How to wean a cat or a cat to shit in a flower pot?

Why do cats shit and dig the ground in flowers?

First, let’s figure out why pets love to climb into a pot with a houseplant so much, dig a hole there, scattering the earth around, and, finally, go to the toilet. The animal does not seek to annoy the owner in this way or harm the flower, in most cases it simply follows its instincts. Digging up plants is a natural cat behavior based on the instinct to dig. Having pulled out a hole, she can lie down in it and watch what is happening in the apartment: thanks to the earthen shelter, the cat is warm and calm. And the dug hole also serves as a good place to go to the toilet, which is facilitated by the earth in which cats shit in the wild. This is instinct – the pet can only make a fresh pile and then bury it.

In addition to valuable tips on how to wean a cat to shit in a flower pot, the owner should know which plants can harm a pet. Some houseplants are toxic and poisonous to cats, so it’s important to make sure they’re not in the house.

Initially, elementary curiosity can attract a cat to green spaces in an apartment. Why not play with a leaf, bite a stem, scratch the trunk of a large plant or try out the sharpness of the claws on it … Very interesting! Approaching and smelling the soil, lowering its paws on it, the pet experiences special sensations, then instincts work, including the natural desire to mark the territory. Instinctive manifestation also gives the animal pleasure, this explains such zeal in the process of excavating the earth.

The reason for the pet’s increased attention to flowers may be beriberi – for example, a lack of folic acid, calcium, sodium, potassium or phosphorus. In the wild, the source of these vitamins for cats is grass, which, by the way, can be specially bred for a pet at home. In general, at home, the animal receives vitamins with food. Thanks to the right food, well-fed and healthy cats will not look for a source of vitamins in indoor plants, and in their pots – a place to go to the toilet.

10 ways to wean an animal to shit in flowers

1. Keep small plants at home

Perhaps the easiest way to avoid tempting a cat to dig up indoor flowers is to grow small varieties of indoor plants, under which small pots are provided. Even if the cat tries to climb in there, it will understand that there is no opportunity to comfortably accommodate in a small container, and will leave this idea.

2. Rearrange the flowers in an inaccessible place

Another easy option is to remove the flower in a dimly lit place or in such a nook where the cat, with all its dexterity, cannot get through. If a floor flower is subjected to constant excavation, then you can rearrange it in an inconspicuous corner, and place a cat tray here. Having got used to going to the toilet in a certain place, the animal will continue to do this, but already in the tray.

3. Put big stones in the pot

A fairly effective method to save the plant from digging, and the owner from cleaning up scattered earth and feces. It is worth resorting to it when it comes to wide containers with a large diameter, especially convenient for a cat to go to the toilet. Place large stones close together on the surface of the soil so that the paws of the animal cannot fall through and touch the ground. Unlike soft and loose, hard and smooth stone coating is not at all attractive to the cat, but it looks quite nice in terms of decor.

4. Attach the mesh to the soil surface.

There is no single answer to the question of how to wean a cat to shit in flower pots, but there are excellent animal repellents that really work well. One of them is a protective grid placed on the ground surface. The cat will definitely not like the device; when moving, it will unpleasantly cling to its claws. The main thing is to secure the mesh well around the pot so that the lattice device is not dug out with the ground.

5. Use glitter foil

Instead of a mesh and stones, foil can be placed on the surface of the soil, thus leaving no chance for the pet to get to the desired land. No matter how hard the cat tries, the paws will still slip, even the claws will not help in the fight against the foil. On this smooth surface, it will not be possible to comfortably settle down, and even more so to go to the toilet.

6. Pull on double-sided tape

This kind of trap for the cat can also discourage him from using a flower pot instead of a tray. Unlike clinging mesh and slippery foil, the main property of scotch tape is stickiness, which is so disliked by felines. Having stuck its paws to the adhesive tape a couple of times, the pet is unlikely to want to repeat the mistake.

7. Spray with a special spray

Among the numerous means for pets, there are those that distract their attention from green spaces. If your cat is shitting in a flower pot and you don’t know what to do, just go to the pet store and ask the salesperson for a suitable spray. Or look for such a tool in online stores.

8. Create a pungent smell around

The desire to shit in a flower will help to repel pungent odors that are poorly tolerated by cats due to their sensitive sense of smell. For this purpose, use vinegar, citrus peel, any kind of pepper, essential oils of cloves or alcohol. Just place a small container with an odorous solution near the flower. Always maintain an unpleasant smell for the pet near the flower pot, renew if weathered.

9. Change tray litter more often

Sometimes an animal chooses a houseplant pot as a latrine, because there is an old filler in the tray. Having relieved the need once, the cat will not shit in the tray again. Without waiting for the filler to be changed, he will go in search of a new, clean and comfortable place. The last one is usually a vessel filled with earth with a flower.

Also, the pet may not like the smell of a particular cat litter. Watch your pet’s reaction to the brand you use. Noticing that he does not want to go to the tray, replace the old filler with a new, different brand.

10. Hang rattles on plants

It is known that cats are afraid of sharp loud sounds and quickly run away, instinctively feeling the approaching danger. This feature of their behavior should be used from childhood. If you are puzzled about how to wean a kitten to climb flowers, then hang objects that make sounds on the plants. These can be metal jars with cereals or buttons, bells and other things that make loud sounds when touched. Trying to climb into the flower pot and touching them, the pet will run away and is unlikely to return to the “crime scene”.