How to Get Kittens to Stop Digging in Your Houseplants

Kittens often enjoy digging in plants because they are still exploring their new world. Often cats will use flowerpots because they offer a sense of privacy or they may be cleaner than their own litter box. While there can be several reasons why a kitten digs in houseplants, there are also several methods to guide a kitten to where it is appropriate for it to dig.

Things You'll Need

  • Litter pan
  • Unscented cat litter
  • Aluminum foil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a litter pan where you would like your kitten to relieve itself.

    • 2

      Pour only about 1 to 2 inches of litter in the bottom of the litter pan because most cats prefer a shallow bed of litter to a deeper one.

    • 3

      Sprinkle a little bit of real dirt or soil in the kittens litter box to make it more inviting for cats that prefer real soil or a softer litter, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

    • 4

      Use a cat privacy screen to encourage kittens to use the litter box instead of hiding in the plants.

    • 5

      Scoop litter boxes daily to reduce the kittens' balking at a dirty litter box.

    • 6

      Provide at least one litter pan for each cat in a multiple-cat household.

    • 7

      Place aluminum foil around the base of the plant so that it covers the dirt entirely. Or place medium-size rocks on the plant's soil to deter the kitten from using the plant.

    • 8

      Gently place the kitten in its own litter box when it is looking for a place to dig in or around the plants and praise the kitten when it chooses to use the litter box.