Growing potted plants can be a joy for you and your cat, adding fresh air and comforting foliage to your home. Sometimes kitty may enjoy your plants for the wrong reasons, though, knocking them over or even pushing and breaking them intentionally! Here are a few things you can do to prevent your flower pots from falling over again.
Try museum putty
This is a neat little trick used by folks in earthquake prone areas. Museum putty is a reusable and removable substance that can be attached to the bottom side of vases and flower pots. In the event that your kitty bumps into your potted plant, the putty will hold onto the surface where you’ve set it down. It can be removed later without damaging the surface.
Use a deterrent
Commonly used to prevent cats from scratching furniture, Sticky Paws is a double-sided tape that can also be placed around your flower pots to keep kitty from getting close enough to tip them over. Some pet parents have had success with Bitter Apple Spray, particularly if your cat has been tipping the flower pot in order to nibble at the plant.
Likewise, can also find pheromone and natural repellents that you can spray around the pot to make it smell less appealing. The Ssscat sensor is another option that blasts a loud puff of air when kitty gets within 3 feet of it.
Remove temptation
When all else fails, fall back on the old adage that works every time: if you can’t change the behavior, change the environment. Consider dedicating a room that your kitty is not allowed into for your growing plants. You can also look into suspending them from the ceiling in hanging baskets. Alternatively, try larger, heavier pots that sit low to the floor. While the low center of gravity and weight make them harder to tip over, they’ll also have a shorter distance to fall if you have a particularly persistent cat.
Are there any breakable items in your home that your cat can’t help but get into? Your pet sitter wants to know! In addition to giving your kitty love and affection, our sitters keep a lookout for unwanted behavior that needs to be corrected.
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Candace Elise Hoes is a pet sitter and blogger at Katie’s Kitty. She is a graduate of the MFA Writing Program at California College of the Arts.
Photo by Leo_65 on flickr.