My Cat Is Eating House Plants

Cats are curious by nature. At times, this curiosity causes to engage in questionable behavior which can get them in trouble, such as eating houseplants. Typically, nothing is wrong with your cat if it eats plants. However, certain plants are hazardous to cats and will jeopardize their health. Training your cat to stay away from houseplants is key to keeping your cat healthy.

  1. Why Cats Eat Houseplants

    • Cats eat houseplants because they are bored, they enjoy the taste or they are attracted to the fluttering leaves from air currents. Cats in the wild eat plants to add nutrients and fiber to their diet. Not all houseplants are harmful to cats. However, the consumption of poisonous houseplants will lead to serious health problems or death.

    Poisonous Plants

    • Ivy, mistletoe, holly and philodendron are very dangerous to cats and should be kept out of their reach. Certain types of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats. If you question whether or not a plant is harmful to your cat, it is best to assume that the plant is poisonous and keep it out of reach or get rid of it completely. Should your cat ingest a potentially harmful plant, call your veterinarian immediately. Should this situation occur after hours, call 888.4ANI.HELP. Plants such as orchids, African violets and bamboo are not harmful but can cause gastrointestinal discomfort in your cat, as well as vomiting or diarrhea.

    Make Plants Undesirable

    • Applying a nontoxic deterrent such as bitter apple repellent might be enough to keep your cat away. Bitter apple repellent gives off an odor that cats detest but is undetectable by humans. Another way to deter your cat from eating houseplants is to apply diluted vinegar to the plant leaves. Cats do not like the smell and are less inclined to mess with the plant. Other nontoxic repellents can be found at pet stores. Use a loud voice when you catch your cat eating plants, or squirt it with a squirt gun if you catch it in the act.

    Keep Cats Entertained

    • Preventing boredom is key to keeping cats away from houseplants. Engage your cat in play daily, and invest in cat grass or catnip grass to keep them entertained. The cat grass will encourage them to lose interest in other plants. Keep the cat grass by your cat's bowl so it will not become confused about eating houseplants.