I've Had It!

YES!! All cats need time outdoors. I know a lot of people disagree and some are going to agree but cats are like any other animal, they need time outdoors to be the cat that they are which is to dig, eat grass, climb trees, chase leaves, play with each other and what ever else cats do. If they've never been outside before, then you'll need to introduce it to them slowly or it will scare the day lights out of them and they'll never go out again. But yes, most definetly cats need time outdoors. Another thing to suggest, you can get those sticky strips from Petsmart in which you put on the top of your plants or the sides and when the cats try to get into it they'll get the sticky glue like stuff on their feet and they don't like that one bit and will turn away from it. It worked for me.

Hi, sorry so late, but just saw your posting on this. I rememebr your previous postings about plant problems. How did your babies recuperate from the surgery? They are still little tykes. :o) If you are letting them out, I would encourage just for very short periods. It's so so so sad if they are in any accident and die. :o( It's happened to me before. So, usually our kitties, we've set schedules so they want to pop in very soon for their breakfast, lunch, or dinner. :o)

it is their nature to dig up and eat plants be careful as some plants are toxic and will kill them. I suggest you do not keep plants anymore

Hi Ldyjarhead, I sympathize with your predicament - cats are very stubborn creatures, and will find a way to do whatever it is that the want to do unless you are there to explicitly supervise them at all times. Letting your cats outside will probably cure their bad indoor habits, but there's a couple of potential flounders in that kettle of fish. It depends very much on your neighborhood and on the general environment, but here's what would worry me about letting cats outside in the area where I live. Firstly, if they're looking for somewhere to go and do a nice steaming cat poo, chances are they'll go and find a nice comfy place in someone's vege garden or flower bed to dig up and plant their business. That's what cats do - they find some nice loose soil and then use that repeatedly whenever they feel the urge to have a crap (and that's what it is - let's not be squeamish here, you'd most likely prefer that they did it in their kitty litter and not in your pot plants - and the neighbor a couple of doors away might have similar thoughts, though not quite so understanding ones). Unlike dogs, whose owners are needed to guide them down the sidewalk and onto someone else's front lawn in order surreptitiously drop a doggy do, cats are exquisitely mobile creatures and are quite able to go and plant their poos wherever they like within a 5 mile radius of your home. And they will - guaranteed. Most likely in someone's flower bed or carrot patch. The second concern that I would have about cats on the prowl is that's exactly what they do, especially if released anywhere near sunset. Cats are killing machines - they generally sleep all day, because they are programmed to hunt at night - when all the little critters that they like to massacre are sound asleep and vulnerable in their nests. That irresistably cute little Tiddles and seemingly harmless funball Fluffy have totally different personalities when the perspective shifts to a bird's eye view. It's a big problem in Australia, where domestic cats typically kill about 300 native animals a year - EACH. I know that different cats have different personalities etc etc. I've seen cats myself that were so gentle they'd genuinely not harm a fly - but they're a rare exception, a VERY rare exception, to the rule that cats are born killers. Let them out in the afternoon, and they won't come back until the next morning, after an exciting night out hunting buffalo or whatever else they're able to sink their teeth into (and making sure to stop off at Mr. Jones' cabbage patch to bury a couple of really big poos for Mr. Jones to find). A third concern about allowing cats to roam is that they are territorial, and so love to kill each other, and are also good dog food when a big enough dog thinks so. SO they're not only terrorizing the rest of the animal kingdom, they're also in harm's way when they're on the loose. You won't generally have any of these problems with dogs, because dogs mostly aren't able to climb fences and trees and break into top security facilities like cats can. None of this might actually be a cause for concern where you live, depending on your circumstances there. Cats are very engaging creatures, arguably purpose-built for close human companionship. I happen to like cats and they like me, but they do require particular management to avoid problems where I live (most people don't manage their cats properly, unfortunately, and it does cause problems). So there's a few thoughts on whether to let your cats outside. Like it or not, it's not necessarily an easy matter to resolve. Some people I know take their cats for walks each day on a leash, and those cats are as happy as any dog who might go walkies because they're used to it. They come trotting down the footpath with their tails in the air, stretching their little leashes with their owner close behind. A rare few very responsible people actually fence in their back yard with chicken wire, in the same way as one would for an aviary, except it's to contain their cats in the back yard. That's called a "cat run", and it's the perfect solution, in my opinion. But not too many people will actually go to that much trouble, when there's really nothing to motivate them to do so. In that case, the cats could have a great big sand pit out the back, all to themselves to dig in and do whatever else they might feel like doing when the urge possesses them. Well, I hope you figure out some way to reconcile your cats with their environment and with your decor. One can only do the best one can with what one's got.

Hello I have 2 felines...a "human" 14 year old tabby and a 9 month old, AKA the cat from hell. Both are females. The little one, Divina, was my mom's cat...and she couldn't take it anymore for the same reasons you mention. We tried everything - citrus, aluminum paper, rocks, repellents, chili pepper, moth balls...you name it. Same results, worse every day. She HAD to go into the plants and destroy. I took her and thought I could help...she did the same thing here. After a couple of weeks of cleaning up every morning, I was about to throw her out of my 2nd story balcony...I was at my wits' end. But she's so cute and affectionate that it was breaking my heart. FINALLY...I found the solution. It's called "SCAT" and it's an air pump that you put anywhere you don't want your cat to go. When she approaches it, SCAT sprays air...enough to scare the cat away. HALLELUIAH!!! It WORKS. She uses the litter box now, and forgot about the plants altogether. She learned in just ONE DAY. Don't give up...try getting this "SCAT". I bought it at the pet shop for about $50 CDN. No big deal, compared to what could be. Please try it out before giving up. We're all living happily together now...as she decided to move in permanently.

