My Cat Uses My Houseplants as Litter Boxes

Cats are clean, and unlike dogs, they generally will not relieve themselves just anywhere. They like cat litter, dirt or sand -- a material they can dig into and use to cover their "business." You can easily train most cats to use the litter box; though, sometimes, the lure the fresh dirt in your houseplants becomes a temptation, especially if your cat is used to relieving itself outside or has done so in the past. This can make for a stinky house and dead houseplants.

  1. Help Your Plant

    • If the cat has used the bathroom in your houseplants, there's a chance the plants are already dead. If they are still hanging on, though, you can help revive them. The best thing to do is to replace the soil in the pot with new dirt. This serves two purposes: It helps get rid of any toxic chemicals lingering from your cat's urine, and it eliminates all traces of the cat's scent. Once a cat has used an area as its bathroom, the powerful smell marks it as a bathroom forever. If repotting the plant isn't an option, leach the pot through with water three times. This should help wash through the toxins and reduce the odor. You can add a small amount of vinegar to the dirt, which will help cancel out the ammonia or cat urine.

    Preventive Measure

    • Always keep the litter box clean. Start with a box you have completely emptied and washed out, then fill it with clean litter. Scoop at least once a day, more if you have more than one cat. In a multilevel house, each floor should have a litter box. Cats often don't like to use dirty litter boxes, so if that is what is driving your cat to the houseplants, this will take care of that.

    Deterrents

    • Cats like the sensation of digging in dirt; if you prevent that sensation, the cat will stay away. Cover your potting soil with a layer of small rocks or pine cones. Alternatively, you can find special sprays at pet and garden stores that are designed to be unpleasant to cats. Use the spray on and around your plants to keep the cat away.

      Be vigilant. Keep a squirt gun or bottle filled with water nearby. Any time the cat looks like it is venturing toward the houseplant, give it a quick squirt. It will associate the unpleasant dousing with the houseplant, and avoid it.

    Last Resort

    • If nothing else keeps your cat away from your houseplants, you may have to move your houseplants to another room or get them off the ground and onto tables or counter tops. You also can try moving the plants to a room to which the cat has no access.