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Tired of your cat chewing on your favorite fern? Find out how to keep cats away from plants in your home.

Cats have an insatiable curiosity, exploring anything and everything they can get their cute little paws on—including houseplants. If you’re a pet parent and plant parent, it’s crucial to cat-proof your plant collection, especially since there are many common houseplants that are toxic to felines.

Here's how to keep cats away from plants, as well as prevent them from digging in plant pots and using your plants as a litter box.

How To Keep Cats Away from Indoor Plants

In addition to health concerns, this destructive behavior in cats can damage both the home and the plant.

Although there’s no set-in-stone way to deter cats from plants, the best solution depends on your feline friend and setup at home.

Here are eight ways to kitty-proof your houseplants:

1. Place Plants Out of Reach
If your feline is a furry plant lover, moving your plants out of their reach can be a tremendous help.

Relocating your plants completely prevents your cat from getting to your greenery, especially if they’re highly motivated to get to them.

2. Set Up Physical Barriers
If you can’t move your plants, you’ll want to set up physical barriers to deter your cat.

Setting up a cat gate can restrict access from the area of your home where you keep your plant(s). However, many cats can jump over gates. You can also use mesh fencing or even chicken wire to protect your plants.

3. Cover the Soil
Soil is similar to litter, making it attractive to our furry friends to spend time doing, well, cat things in it.

Digging in dirt is an evolved trait in kitties that’s rooted in their natural instinct to bury waste. To make it less inviting to dig in, use pea-size gravel or rocks to cover your soil to prevent your cat from getting into your plants.

4. Train Your Cat
Training your kitty companion to stay away from your plants can not only help keep your plants unscathed but also keep your cat safe.

When you notice them targeting your plants, redirect them to a cat tree or scratcher, and reward them with treats for playing with those items instead.

You can also try clicker training or use a puzzle feeder to keep them engaged.

Introducing your cat to outdoor leash walking is a wonderful way to enrich your cat’s life and help release pent-up energy from being indoors. Slowly take the steps to help them acclimate to wearing a harness and leash.

5. Create a Safe, Fun, Stimulating Environment for Your Cat
Introducing a variety of safe and fun enrichment activities for your cat is easy and provides the mental stimulation needed for your cat’s well-being and happiness—so they forget about investigating your houseplant.

Enrichment provides your cat a safe outlet for normal cat behaviors like scratching, scent-exploration, climbing, perching, resting, and owning their space. Options include:
• Cat tree
• Window perch
• Scratching post
• Cat tunnel
• Swapping out new cat toys daily
• Wall-mounted shelves
• Outdoor patio

6. Give Your Cat Their Own Plant
Does your cat tend to nibble on your houseplants? Consider offering them an alternative, cat-safe plant to chew on, like cat grass.

7. Increase Your Play Sessions
Plan short playtime sessions, ranging between five and 15 minutes, a few times a day to keep your cat happy. This helps them not feel the need to find their own amusement, which may include plant munching.

8. Avoid Toxic Plants
If your kitty is determined to investigate your greenery, the safest solution may be to swap out toxic houseplants for feline-friendly alternatives. That way, you can still have a green thumb and ensure your cat is safe.

Some common plants that are poisonous to cats include:
● Lilies
● Azaleas
● Tulips
● Oleander
● Daffodils
● Pothos
● Monstera
● Jade plants

A few cat-safe plants to opt for include:
● Orchids
● String of hearts
● Ric rac cacti
● Gerbera daisies
● Spider plants
● Bromeliads
● Money trees
● Bamboo palms

It’s important to note that even non-toxic plants can lead to digestive upset and diarrhea if they’re consumed in large amounts.

Does Peppermint Spray Deter Cats From Plants?

While many cats dislike mint scents, essential oils—specifically peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree—can be toxic to cats and should be avoided.

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