I don't know if putting them outside will help or not. It seems like it should, but it didn't work for me. When I had an indoor/outdoor cat, it went after the plants just as much as my indoor-only cats do. I'd tried the orange peels too and my cat was actually attracted to them, so that sort of backfired. Good luck! I know how frustrating this can be. I finally gave up and now our plants all sit atop the fridge or in hanging planters that the cat cannot get to.

Actually that could help them a bit They are only young and they still have to learn Saying that sometimes our Cats used to go in the Plants You can try putting them out for a bit and see if that works

Hi Ldyjarhead, I sympathize with your predicament - cats are very stubborn creatures, and will find a way to do whatever it is that they want to do unless you are there to explicitly supervise them at all times. Letting your cats outside will probably cure their bad indoor habits, but there's a couple of potential flounders in that kettle of fish. It depends very much on your neighborhood and on the general environment, but here's what would worry me about letting cats outside in the area where I live. Firstly, if they're looking for somewhere to go and do a nice steaming cat poo, chances are they'll go and find a nice comfy place in someone's vege garden or flower bed to dig up and plant their business. That's what cats do - they find some nice loose soil and then use that repeatedly whenever they feel the urge to have a crap (and that's what it is - let's not be squeamish here, you'd most likely prefer that they did it in their kitty litter and not in your pot plants - and the neighbor a couple of doors away might have similar thoughts, though not quite so understanding ones). Unlike dogs, whose owners are needed to guide them down the sidewalk and onto someone else's front lawn in order to surreptitiously drop a doggy do, cats are exquisitely mobile creatures and are quite able to go and plant their poos wherever they like within a 5 mile radius of your home. And they will - guaranteed. Most likely in someone's flower bed or carrot patch. The second concern that I would have about cats on the prowl is that's exactly what they do, especially if released anywhere near sunset. Cats are killing machines - they generally sleep all day, because they are programmed to hunt at night - when all the little critters that they like to massacre are sound asleep and vulnerable in their nests. That irresistably cute little Tiddles and seemingly harmless funball Fluffy have totally different personalities when the perspective shifts to a bird's eye view. It's a big problem in Australia, where domestic cats typically kill about 300 native animals a year - EACH. Cats are the Terminators of the animal world - they have night vision and no conscience. And all those little furry creatures hiding in fear are John Connor. It is true that different cats have different personalities etc etc. I've seen cats myself that were so gentle they'd genuinely not harm a fly - but they're a rare exception, a VERY rare exception, to the rule that cats are born killers. Let them out in the afternoon, and they won't come back until the next morning, after an exciting night out hunting buffalo or whatever else they're able to sink their teeth into (and making sure to stop off at Mr. Jones' cabbage patch to bury a couple of really big poos for Mr. Jones to find). A third concern about allowing cats to roam is that they are territorial, and so love to kill each other, and are also good dog food when a big enough dog thinks so. Possibly worse still, even if your female cats have been spayed, they'll still get brutally gang-raped by marauding gangs of break-dancing ghetto cats if they're out after curfew - and they might not even be safe during daylight hours. SO they're not only terrorizing the rest of the animal kingdom, they're also in harm's way when they're on the loose. You won't generally have any of these problems with dogs, because dogs mostly aren't able to climb fences and trees and break into top security facilities like cats can. None of this might actually be a cause for concern where you live, depending on your circumstances there. Cats are very engaging creatures, arguably purpose-built for close human companionship. I happen to like cats and they like me, but they do require particular management to avoid problems where I live (most people don't manage their cats properly, unfortunately, and it does cause problems). So there's a few thoughts on whether to let your cats outside. Like it or not, it's not necessarily an easy matter to resolve. Some people I know take their cats for walks each day on a leash, and those cats are as happy as any dog who might go walkies because they're used to it. They come trotting down the footpath with their tails in the air, stretching their little leashes with their owner close behind. A rare few very responsible people actually fence in their back yard with chicken wire, in the same way as one would for an aviary, except it's to contain their cats in the back yard. That's called a "cat run", and it's the perfect solution, in my opinion. But not too many people will actually go to that much trouble, when there's really nothing to motivate them to do so. In that case, the cats could have a great big sand pit out the back, all to themselves to dig in and do whatever else they might feel like doing when the urge possesses them. Well, I hope you figure out some way to reconcile your cats with their environment and with your decor. As suggested before, none of this might be so relevant to your circumstances - if you are on a farm or somewhere that natural predators already abound, then a couple of extra cats might actually provide a domestic service by keeping snakes, rats and rabbits down. One can only do the best one can with what one's got.

oh boy! I've never had the problem... my problem has been that they eat the leaves! So I had to make sure all my plants are on shelves that they can't get to, or a windowsill. I'm always afraid they're going to eat one that is poisonous and get sick :( I had heard about the orange peel too, but if they are smart enough to just throw it out, it's not going to help you much! Sorry!

Another thing I know about is Spanish Moss used in crafting, put it really thick around the base of the plant to cover the dirt. That has helped in our home and we have 5 cats. Good luck!!!

We ended up putting small decorative rocks over the dirt in our plants to keep our cat out. It worked for us.