How do I keep my cat from bothering my plants on the window sill?
Asked by
deni (
23141
)
August 30th, 2020
Haha, what a silly question. I have so many houseplants right now, and just acquired about six new ones today from a friend, ALL MASSIVE, and am really running out of room, seriously. I don’t have anything on the window sills in my bedroom (there are two) because a.) they are kinda narrow (maybe 4 inches wide) and would only be able to accomodate small plants anyhow and b.) my cat is very curious and always on the window sill. I could really use that space though. He has knocked plants off the sill in the past and usually this kills them so it’s not something I’m really willing to experiment with unless I think it might work.
I am thinking of some way that the plants could be “secured” in a sense to the window sill and he wouldn’t be able to paw them off. Or, something I could spray on or near them that would be offensive to him. I like that he gets on the window sill – he can be closer to the birds this way and he likes it up there. I don’t wanna ruin this pleasure of his but I could really use this space, lol :)
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10 Answers
Don’t you think cats have squatters’ rights to window sills? It seems like it’s the plants that ought to shove over, not the cats.
Maybe what would work is a couple of wall-mounted plant holders or an installed shelf that the plants could sit on while giving the cats free access to what every cat wants on a hot day: to stretch out full length on the sill of an open window and let their tummy fur catch the breeze.
And at any time of year, of course, the window is cat TV.
Anyway, you should probably make sure the plants don’t have leaves that are harmful for cats to chew on. Keeping them out of reach might be the best idea.
Put them on a wire rack a foot above the window sill.
Awwww…I’d leave the windowsill for the cat.
Would a hanging pot be a viable solution? Or too tempting for your cat?
Lol. My mom wouldn’t let me move my cat over to lay down in my usual spot on my own bed when I was a kid. If you already have a bunch of plants I think adding more that take over your cats favorite place doesn’t make sense. It’s just creating work for you cleaning up the plants.
Are they food bearing plants? Just curious because then I might be more empathetic to keeping them. I assume they need a lot of light and need to be near the window. You could buy a pink light and then they could be put another place.
There are plant shelfs you could install, or a “book case“ with no back you could put up against the window that leaves access to the sill. Google plant stand or plant shelf. You’ll probably want one with adjustable shelves. You can look at shelving at places like Walmart and Lowe’s too. Even kitchen or garage shelving might come up with some ideas.
I agree with everyone else and gave them all a GA. While I love plants, mammals overrule them. ~8^)
Sprinkle cayenne pepper or white pepper on the sill.
Can you get plant stands or a small table for the sill? I have a house loaded with plants and I also have naughty cats and I have both plant stands and modified shelves to make my sills larger/more secure in order to keep them from destroying my plants, but still keeps space free for the cats to look out the window. Usually nestled between the plants. lol
I would put a cat perch on the cats favorite window and move my plants to other windows. There really is no way of keeping a cat away from anything, but with a window perch, the cat can lay there and sun and may be more inclined to go to the window with a comfy spot to sleep or rest. Cat Perch
Oh yes believe me I cater to my cat very very much, which is why he has BOTH windows completely to himself. not to mention all the other windows and glass doors in the house, which is a lot! he is just a naughty boy and will paw at anything on the window sill.
My question should have actually been more general – most of the new plants I got are massive spider plants, which I just learned are mildly hallucinogenic to cats kinda like catnip, so thats why he loves spider plants. Its important for me to keep these out of his reach so my question should have been is there anything I can apply to the plant to keep from him gnawing it all to death. I have heard about certain homemade sprays in the past but nothing that is toxic or dangerous of course.
@ANef_is_Enuf I have a lot of plant stands but its really my succulents, which are all of my smaller plants, that need the window that I cannot currently give them. How do you do it? My sills are maybe 3.5 feet long so it’s not like he needs all that room, nor does he use it. BUT if something is there, he will always push it off at 3 am. HELP lol
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