You can put large stones on the plant soil or cover the soil with cardboard. Using aluminum foil or building a fence around the pot can also help. Some cat owners even install a motion sprinkler to keep the cat away from house plants. As you use either of these methods, you should train the cat on how to utilize the litter box.
If you have noticed your cat using house plants as a litter box, you need to look for ways to prevent this in the future. Cat poop is dangerous to houseplants since it may contain germs and parasites that can kill the plants. This post can help you discover valuable tips that can help prevent the cat from pooping in house plants. Enjoy!
How to prevent a cat from pooping in house plants
Use large stones to cover the plant soil
Cats are curious animals, and they like relieving themselves on the soil. You can keep a cat away from your houseplants by covering the plant-soil with large stones. Look for desert stones or river stones that can make the soil in potted plants less appealing for a cat.
These stones can also serve as mulch and help in temperature regulation. Placing large stones about 4 inches around the base of house plants is better since a cat can easily dig through some small stones. White rugged stones work better at keeping a cat away from the house plants since most cats don’t like how such stones feel against the paws.
Use cardboard
Cats like digging a hole in the soil, pooping in it then covering it. If you cannot find the right stones to cover the plant soil, you can keep the cat away from house plants using cardboard. This can prevent the cat from digging into the soil of your house plants. You can use a pizza box to do this. Since the box is larger than a potted plant, taping it will be easy. Ensure you use heavy tape to secure the cardboard to the sides of the plant pot.
As you cover the soil with cardboard, you should leave a hole at the center so that you can water the houseplants. This method will only work if the cat does not have a habit of pooping in house plants. Note that this is only a temporary technique that you should not use for so long since it can prevent light or air from getting to the potting soil.
Build a fence around the house plants
You can also prevent the cat from pooping in house plants by using a chicken wire. Create the fence in the shape of a cone and then place it around the potted plants. You can build a fence around the house plants using a pair of pliers since it is stiff. This makes it easy to cut the wire and create a cone shape.
Do you have large potted plants? If yes, consider getting two pieces of wire since one may not be sufficient. Ensure you wrap the wire around the pot’s base rather than covering the entire pot. Even if a cat attempts to jump on the house plants, it will not get hurt.
Get a motion sprinkler
Some cat owners prefer this method since it is safe and effective. A motion sprinkler features a detector that can detect movement around the device. Once you place it around house plants and the cat gets nearby, the sprinkler will be activated automatically. This will then spray water on the cat.
Since cats dislike getting soaked, they can learn not to go near the house plants when they feel like relieving themselves. The motion sprinkler can also protect other animals like dogs from your houseplants.
Use aluminum foil
You can consider using aluminum foil if you don’t have the money for a motion sprinkler. Covering the soil with this can prevent a cat from digging a hole. Cats find the aluminum foil surface weird and don’t like the sound it makes.
How to train the pet to utilize a litter box
If the cat has been pooping in house plants, you can start training it to use the litter box. Place it in front of the cat and let them examine it. Every time they eat, place the cat in the litter box so that they can learn the purpose of the litter box. You can give the cat a treat whenever they use it. Remember not to punish the cat when they poop outside the litter box.
Ensure that the litter box is comfortable and has enough space for the cat so that it does not feel the need to relieve itself elsewhere. You should also keep it clean to encourage the cat to use it regularly. Empty the litter box as soon as the cat uses it. Wash the litter box with soapy water every week.
A summary of some safe and unsafe ways to keep the cat from pooping in house plants
Safe ways | Unsafe ways |
---|---|
Cover the pot with large stones | Using Coffee grounds |
Build a fence around house plants | Utilizing Spices |
Cover the soil with aluminum foil | Using Pine cones |
Use cardboard | Placing sticking objects in the soil |
Install motion sprinkler | Using cigarettes |
Conclusion
Houseplants freshen the air in a home. If you have cats around the house, you don’t have to struggle to keep them away from your house plants. Try implementing the tips above to achieve this. You should also avoid the unsafe ways we have highlighted on the table since they can harm a cat.
FAQs
Can a cat repellent prevent my cat from pooping in my house plants?
Yes. Since cats don’t like the smell of most cat repellants, this can keep the pet away from your house plants. You can even make a cat repellent at home as you utilize essential oils.
Why do cats poop in potted plants?
Cats are instinctively attracted to loose soil when they want to poop.