How to Stop Cats From Pooping in House Plants: Just Do This

how to keep cats from pooping in house plants

Look, here's the deal:

You're tired of playing detective in your own home, sniffing out cat poop like a bloodhound.

The constant cleaning and repotting has you living in a perpetual stink.

But fear not, my friend, because today's guide will solve it all. 😃

Let's get down to business!

Effective Methods to Prevent Cats from Pooping in Potted Plants

So, here's what you can do to keep those pesky cats from using your pots as bathrooms:

  1. Get yourself some motion-activated deterrent devices. These gadgets make high-frequency sounds that scare the cats away. They won't dare to do their business near your plants when they hear those noises. It's like magic! ✨
  2. Cat repellent is your new best friend. You can use sprays or pellets specifically designed for repelling felines. Just spray it on the soil surface or place the pellets around the pots. Cats hate the smell, so they'll steer clear. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
  3. Now, this one's interesting. Put some rocks or pebbles on top of the soil. It creates a barrier that cats don't want to cross. See, they're not big fans of the texture under their delicate paws. Problem solved with minimal effort!
  4. Time to get crafty. Make little "hats" out of cardboard and place them over your pots. Cats won't be able to scratch or dig in the soil through these covers. Simple and efficient, just the way we like it!
  5. Remember, cats are creatures of habit. So, if you're planning to move your plants around or introduce new litter boxes, do it gradually. Slow and steady wins the race. This way, your furry buddy knows what's happening and will likely accept the changes without causing a fuss.

Now, listen up!

Effective Methods to Prevent Cats from Pooping in Potted Plants
If you hate certain textures, put rocks or pebbles on the soil. Cats don't dig it. Plant nice stuff like cat grass to distract them and switch things up slowly so they can't make a fuss.

These methods are absolute game-changers when it comes to keeping cats from pooping in your plant haven.

Wave goodbye to poop-filled pots and say hello to happy, well-behaved plants!

Main points I'll expand upon further down this article:

  1. Use diluted essential oils or vinegar as cat repellents.
  2. Citrus scents and strong-smelling herbs deter cats from houseplants.
  3. Cat repellent spray or essential oils like lavender can repel cats.
  4. Avoid direct spraying of repellents on plants or soil.
  5. Use chicken wire or cardboard as barriers around potted plants.
  6. Non-toxic plants and cat grass can distract cats from other plants.
  7. Placing small stones on top of soil deters cats from pooping.
  8. Use deterrents like stones, motion detector noises, and litter box training.
  9. Avoid using cat poop as garden fertilizer due to harmful germs.
  10. Rinse soil and use diluted plant food to neutralize cat urine.

Using Scents Cats Hate

To keep pesky cats away from your precious plants, there's a secret weapon:

Scents they hate.

Using Scents Cats Hate
Spray your house plants with vanilla extract to hide their smell. See, cats hate the strong vanilla scent and won't poop in your precious plants. So, remember to spritz them every few days for best results.

Here are a few options you can try:

  1. Toss some coffee grounds around the base of your potted plants - cats despise both the smell and texture.
  2. If you want to get fancy, diluted essential oils or apple cider vinegar work too, but remember to tread lightly since cats have a knack for smelling things.
  3. Another natural deterrent comes in the form of citrus scents or potent herbs that make cats cringe.
  4. For a safe and effective option, vinegar does the trick at repelling cats.
  5. Opt for cat repellent sprays or diluted essential oils like lavender, peppermint, or lemongrass to give houseplants a barrier against feline invasion.
  6. Just be careful not to directly spray these concoctions on your beloved greens or soil.
  7. Want a stronger defense? Sprinkle some cayenne pepper or grab yourself a commercial cat repellent spray to discourage cats using your houseplants as their personal litter box.

So, keep these scents in mind, my friend, and create a safe haven for your plants where no feline shall trespass! 😺

And it gets better...

There are even more clever techniques you can use to effectively keep your plants safe from the mischievous paws of cats.

Let's explore some additional strategies that will make your home a feline-free garden oasis...

