Cats are strictly carnivorous animals, however, it is common to see them eating house plants or in gardens, but why do they do it? It is usually because they are trying to regurgitate and eliminate the hairballs accumulated in the stomach, however, it may also be that they eat grass to purge themselves, or simply for sheer pleasure.
Before starting to treat this problem, make sure that none of the plants you have in your home are not part of the toxic plants for cats, since any of them could cause digestive disorders, allergies or a failure renal.
Whatever the reason that drives your cat to eat plants, it is important to know what it is and know how to prevent it from breaking them, especially if you spend time caring for and growing them. Next, in this article on our site we will explain why your cat breaks plants and how to avoid it, take note of our tips:
Offer cat grass
It is important to understand that if cats eat grass it is because they may need to. They naturally know that it is a way to purge their digestive system. For this reason, before preventing our cat from eating any of the plants, the ideal thing would be to offer us a plant that it can eat and break to its liking.
Unlike catnip, there are plants on the market that are sold precisely for this purpose, they are trays of grass that do not They are not toxic at all and they help our cat to purge itself naturally. We can buy already germinated trays or get a pot prepared that includes the seeds and the substrate chosen by the manufacturer. We can also make cat grass at home, we explain how to do it:
What do I need to make cat grass at home?
- Bowl
- Ecological substrate
- Oat, wheat or canary seed
- Water
- Add the purchased organic substrate to a container. It must be totally natural, without chemicals of any kind, remember that your cat is going to eat it.
- Use quality seeds to plant them, try to add a lot of them to get a bushy tray.
- Water and cover the pot with plastic wrap as the heat will help growth.
- Wait between 3 and 10 days to see the first buds emerge.
Prevents access to decorative plants
Although at first it may seem like a good idea to place the plants in a high place, the truth is that the cat will not have any problem reaching them, remember that they have a great ability to jump. In this case, it would be best to plant a vertical garden high enough and without furniture nearby so that our feline cannot climb. You can also place some kind of obstacle near the plants to make it impossible for him to access them.
Spend more time with your cat
Even if you spend time with your cat, it may not be enough for him. Many cats can engage in bad attention-seeking behaviors from their owners, so spending an extra hour of playtime a day can be very interesting, especially if you observe symptoms that your cat is bored.
The most recommendable is without a doubt the fishing rod, but you can use all kinds of toys and resources that you have within your reach, as long as you participate in the game.
Remember that cats are social animals, if you can't spend time with your feline maybe you should consider adopting a second cat to keep him company. Do not forget that in this case it will be essential that they have a similar age as well as activity level.
Tricks to keep your cat away from plants
If offering your cat grass hasn't helped and you don't have the time or space to build a vertical garden, you can always use natural, non-harmful tricks to repel a cat. Although it is always advisable to try the above proposals, these remedies will not harm you and they can make you stop breaking your soles:
- Find a repellent on the market and apply it directly to the plants in your home.
- Spray plants with lemon or orange water as it tends to repel cats effectively. You can prepare the mixture yourself by leaving the peels of these citrus fruits in a bottle of water.
- Spray the leaves of the plants with water and sprinkle a little pepper, the result will be so unpleasant for your cat that he will probably never go near them again.
- Add a third lavender or thyme plant and leave it near your other plants, it also acts as a repellant.
What if my cat digs in the potting soil?
In this case you can try all the remedies from the previous point and use them on the ground as well. Directly add citrus peels or the solutions that we have mentioned to achieve a powerful repellant.
Tips
