Furbabies
Cat Care Site

Houseplant Chewing

Cats or kittens may chew plants as part of their normal investigation and play, or they may be craving vegetable matter in their diet. Cats that chew houseplants are usually indoor cats with little access to grass or other greens.

Most plants are harmless, but some can be deadly including:

Caladium (Caladium spp.)
Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia spp.)
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Lilies (Lilium spp.)
Mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.)
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)

Make sure poisonous houseplants are out of reach, or remove the plants from the house. For more information on poisonous plants, see the Poisonous Plants section.

Provide alternative plants for your cat to snack on. Oat grass, catnip and catmint are all safe and enjoyable for your cat to eat. They can be purchased from a pet store or you could grow your own from seed. See the Plants For Cats section for more information.

Make houseplants less attractive by spraying their leaves with water, then sprinkling with cayenne pepper. Or spray the plants with a commercial pet repellant (there are Bitter Apple and Bitter Orange formulations specifically for use on plants).

If your cat is digging or urinating in the soil, cover the soil with aluminium (aluminum) foil or small stones to prevent the cat accessing it.

References

Carlson DG & Giffin JM, Cat Owners Home Veterinary Handbook, New York: Howell Book House, 1995

Fogle B, Natural Cat Care, London: Dorling Kindersley, 1999

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