Cats and Plants: So your cat is an irredeemable plant murderer, now what?
You tried positive reinforcement with catnip and snacks, you tried negative reinforcement with water and yelling but nothing worked and it’s time to face the music. Your cat is an irredeemable plant murderer. But there was never a cuter murderer!
So, now what?
Fluffy is part of the family, but in a way - so are your plants and it’s up to you to keep both of them safe. It is going to take a little extra work but you can have both your plants and cats in the same area but to quote the timeless music of Offspring; “You gotta keep em separated”. Here are a few creative ways to do that:
1). Go vertical.
You can “go vertical” in so many ways including - hanging baskets (macrame hangers are particularly beautiful), floating shelves, tall plant stands and plant wall clips.
When you hang shelves or plant clips to keep your cats away from your plants it’s important to keep them away from any furniture they may use as a “stepping stone” to your plants and also be mindful that trailing plants don’t get too long where kitty can reach them.
2). Group large planters together so there is no space for kitty
Going off the plant shelf concept if you are unable to position your shelf so that it is inaccessible don’t worry. Just make sure the shelf is FULL so there is nowhere for your fluff nugget to land.
3). Create a closed plant room
This is actually a beautiful solution in so many ways if you are lucky enough to have a spare room! The obvious reason is that your cat and plants will be totally separated and safe but by putting all of your plants into one room together you will create the perfect little biosphere for them. Say goodbye to any burnt crinkly leaves! Instead of buying a humidifier you may actually need to invest in a dehumidifier for this room. By grouping plants together into one space they will naturally increase the humidity. Plus, instead of having to string grow lights everywhere you could save some money and just concentrate them into one room. You could build this room entirely around the plants and then when you are happy with it - throw a large chair in there, sit on your plant throne and revel in how happy both your flora and fauna are. YOU are the master of this domain.