat has ever used a flower pot instead of a tray, you will have to completely replace the soil – otherwise the pet will return to the smell. Make sure the tray is in a suitable location and cleaned regularly. If your cat avoids it even when it’s perfectly clean, try a different litter or change the litter box.

Take care of your pets – both green and fluffy!