Re: [CH] sort of off topic- cats and plants
Ed Cutrell (ecutrell@darkwing.uoregon.edu)
Mon, 26 Jan 1998 16:51:19 -0800 (PST)
> The dilemma I'm having is: Would this be too cruel a method to employ in
> controlling my cat's desire to munch on the plant? I wouldn't of course use
> anything absolutely incendiary- I don't want Chou-Chou to go the way of the
> mosquito in the Tabasco TV ad- but I've tried just about everything else and
> the little bugger still gets in there.
I've done this and, though I dearly love my little furry friends, animals
learn very well by having one (or two if they're as stupid as one of my
kitties) very aversive response. I threw some powdered habs in some
water and a little alcohol, let it sit over night, and sprayed my little
plants. That night I heard some sneezing and cussing, and found one of my
cats trying to get that TERRIBLE taste out of her mouth. She was fine in
about five minutes, but she never touched that plant again.... My other
cat took a couple of bites, but he got the idea pretty soon. Bottom line,
I think it's probably the best way to gently dissuade them from doing what
they do naturally--eat plants. If it tastes bad, they stop. Best of all,
they don't blame *you* for their hot-shot, just the plant.
Good luck,
ed