How to Keep Your Cat from Chewing House Plants

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Some cats could care less about house plants and flower arrangements in your home, while others make a beeline right to any new plant you bring home. If you're tired of scratched up potting soil and shredded leaves, don't despair, there are some things you can to do stop kitty from ruining your house plants! Read on to learn how.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

1 tsp. powdered cayenne pepper
1 cup water
1 plastic squirt bottle
Food grinder
blender or food processor
Bitter Apple or Herb Spray from your pet store

Step1

If your cat or kitten loves to chew on indoor house plants, it can be very dangerous. Some plants, such as poinsettias and chrysanthemums can be very toxic to cats, so keeping them away from these plants is paramount. You need a natural spray or liquid that is organic and won't harm the plant or your cat, but tastes nasty so they'll stop chewing right away. Cayenne pepper spray you make at home works perfectly to keep your cat away from plants and other items you don't want them to chew.

Step2

First, make sure the pepper is powdered very fine. If it's not, you can use a food grinder, blender, or food processor to grind it into a soft, very fine powder. If you don't, the pepper will clog up your squirt bottle nozzle, and you won't be able to use the spray bottle.

Step3

Blend together 1 tsp. of the powdered cayenne pepper with 1 cup water. Place in a squirt bottle.

Step4

Spray the pepper spray on the leaves of the plant you want to protect. Spray some in the dirt in the pot, too, if your cat digs in your houseplants, as well.

Step5

If you don't want to make your own cayenne pepper spray, you can purchase Bitter Apple or other organic sprays at your local pet store that are made specifically to keep cats away from plants and other items in your home. Since they are made from natural ingredients, they won't harm the plants or your pets.