The last few months on the other hand she has been targeting the pots, she would love nothing more than to dig into the soil of the plants, the largest pots had to suffer. I try to prevent this by covering the pots with chicken wire, so Pip can't dig in them & I can still easily water the plant, etc. She also gives the plants regular cuddles and wants to be there when I take care of them (especially if there is water involved) but alright she does not eat them, but unfortunately that is not the case with every cat or dog. BOREDOM & DISTRACTIONSBoredom can be the trigger for unwanted behavior, both in children and in animals. Challenge your dog with toys or a good bone to chew, make sure it gets enough exercise (by going for a walk) or that it can go outside. If your dog gets bored it can happen that it will look for distraction at your houseplants. The same goes for cats, if they can go outside, there is less chance that they will use your plants as a playground. Is it an indoor cat? Then again make sure there is enough distraction. Give them toys that interest them (not always obvious with the picky cats), play with them and give them their own plant and place. If your windowsill is full of plants and pots, it's not surprising that your cat will clear a spot for himself to look outside. We have at least ¼ window & windowsill here for Pipa in the living room that is just for her (to give some context our window is the full width of our apartment) so she definitely has more than 1m just of herself. Where her nest is and a cat grass plant is. Also, by making a casing around our radiator - this was not specifically for this reason but nice to have - we unintentionally made the windowsill twice as deep. So the plants are on the original windowsill and Pipa still has a wide strip to parade along it, sit or lie down (nice and warm when the heating is on). In the laundry room & office, again, there is space at the window left for her, as well as another resting spot. These places belong to her & I never put plants there, to allow her her place and respect it. MOVE YOUR PLANTSPut your plants out of reach of your pets, put them up higher where your dog or cat can't reach them right away. Be careful with hanging plants, though, if they get so long after a while they can be pulled down easily. If you have the space, it might be ideal to put your beloved plants in a room separate from your pets. No spare room? Then you can also opt for plants in a terrarium or greenhouse. Putting small plants in a greenhouse can help protect them from your animals. Make sure your terrarium is safe and cannot be knocked over. GIVE YOUR CAT HIS OWN PLANT
Cats have a natural need to eat grass, so when a cat lives indoors it is important that we provide them with it. You can buy it as a plant or grow it yourself from seed, every cat likes to eat grass or herbs because of the need for folic acid. This is a B6 vitamin that produces hemoglobin in the red blood cells and is therefore responsible for the transport of oxygen in the body. A second reason cats like to eat grass is; vomiting. Cat grass helps your cat to vomit, for example when they have trouble spitting out a hairball grass can help to regurgitate the indigestible parts. And a third reason: fiber. Grass also contains a lot of fiber that benefits digestion. EDUCATIONAn older cat is most likely going to show less interest in your beloved plants than a young one or a kitten/puppy. Young animals have more energy and therefore need more distraction, exercise and challenge than an older animal. Pipa came to us as an adult cat, we were able to teach her 'something' but the real thorough education is mainly done in the younger years. In order not to get too far off topic I recommend you to read this blog from Medpets; https://www.medpets.be/kitten-opvoeden/. In this blog they explain briefly and clearly how you can teach your kitten things.
For example, if the cat is scratching your seat you can make it clear that it is not okay and then distract them by playing on the scratching post. I think rewarding good behavior is much more important than punishing bad behavior. Negative attention is also attention. I reward Pipa with positive noises, attention, playtime and occasionally some treats. I am writing here mainly about cats but it works practically the same for your dog. They may not climb in your plant but they can still eat it, dig in it or run over it. Put your plants therefore well thought out, not in the passage or on a wobbly table where your dog can walk it off. TIPS AND TRICKSIf putting your plants out of reach is not possible, -I can imagine that your biggest green friends can't just go somewhere else- you can look for other solutions. For the "digging problem" that I experience with Pipa, you can cover the ground with chicken wire or put some medium sized rocks on it. Aluminum foil would also help, although I haven't tried this myself yet. I also tried it with 'toothpicks' but that didn't stop Pipa + I felt a bit uncomfortable myself because I also don't want her to get hurt. The chicken wire or stones work most efficiently here. To prevent your animal from eating your plants you can "scare" them with unpleasant smells. For example, the smell of citrus fruits, mix some water with citrus oil and spray it on the plants and soil with your plant sprayer. This is an action that you have to repeat more often because the smell fades. Cayenne pepper can also work. Sprinkle it on the potting soil and keep an eye on your pet to see if it ignores the plant. INFORM YOURSELF - TYPES OF PLANTSWhen you buy a plant you do not always know immediately whether it is poisonous or not, so inform yourself. It is useful to know the names of your plants in the house so you can react immediately if your animal eats them. It is not because your animal has taken a bite from your plant that it will die immediately, although this has already happened. The most common consequences are intestinal problems, diarrhea, lack of appetite. They may also vomit, have swelling in the throat and mouth, skin irritation or even liver failure. IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG? OBSERVE AND REACTIf you suspect that your animal has eaten a poisonous plant, react, not try to make them vomit, but go straight to the vet. It may be helpful to take a piece of the plant with you to the vet so they have a clue as to what poison it is. TO FINISHIt may all sound a bit much now, but there really is nothing more wonderful than a green living room with a snoozing cat or wagging dog to add life to it. Do not be discouraged, inform yourself and ask for help if necessary. They can live together perfectly, you just have to give them some attention. Did you like it? Please leave a 👍 below & follow my plant adventures on Instagram! Bronnen:
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AuthorCrazy plant lady who likes to inspire others! Everything I write here comes from my own experience, knowledge that I gained by reading books and on the internet. If I would literally copy someone's info, I would do my best to link it of course! Do you spot typos or do you have other concerns, let me know! Have fun reading! I've only just started writing English blogs since January 2021, that's why there are many Dutch blogs and not so many English ones.
I use DeepL to help me translate. ARCHIVES
Maart 2022
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