Using Textures Cats Hate

Here's how you can prevent cats from getting to your plants:

  1. Make the soil surface unwelcoming by placing prickly things on top of it.
  2. Use chicken wire as a barrier to keep them away.
  3. Plant non-toxic plants and cat grass to divert their attention.
  4. Make the soil uncomfortable by adding small stones.
  5. Shield your plants with either chicken wire or a cardboard circle.
  6. For houseplants, place rocks or pebbles on top to discourage cats.
  7. Try deterrents such as stones, cat repellent spray, or motion detector noises.
  8. Teach your cats to use a litter box instead of using the pots as toilets.
  9. Cover the tops of your plants with aluminum foil or sticky tape.
  10. Offer alternative scratching posts for them to use.

Make sure that the access points for cats are not appealing with surfaces that they find unpleasant.

By following these steps, you'll protect your plants while ensuring the happiness and safety of your feline companions.

Home Remedies to Stop Cats Pooping in Garden

You tired of cats pooping in your beautiful garden?

Home Remedies to Stop Cats Pooping in Garden
If you don't want cats pooping in your plants, put vinegar or citrus peels around the pots. They hate those intense scents. And if you place some gravel or big stones near the base, they'll think twice about using it as a litter box.

Don't worry.

I got some remedies for you to keep those pesky felines away:

  1. Mix lemon juice and water together. Cats hate the citrus smell, so spray it on your plants regularly.
  2. Now, we all know cats love fertilizer, but using cat poop as garden fertilizer isn't a good idea because it can have harmful germs and parasites like toxoplasmosis.
  3. Cover the soil with chicken wire or netting. This stops cats from digging and messing up your plants.
  4. Keep the area clean by picking up any cat waste and cleaning the surrounding soil. Cats don't like a tidy environment, so they won't come back.
  5. If you want to compost cat feces, go ahead, but make sure it decomposes within 90 days. We don't want that waste sticking around in your garden.

Follow these simple strategies, and soon enough, you'll have a cat-free garden where your plants can thrive peacefully!

How to Neutralize Cat Urine in Houseplants?

To get rid of cat urine smell, mix white vinegar and water in equal parts.

Pour the mixture into the area affected by the odor. Cat urine has lots of nitrogen that can harm plants.

How to Neutralize Cat Urine in Houseplants?
To fix the stink of cat pee on your houseplants, just mix vinegar and water, then pour it on. Pee messes with plants because of all that nitrogen, so give the soil a good hose-down to make it less potent. Replenish nutrients by watering them with diluted plant food.

So if you want to protect your houseplants, rinse the soil and dilute the pee with a hosepipe.

Plants have the ability to bounce back from cat waste.

After rinsing, give them some diluted plant food to restore nutrients and keep them healthy.

Why Do Cats Pee in Potted Plants?

Cats peeing in potted plants?

I've got an answer.

They're marking their territory, causing problems for you and your plants.

Try vertical scratching posts nearby.

Cats can mark without harming the plants. Win-win!

But wait, there's more.

Train them to use the litter box, not the plants.

Cat poop has high nitrogen that can hurt your plants.

Let's avoid that, shall we?

Why plants?

They look like soil or grass. Cats are creatures of habit.

Don't forget, they pee to leave their scent behind.

Pretty territorial, huh?

Remember these tips when your cat waters your plants instead of using the litter box.

And if you're frustrated with your cat's inappropriate peeing habits, I understand! But don't worry, I have a solution for you.

After you've tried vertical scratching posts and training techniques, there's still one more thing you should know.

If your cat is running out of the litter box while pooping, my blog post Cat Runs Out of the Litter Box While Pooping could be the ultimate guide you need.

Discover the reasons behind this behavior and find valuable tips to help your feline friend.

Don't miss out on the answers that could bring harmony back to your home.

And that wraps up today's article.

If you wish to read more of my useful articles, I recommend you check out some of these: How to Find a Lost Cat in Winter, Cat Growling After Giving Birth, Do Used Tea Bags Keep Cats Away, and Does Black Pepper Keep Cats Away

Talk soon,

-Sarah Davis

Sarah Davis

Howdy howdy, I'm Sarah Davis, and I'm all about cats – that's right, those mysterious, independent furballs we adore. So welcome to my blog "I Care for Cats", where I dish out the real talk on cat food, health, training, behavior, and so much more. My goal? To help your feline friends live their best nine lives.